Libertarian Party of Minnesota

Libertarian Party of Minnesota
General Information
Chartered:	1972
Region:	6
Officers
Chair:	Chris Holbrook
Vice-Chair:	Ryan Waterbury
Secretary:	Cindy Hucks
Treasurer:	Mary O’Connor
Contact
Address:	1201 42½ Ave NE Columbia Heights, MN 55421
Website:	Website
Social Media

The Libertarian Party of Minnesota (LPMN) is the Minnesota affiliate of the Libertarian Party.

History

There are a number of steps involved in forming a new political party. The steps that created the Libertarian Party of Minnesota were not all done by a single group of people working together. After decades have passed, it is difficult to pull together those various steps, who did them, and to determine which steps actually constitute the founding of the LP of MN. Hopefully, this account will give credit to whom it is due without being overly-concerned about details.

It's clear that the impetus behind the start of our state party, in 1972, was that the Libertarian Party had just been started on the national level, and it was trying to run Dr. John Hospers, a philosophy professor from California and past close associate of Ayn Rand, for President of the United States. That news interested a number of Minnesotans, and caused several independent conversations about forming a State LP party branch.

Charles Brekke and Steve Richardson wrote a letter to the National Libertarian Party, in Colorado, requesting a charter for a Minnesota state party. Meanwhile, Frank Haws and Rich Kleinow were discussing the same idea from an organizational aspect, with an eye toward getting Hospers on the ballot in Minnesota. Soon, a plan was being developed by the combined group. It was affiliated on 11/25/72 at the LNC Meeting 25 November 1972 as per Document:LP News 1972 November Issue 11.

Frank Haws and some of the others who were interested in forming this party, knew Ed Contoski as one of the original sponsors of the early lectures on Objectivism and an author writing on libertarianism. All concurred that Ed would be best suited for the role of State Chairman. Charles Brekke volunteered to be secretary and do as much of the detail work as possible, and Ed graciously agreed to become the first LPMN Party Chair.

The first real meeting was held at the home of Charles and Georgiena Brekke, at 4821 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis, which became the first LPMN HQ.

At that meeting Ed Contoski was elected the first state chairman. Rich Kleinow was elected vice-chairman, Charles Brekke secretary, and Claudia Jenson treasurer. Others at the meeting were Frank Haws, Jack and Jane Buxell, Marc and Arnette Putman, and Georgiena Brekke. Charles Brekke had contacted the Minnesota Secretary of State's office and learned that to be officially recognized as a political party in Minnesota it was necessary to have ten members. The eleven original signers of that charter, in alphabetic order, were:

Charles Brekke Georgiena Brekke Jack Buxell Jane Buxell Ed Contoski Rich Kleinow Franklin Haws Claudia Jensen Arnette Putman Marc Putman Stephen Richardson

These original eleven people were the founders of the Libertarian Party of Minnesota and comprised the original Executive Committee.

During the early years, those who decided to form the Libertarian Party, both nationally and in Minnesota, were criticized by others in the Objectivist movement, and by Ayn Rand herself. Clearly, these were people who wanted to put their beliefs into action. For that we are in debt to their courage and persistence.

In 1974, Rich Kleinow and Claudia Jensen were the first two candidates for the Libertarian Party of Minnesota, on the ballot for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, respectively.

Dale Hemming, the twelfth member of the LPMN, worked vigorously on behalf of the party in the early years and ran for Congress in 1976 and 1978.

Many early members have moved to other places, and some have become inactive.

It should be noted that volunteer work in a young organization often creates "burnout" and "dropout." This is probably more true in a political party, trying to overcome the significant hurdles created by incumbent parties to stifle any new competition. Even so, many more individuals joined the LP of MN during the next few years, and at this time, there are still many active members with 20 years or more.

Governing Documents

Platform

• Platform Adopted April 2, 2022 (info)

For historical platforms see Index of Minnesota State Party Platforms

Bylaws

• Bylaws Adopted April 2, 2022 (info)

For historical bylaws see Index of Minnesota State Party Bylaws

Leadership

As of August 2017.

