Libertarian Party of Indiana
| Libertarian Party of Indiana | |
| |
| General Information | |
| Chartered: | July 14, 1974 |
| Region: | 3 |
| Officers | |
| Chair: | Timothy Maguire |
| Vice-Chair: | Rodney Benker |
| Secretary: | Frank Rossa |
| Treasurer: | Michael Schultheiss |
| Contact | |
| Address: | 1111 E 54th St, Suite 158 Indianapolis IN 46220 |
| Website: | Website |
| Social Media | |
The Libertarian Party of Indiana is the Indiana affiliate of the Libertarian Party. The Libertarian Party of Indiana has continually earned ballot access since 1994. In 2008 the Libertarian presidential ticket of Bob Barr and Wayne Allyn Root had their strongest showing in Indiana receiving 1.1% of the vote (19,243 votes) [1]. On February 17, 2009 Indianapolis city-council member Edward Coleman publicly announced that he had left the Republican Party and joined the Libertarian Party [2] [3]. Coleman now is the highest-ranking Libertarian public official in the state, and one of the top (if not highest) ranking Libertarians holding elective office in the United States. The parties best finish in a statewide race came in 2006 when US Senate candidate Steve Osborn received 13% of the vote. Osborn had the best result for a third party candidate running for the Senate in the 2006 elections.
The founding meeting of the Libertarian Party of Indiana was held on July 14, 1974 at the Holiday Inn at Weir Cook Airport (now called the Indianapolis International Airport). Approximately 20-25 people attended including Paul Hyatt, Tom Duncan, Marvin Lazaro, Brian Bernstein, Dick Smith, Steve Butterbaugh and Charlie Reisert. Reisert made the motion to start the Libertarian Party of Indiana. The first headquarters was located at 1430 N. Capitol Avenue in Indianapolis. The LPIN became a minor political party in 1994 after achieving ballot access when Steve Dillon received more than 2% of the vote running for Secretary of State.
The Libertarian Party of Indiana is the only party other than the Democrats and Republicans with ballot access in Indiana. Hoosier Libertarians have continually earned ballot access since 1994. Other parties have tried – and failed – to gain ballot access.
Hoosier Libertarians advocate smaller government while defending civil liberties. In the last decade, Hoosier Libertarians came to the defense of eminent domain victims, marched in opposition to property tax laws, fought for reduced small business licensing and pursued fairness and transparency in our elections.
Indiana Libertarians lobbied dozens of city and town councils across Indiana to allow property owners to make the decision on smoking on their property.
LPIN State Officials and Staff
State Central Committee
- Chairman Timothy Maguire
- Vice Chairman Rodney Benker
- Secretary Frank Rossa
- Treasurer Michael Schultheiss
- 1st District Michael Sandridge
- 2nd District Joe Novak
- 3rd District Kristi Avery
- 4th District Rick Irvine
- 5th District Greg Noland
- 6th District Brandtley Spicer
- 7th District Bill Bean
- 8th District Bart Gadau
- 9th District Greg Hertzsch
Staff
Libertarian National Committee Representative
- Elizabeth Van Horn - Region 3
Current Elected Indiana Libertarian Officeholders
Elected Indiana Libertarian Officeholders with 2015 results [4]
1. Susan Bell, Hagerstown Town Court Judge, Wayne County
2. Elizabeth Brewer, Claypool Clerk-Treasurer, Kosciusko County
3. Terry Coffman, Liberty Township Board, Henry County
4. Dennis Denney, Shirley Town Council, Hancock County
5. Cheryl Heacox, Clay Township Board, Wayne County
6. Renee Sweeney, Ossian Town Council, Wells County
7. Larry Walters Dublin Town Council, Wayne County
8. Jessica Whitfield, Larwill Town Council, Whitley County
Appointed Libertarian Officeholders
- Scott Baker, Elkhart County Convention & Visitors Commission
- Rex Bell Hagerstown Board of Zoning Appeals
- Rex Bell, Hagerstown Plan Commission, Chairman
- Al Cox, Brown County Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals
- Brad Klopfenstein, Indianapolis Metropolitan Board of Zoning Appeals II
- Mark Rutherford, Indiana Public Defender Commission, Chairman
- Mark Smith, Centerville Plan Commission
- Mark Smith, Wayne County Economic Development Commission.
