April 23, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 04/23/2014

Cara Schulz
Chair, Planning Committee for the 2014 Libertarian Party of Minnesota State Convention
612.735.4387612.735.4387
schulzcaral@gmail.com

Libertarian Party of Minnesota State Convention – 5 Statewide Candidates up for Nomination
Reinvigorated LPMN hosts a day of workshops, speakers, and candidates for statewide offices. Nationally known independent journalist Ben Swann keynotes. Attendance doubled in 2013, projected to double again this year.

Osseo, Minnesota – The Libertarian Party of Minnesota showcases a new vitality and expanded appeal to voters during its State Convention. With a recent Gallup poll showing 46% of all people do not identify with either of the two major political parties while 22% say they identify as libertarian, libertarianism is experiencing a marked upswing. This may impact 2014 elections in Minnesota.

In 2013, attendance at the state convention doubled and two Libertarian Party candidates were successfully elected to local offices: Alicia Ascheman, Pine City School Board, and Roger Parras, St Peter City Council. This year attendance at the state convention is again expected to double, as five candidates for state office are seeking the Libertarian nomination.

Headlining the candidates seeking nomination is Governor candidate Chris Holbrook, a senior sales leader in the wholesale building products industry, who lives with his wife Angie in St Paul. His Lieutenant Governor running mate, Chris Dock, lives in Eden Prairie with his wife Peggy and is an entrepreneur in the HR technology consulting industry. Running for State Auditor is Keegan Iversen. The US Senate race is a contested nomination between Mary O’Connor, LPMN Treasurer and former Brooklyn Center Councilwoman, and Heather Johnson, mother, writer, and current LPMN Secretary.

The convention itself is fast-paced and full of education. Independent Journalist Ben Swann headlines the event with an evening keynote address.  Mr Swann is best known for his Reality Check series, viewed by people in over 140 countries and over 10 million times.

During the day, attendees enjoy 15-minute speeches by eight different speakers, covering topics ranging from Hennepin County District Court Judge Jay Quam’s discussion on jury nullification to Aaron Gall’s presentation on a direct giving project he created called “Let’s Warm the City”, which provides blankets and clothes to Duluth-area homeless persons, an effort that is now spreading to the Twin Cities metro area.

Attendees can choose among seven workshops to attend. Topics include home brewing, the basics on Bitcoin, petitioning for candidates, gun rights, framing the liberty message, candidate training, and the Tiny Home movement.

The reigning Miss Minneapolis, Julia Schliesing, emcees the event.

When: Saturday, April 26
Time:  Business session 10am – 12noon
Speakers and workshops 1pm – 5:30pm
Dinner & cocktails 5:30pm – 7pm
Keynote speaker address 7pm – 8:30pm
After party 8:30pm – late

Where: Cambria Suites
9655 Grove Cir N
Maple Grove, MN 55369

URL:   https://www.lpmn.org/2014-lpmn-state-convention/

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