Libertarian Party of Ohio

Libertarian Party of Ohio
General Information
Chartered:	1972
Region:	3
Officers
Chair:	James Cavoli
Vice-Chair:	Patrick Glasgow
Secretary:	Jennifer Flower
Treasurer:	Jon Mohler
Contact
Address:	6230 Busch Blvd. Suite 102 PO BOX 29193 Columbus, OH 43229
Website:	Website
Social Media
Facebook:	Facebook
Twitter:	Twitter

The Libertarian Party of Ohio (LPO) is the Ohio affiliate of the Libertarian Party. The LPO is the 5th largest affiliate of the LP and the 3rd largest political party in Ohio. It was affiliated on 11/25/72 at the LNC Meeting 25 November 1972 as per Document:LP News 1972 November Issue 11.

Governing Documents

Platform

• Platform Adopted 2018 (info)

For historical platforms see Index of Ohio State Party Platforms

Bylaws

• Bylaws Adopted 2024 (info)

For historical bylaws see Index of Ohio State Party Bylaws

Constitutions

• Constitution Adopted 2024 (info)

For historical constitutions see Index of Ohio State Party Constitutions

Publications

• Ohio Libertarian

Leadership

Executive Committee Elected January 2021

• James Cavoli, Chair
• Patrick Glasgow, Vice-Chair
• Jennifer Flower, Secretary
• Jon Mohler, Treasurer
• Dustin Nanna, At Large
• Derek Strelow, At Large
• Chris Gill, At Large

Central Committee

• District 1, Jessica Pettigrew; Scott Pettigrew
• District 2, Vacant, Vacant
• District 3, Tricia Sprankle (CentCom Chair), Vacant
• District 4, Eric Defibaugh, Christina Holloway
• District 5, Daniel Faust, Don Kissick
• District 6, Vacant, Vacant
• District 7, Patrick Glasgow (CentCom Secretary), Jay Stienmetz
• District 8, Helen Gilson, Vacant
• District 9, Derek Strelow (CentCom Vice Chair), James Barbour
• District 10, Jeff Zweber, Vacant
• District 11, Dyrone Smith, Darko Luketic
• District 12, Linda Comstock, Dustin Nanna
• District 13, Dr. Michael Fricke, Vacant
• District 14, Joe Loyd (CentCom Treasurer), Nate Rockwell
• District 15, Jennifer Flower, Christopher Gill
• District 16, Jason Sonenshein, Vacant

Other positions

• Tricia Sprankle, Political Deputy Director, Legislative Affairs
• Johnny Miller, Field Development Director
• Derek Strelow, Deputy IT Director, AV Systems

Past Central Committees

• 2020-2022 Libertarian Party of Ohio Central Committee

History

The Libertarian Party of Ohio (LPO) was created in 1972, led by Kay Harroff Over the years, Ohio Libertarians have been elected to a number of local offices. From the beginning, the mission of the LPO is to make an impact on the political and policy environment in Ohio. The LPO core issues have been limited government, lower taxes, and greater personal liberty.

1977 - In Ohio, the first Libertarian is elected to public office as an independent. Elaine Lindsey was elected to Circleville City Council.

1982 - For the first time in Ohio, the LP brand is on the ballot line, due to successful party petitioning (42,000 valid sigs).

- The LPO ran statewide races for Governor, Treasurer, Attorney General, and Secretary of State.

- Phyllis Goertz for Governor, Thomas Brown for Treasurer, James Schuller for Attorney General, and Ann Leech for SOS. Approx 460,000 votes given to LP candidates in Ohio Thomas Brown for Treasurer received 195,927 votes (6.91%), the highest total of a minor party candidate for statewide office to date.

- Ohio Ballot access lost when LP candidate for Governor did not receive 5% vote.

1993 - In Ohio, Bob DeBrosse won his race for Piqua City Council.

2000 - For the second time, the LP brand is on the ballot line, due to successful petitioning.

- LPO fields 78 candidates around the state of Ohio—all-time high to this point.

- LPO candidate for US Senate, John McAlister receives 117,500 votes or 2.4%. Kenneth MacCutcheon receives 2% in race for US Representative 6th District.

- Ohio Ballot Access lost when LP candidate for President did not receive 5% of vote.

