June 3, 2014
Contact: Andy Burns
763.528.5163
andy.burns@lpmn.org
Secondary contact: Cara Schulz
612.735.4386
schulzcaral@gmail.com
For Immediate Release
Libertarian Party of Minnesota Runs Full Slate of Candidates in Statewide Election
The Libertarian Party of Minnesota announces we are successful in our petitioning efforts to field five statewide candidates for the 2014 statewide election. It is the first time the LPMN has fielded a full slate since 1998.
Candidates of minor political parties in Minnesota need to gather 2000 signatures during a two-week period that ends June 3rd to be listed on the ballot for statewide races. All candidates have the required number of a signatures, plus a comfortable margin. The petitions are scheduled to be handed in to the Secretary of State’s office today (Tuesday) at 1pm for verification. On June 12, the signatures will be certified and the candidates will appear on the ballot in November. LPMN candidates will also be on hand to file their affidavit of candidacy.
LPMN Executive Director, Andy Burns, spearheaded the petitioning effort. “Throughout this crucial week, Andy’s never stopped working to make sure our candidates have everything they need to get ballot access. I’ve never met a person who works harder than Andy,” said LPMN volunteer RJ Penny.
The over 10,000 signatures were gathered despite losing an afternoon of petitioning when the LPMN Gubernatorial candidate, Chris Holbrook, was unlawfully arrested and other volunteers were told they had to stop petitioning last Thursday while gathering signatures at Lake Calhoun. This action by Park Police and City of Minneapolis Police cost the LPMN an estimated 600 signatures.
The recent days of rain added an additional challenge to gathering the signatures.
The LPMN made up lost time from their booth at Grand Old Day in St Paul. Just under 30 volunteers helped gather signatures at the event. At one point during the day, attendees were lined up to sign the candidate petitions. “While I was petitioning, I had people walk up to me and ask me if I was with the Libertarian Party and we were the group that had our candidate falsely arrested. When I said yes, they said they were looking specifically for us so they could sign our petition. Minnesotans are very fair minded and like clean elections,” said LPMN board member Cara Schulz.
LPMN candidates
Governor, Chris Holbrook – Lt. Governor, Chris Dock
612.499.4493 (Holbrook)
https://www.facebook.com/chris4gov
Chris Holbrook, “I am thrilled that the will of the people of Minnesota has been delivered today with our ballot access petition, despite the obstacles put in front of us, we did it. I am honored to be the Gubernatorial Candidate for the Libertarian Party. I look forward to continuing the battle to legalize your freedoms and minimize your restrictions.”
US Senate, Heather Johnson
651.235.5206
https://www.facebook.com/electheatherjohnson
https://sites.google.com/site/hjohnsonformnsenator
Libertarian U.S. Senator candidate Heather Johnson, “Obtaining the Libertarian nomination to run has been a wonderful and humbling experience. I have a great deal of respect for my fellow citizens and look forward to running as their representative in liberty.”
State Auditor, Keegan Iversen
763.496.8534
https://www.facebook.com/KeeganIversen4MinnesotaAuditor
http://keeganauditsminnesota.com/
The other two candidates are Bob Odden for Secretary of State and Mary O’Connor for Attorney General.
Concerned about the expansion of government control and the erosion of individual liberty? Please consider joining and becoming active with the Libertarian Party of Minnesota. Libertarians support liberty on all issues, all the time. Libertarianism is a philosophical and political movement to promote personal freedom, strong civil liberties, a genuinely free marketplace, and peace.