• Chris Holbrook, Chair
• Ryan Waterbury, Vice-Chair
• Cindy Hucks, Secretary
• Mary O’Connor, Treasurer
• Shaun Atkielski, At-Large
• Chris Dock, At-Large
• S. L. Malleck, At-Large
• Bob Odden, At-Large
• Jake Severance, At-Large
• Michael Toman, At-Large
• Shane Wernsing, At-Large
• Stephen Baker, At-Large
• Vacant, Region 1 East
• Shane Wernsing, Region 1 West
• Dave Holsinger, Region 2
• Ryan Waterbury, Region 3
• Andrea Blalock, Region 4
• Heather Johnson, Region 5
• Vacant, Region 6
• Vacant, Region 7 North
• Joe Gjerde, Region 7 Central
• Vacant, Region 7 South
• Jennifer OsBorne, Region 8 North
• Vacant, Region 8 South
• Matt Kowalski, Executive Director

Judicial Committee

• Bob Odden, Chair (even year)
• Jim Rongstad (even year)
• Sheldon Christenson (even year)
• Heather Johnson (odd year)
• Hanns Weichman (odd year)

Division Leaders

• Chris Holbrook, Political Director
• Joe Mckenzie, Presentation Coach
• Ryan D. Waterbury, Communications Director
• S.L. Malleck, Blog & Newsletter Editor
• Collin Daugherty, Graphic Design
• Cara Schulz, Social Media Team
• S.L. Malleck, Social Media Team
• Trevor Jordan, Social Media Team

Former

Chairs

• Edmund Contoski (1972-1973)
• Rich Kleinow (1973-1974)
• Frank Haws (1975-1976)
• Charles Brekke (1977-1978)
• Dale Hemming (1979-1980)
• Fredrick Hewitt (1981-1982)
• Richard Putman (1983-1984)
• Joseph Rohner (1985-1986)
• Robert Kelsey (1987-1988)
• Arlen Overvig (1989-1990)
• Bob Kuhn (1991-1992)
• Caryn Cohen (1993-1994)
• Charles Test (1995-2000)
• Bob Smith (2001)
• Kevin Houston (2002)
• Ron Helwig (2003-2004)
• Lee Brennise (2005-2006)
• Bob Odden (2007-2012)
• David Arvidson (2013-2014)
• Chris Dock (2015-2016)

Other

• Mary O'Connor, Secretary
• Rex Johnson, Treasurer and Secretary
• Jim Rongstad, Secretary
• D. J. Simerson, Secretary

Historical Addresses

Newsletters

PO BOX 580774/ Minneapolis, Minnesota 55458-0774 (1996-1998)

Headquarters

1710 Douglas Dr N #225U Golden Valley, MN 55422

Affiliates

• Hennepin County Libertarian Party
• Nicollet County Libertarian Party
• Otter Tail County Libertarian Party
• Ramsey County Libertarian Party
• St. Louis County Libertarian Party

Publications

• Minnesota Libertarian
• 1998 Voter Guide (info)

Elections

See: Libertarian Party of Minnesota 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 - 2016 Or Active Members 1972 - 2003 (Dec)	LNC Donors Per Million Population	State Rank Of Total LNC Donors (Of 51)
2018	53,068	2.03%	2,070	369	210	37.43	22
2017			2,079	373	213	38.20	25
2016	112,972	3.81%	2,214	401	315	57.07	22
2015			2,043	372	171	31.15	22
2014	40,729	2.04%	2,007	368	180	32.98	23
2013			1,977	365	213	39.28	22
2012	35,098	1.19%	1,932	359	223	41.45	22
2011			1,868	349	221	41.32	22
2010			1,839	346	226	42.56	22
2009			1,817	344	234	44.31	22
2008	13,923	0.48%	1,735	331	273	52.03	21
2007			1,633	314	220	42.25	25
2006	15	0.00%	1,580	306	188	36.41	21
2005			1,405	274	272	53.13	22
2004	4,639	0.16%			328	64.47	23
2003					270	53.43	22
2002					319	63.56	22
2001					376	75.46	22
2000	17,151	0.70%			460	93.24	22
1999					441	92.35	23
1998	49,173	2.34%			467	98.81	20
1997					368	78.50	20
1996	8,271	0.37%			384	82.62	19
1995					239	51.90	18
1994	15,467	0.86%			176	38.55	19
1993					148	32.73	20
1992	3,373	0.14%			185	41.37	20
1991					152	34.33	18
1990					168	38.29	18
1989					148	34.12	15
1988	5,109	0.24%			128	29.79	17
1987
1986	3,852	0.26%
1985
1984	4,653	0.22%
1983
1982	31,422	1.71%
1981
1980	31,593	1.52%
1979
1978	4,116	0.25%
1977
1976	7,004	0.35%
1975
1974	2,115	0.17%
1973
1972	35	0.00%

External links

• Official Libertarian Party of Minnesota website