Ballot Access

The Libertarian Party of Ohio has successfully challenged several ballot access laws. In 2004, Ohio law provided that if a party did not receive five percent of the votes for its presidential or gubernatorial candidate in a general election, the party would need to gather signatures of voters equal to one percent of the number of votes cast for president or governor in the previous election and to file its registration petition 120 days in advance of the primary election, which equated to one year in advance of the general election in presidential election years. The LPO challenged this law on the ground that the combined requirements severely burdened their First and Fourteenth Amendment rights of free association. The Sixth Circuit Court found that the Ohio law placed severe burdens on the First Amendment rights of free speech and association of the LPO, its members, and potential voters-supporters, was not narrowly tailored, and did not serve a compelling state interest. Libertarian Party of Ohio v. Blackwell, 462 F.3d 579 (6th Cir. 2006).

The Ohio Legislature did not enact new legislation following Blackwell; however, the Secretary of State issued Directive 2007-09 in an attempt to bring Ohio into compliance. The directive purported to lover the number of signatures to .5% of the number of votes cast for president or governor in the preceding general election and changed the filing deadline to 100 days before the primary. This Directive was struck down on the same First Amendment grounds as Blackwell. Libertarian Party of Ohio v.s Brunner, 567 F. Supp. 2d 1006 (S.D. Ohio 2008).

Secretary of State, Jennifer Brunner, a Democrat, issued Directive 2009-21 which recognized the LPO as well as the Ohio Green Party, the Constitution Party of Ohio, and the Socialist Party as qualified to appear in the primary and general election ballots. In January 2011, the Secretary of State issued Directive 2011-01 which reinstated 2009-21 providing ballot access for LPO and other minor parties. Then, on July 1, 2011, Governor John Kasich signed HB 194. The new law differed from the law in the Blackwell case insofar as it changed the deadline for filing signatures from 120 days to 90 days before the May primary. The LPO filed another Federal lawsuit seeking an injunction blocking enforcement of HB 194. Another win for the LPO. Libertarian Party of Ohio v. Husted No.2 11-cv-722, 2011 WL 3957259, at *6 (S.D. Ohio Sept. 7, 2011). Later, HB 194 was repealed following a voter referendum.

On Nov. 6, 2013, the Ohio Legislature passed and Gov. Kasich signed House Bill 193 which expressly voided the Secretary's prior Directives granting minor parties ballot access. SB 193 provided two methods for a minor party to obtain ballot access (achieve Minor Party Status). First, either the Gubernatorial or Presidential candidate for the party must achieve the requisite amount of votes - at least three percent of the total number of ballots cast for that office. Any party that receives adequate votes are deemed to have Party Status suitable to participate in state primary elections.

The second method requires a party to circulate a petition meeting the following standards:

• 1) The petition is signed by qualified electors equal in number to at least one percent of the total vote for governor or candidates for president and vice-president in the most recent election for such office.
• 2) The petition is signed by not fewer than 500 electors in at least one-half of the total number of congressional districts.
• 3) The petition declares the petitioners' intent to organize a political party, the name which shall be stated in the declaration, and of participating in the succeeding general election held in even-numbered years, that occurs more than 125 days after the date of filing.

Political parties formed by petition are deemed "new" and therefore do not have access to primary election ballots. In addition to formation petition, candidates must file nominating petitions no later than 110 days before the election.

County Affiliates

Active Affiliates

• Franklin County
• Hamilton County
• Knox County
• Licking County
• Lorain County
• Lucas County

Past Officials, Staff, and Other Contacts

Chair

• Kay G Harroff (c 1972-1973)
• Sharon Cook, (1974)
• Kay G Harroff (c 1975)
• Bill MacReynolds (c 1976)
• Jack Matheney (1994)
• Jason Hallmark (c 2005)
• Kevin Knedler (c 2011)
• Robert Bridges
• Scott Pettigrew (2016-2018)
• Harold Thomas (2018-2020)

Vice-Chair

• John DeJager, (1973-?) (Cincinatti VC)
• Linda Bunyan, (1973-?) (Akron VC)
• Josh Weitzman (c 2005)
• Jeremiah Arn (c 2008)
• Ann Leech (c. 2009)
• Michael Johnston (c 2011)
• Dustin Nanna (2018-2019)
• Helen Gilson (2019)
• Dustin Nanna (2019-2020)

Secretary

• W Suzanne Tylcki, (before 1975)
• Elizabeth Krepp (c 2005)
• Ann Leech (c 2008)
• Daryl Olthaus (c 2011)
• Scott Urquhart
• Robert Coogan (2016-2018)
• David "Jon" Mohler (2018-2019)
• Elizabeth Thomas (2019-2020)
• Jim Cavoli (2020)

Treasurer

• Randy Cesco, (before 1975)
• Jan Moore, (before 1975)
• Ann Leech (c 2005)
• Michael Johnston (c 2009)
• Bryant Callaghan (c 2011)
• Linda Comstock (2018-2020)

At Large

• Christopher Gill
• Paul Conroy, at-large 1
• Matt Bianco, at-large 2
• Mark Noble, at-large 3
• Bob Bridges, at-large 1 (c 2011)
• Ann Leech, at-large 2 (c 2011)
• Aaron Harris, at-large 3 (c 2011)
• Aarica Burwell (2016-2018)
• Ann Leach

Others

• Ross Black, board (before 1975)
• Robert Butler, executive director (c 2005)
• Robert DeBross, southwest regional chair (1977-?)
• Karl E Peterjohn, 'board (c 1975)
• Garnette Pugh, board (before 1975)
• Howard Sanders, board (before 1975)

National Conventions

• October 1973 - Cleveland, Ohio
• May 2014 - Columbus, Ohio

Elections

See: Libertarian Party of Ohio Historical Election Results

Size and Influence

Year	Minimum Unique Voters	Minimum Percent Of Voters	Signature Members (Dec)	Signature Members Per Million Population	LNC Total Donors 2004 - Present Or Active Members 1972 - 2003 (Dec)	LNC Donors Per Million Population	State Rank Of Total LNC Donors (Of 51)
2018	175,790	3.91%	5,062	433	641	54.84	5
2017			5,043	433	606	51.98	6
2016	174,498	3.11%	5,701	490	805	69.12	6
2015			5,215	449	518	44.60	4
2014	143,363	4.55%	5,151	444	584	50.37	5
2013			5,037	435	1,085	93.76	2
2012	81,469	1.45%	4,773	413	673	58.26	5
2011			4,537	393	639	55.35	5
2010	184,478	4.66%	4,467	387	690	59.79	4
2009			4,236	367	647	56.12	5
2008	246,002	4.26%	3,908	339	726	63.05	4
2007			3,639	316	615	53.48	4
2006	71,473	1.71%	3,509	306	442	38.50	8
2005			3,238	282	644	56.18	8
2004	14,676	0.26%			830	72.47	7
2003					666	58.24	8
2002	127	0.00%			791	69.34	9
2001					963	84.57	9
2000	117,466	2.45%			1,171	103.05	8
1999					1,120	99.50	8
1998	9,146	0.26%			1,056	93.97	8
1997					821	73.22	7
1996	12,851	0.28%			704	62.93	11
1995					451	40.43	10
1994	17,495	0.49%			321	28.89	10
1993					292	26.38	10
1992	23,896	0.47%			333	30.25	9
1991					258	23.60	9
1990	2,182	0.06%			267	24.58	11
1989					226	20.87	8
1988	11,989	0.27%			161	14.91	10
1987
1986	1,279	0.04%
1985
1984	13,841	0.30%
1983
1982	195,957	5.52%
1981
1980	49,033	1.12%
1979
1978	6,966	0.23%
1977
1976	8,952	0.21%
1975
1974	76,882	2.50%
1973
1972

Addresses

• 22125 Libby Road, #102-I, Bedford Heights, OH 44146 (1973)
• 2586 Tiller Lane Suite 2K, Columbus, OH 43231
• 6230 Busch Blvd. Suite 102, PO Box 29193, Columbus, OH 43229 (current)

Libertarian Party of Ohio
Affiliates:	Franklin • Hamilton • Knox • Licking • Lorain • Lucas
Conventions:	1973
Central Committees:	2020-2022
Documents:	Bylaws • Constitutions • Newsletters • Platforms
Other:	Election Results