- Chris Spangle, Vote Indiana Team/Indiana HAVA Commission
Affiliates
- Current
- Allen County Libertarian Party
- Clark County Libertarian Party (Indiana)
- Hendricks County Libertarian Party
- Henry County Libertarian Party
- Jackson County Libertarian Party (Indiana)
- Libertarian Party of Jasper County
- Libertarian Party of Johnson County
- Knox County Libertarian Party
- Libertarian Party of Lake County
- Libertarian Party of LaPorte County
- Libertarian Party of Marion County
- Libertarian Party of Morgan County
- Libertarian Party of Pike County
- Libertarian Party of Rush County
- St. Joseph County Libertarians
- Tippecanoe County Libertarian Party
- Libertarian Party of Vanderburgh County
- Libertarian Party of Wayne County
- Libertarian Party of Washington County
- Former
Elections
See: Libertarian Party of Indiana Historical Election Results
Size and Influence
| Year | Minimum Unique Voters |
Signature Members (Dec) |
LNC Total Donors 2004 - 2016 Or Active Members 1972 - 2003 (Dec) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 3,370 | 421 | |
| 2016 | 162,460 | 3,520 | 582 |
| 2015 | 3,199 | 332 | |
| 2014 | 63,780 | 3,129 | 344 |
| 2013 | 3,029 | 432 | |
| 2012 | 145,282 | 2,877 | 377 |
| 2011 | 2,732 | 354 | |
| 2010 | 100,795 | 2,673 | 375 |
| 2009 | 2,623 | 376 | |
| 2008 | 57,376 | 2,527 | 402 |
| 2007 | (Nov) 2,379 | (Nov) 320 | |
| 2006 | 168,820 | 2,338 | 274 |
| 2005 | 2,174 | 454 | |
| 2004 | 67,419 | (Aug) 576 | |
| 2003 | 532 | ||
| 2002 | 63,665 | 589 | |
| 2001 | 557 | ||
| 2000 | 81,722 | 622 | |
| 1999 | 614 | ||
| 1998 | 56,575 | 628 | |
| 1997 | 406 | ||
| 1996 | 62,551 | 432 | |
| 1995 | 256 | ||
| 1994 | 46,849 | 184 | |
| 1993 | 182 | ||
| 1992 | 35,733 | 201 | |
| 1991 | 135 | ||
| 1990 | 1,144 | 123 | |
| 1989 | 96 | ||
| 1988 | 4,218 | 82 | |
| 1987 | |||
| 1986 | 21,040 | ||
| 1985 | |||
| 1984 | 10,839 | ||
| 1983 | |||
| 1982 | 11,060 | ||
| 1981 | |||
| 1980 | 19,627 | ||
| 1979 | |||
| 1978 | 1,612 | ||
| 1977 | |||
| 1976 | |||
| 1975 | |||
| 1974 | |||
| 1973 | |||
| 1972 |
Past State Chairs
See: List of Chairs of the Libertarian Party of Indiana
LPIN Awards
Awards are presented at the LPIN Convention each year. With the exception of one award, all winners are granted their award by a vote of the LPIN membership.
Dr. Barbara Bourland Light of Liberty Award: The recipient is honored as the person most responsible for the growth of the party and dedication to the libertarian cause.
Past winners include:
- 2018 - Jeremiah Morrell
- 2017 - Rex Bell
- 2016 - Karl Tatgenhorst
- 2015 - Greg Hertzsch
- 2014 - Beth Duensing
- 2013 - Chris Spangle
- 2012 - Evan McMahon
- 2011 - Joyce and Paul Morrell
- 2010 - Allison Maguire (Marion)
- 2009 - Dan Drexler (LaPorte)
- 2008 - Timothy Maguire (Marion)
- 2007 - Mike Kole (Hamilton)
- 2006 - Greg Kelver (LaPorte)
- 2005 - Rex Bell (Wayne)
- 2004 - Phil Miller (Hancock)
- 2003 - Rebecca Sink-Burris (Monroe)
- 2002 - Sam Goldstein (Marion)
- 2001 - Mark Rutherford (Marion) & Andy Horning (Marion)
- 2000 - Kurt St. Angelo (Marion)
- 1999 - Steve Dillon (Marion)
Susan Bell Officeholder of the Year Award: Awarded to a current elected officeholder of the Libertarian Party that best promotes libertarian principles and values through public service.
Past winners include:
- 2017 - Susan Bell
- 2016 - Chris Mayo
- 2015 - Steve Coffman
- 2014 - Brad Klopfenstein
- 2013 - Al Cox
- 2012 - Mark Rutherford
- 2011 - Edward Coleman
- 2010 - Edward Coleman (Marion)
- 2009 - Susan Bell (Wayne)
- 2006 - Ed Dilts (Johnson)
Ken Bisson Outreach Award: Awarded to a party member who has strived to spread the message of libertarian principles to as many potential voters as is possible.
Past winners include:
- 2018 - Dakota Davis
- 2017 - Rodney Benker
- 2016 - Rodney Benker
- 2015 - Donna Dunn
- 2014 - Andrew Horning
- 2013 - Chris Spangle
- 2012 - Rupert Boneham
- 2011 - Rex Bell
- 2010 - Jerry Titus (Kokomo) and Paul Morrell (Rush)
- 2009 - Doug Horner (Allen)
- 2006 - Mike Sylvester (Allen)
Joe Hauptmann Campaign Leadership Award: Awarded to a campaign volunteer who has worked above and beyond in an extraordinary fashion, and has significantly contributed to the success of a campaign.
Past winners include:
- 2017 - Jeremiah Morrell
- 2016 - Angela Fisher
- 2015 - Michael Sandridge
- 2013 - Miah Akston
- 2012 - (Tie) Allison Maguire, Evan McMahon and Chris Gault
- 2011 - Dan Drexler
- 2009 - (Tie) Melanie Hughes (Floyd), Allison Maguire (Marion), and Tim Maguire (Marion)
- 2005 - Sheri Conover Sharlow (Grant)
Phil Miller Candidate of the Year: Awarded to a Libertarian Candidate that has shown an extraordinary ability to reach and connect with voters, as well as further the cause of libertarianism.
Past winners include:
- 2018 - Frank Rossa
- 2017 - Lucy Brenton
- 2016 - Mike Gunyon
- 2015 - Chris Mayo
- 2013 - Rupert Boneham
- 2012 - Phil Miller
- 2011 - Rebecca Sink-Burris
- 2009 - (Tie) Dr. Eric Schansberg (Clark, Congressional District 9), Rex Bell (Wayne, House District 54)
- 2005 - Kenn Gividen (Bartholomew)
Steve Dasbach Chairman's Award for Extraordinary Service: Awarded to an individual that has helped grow the Libertarian Party of Indiana in extraordinary ways over many years. This award is not voted on by LPIN membership, and it is the sole privilege of the Chair of the LPIN to award it to the recipient.
Past winners include:
- 2017 - Rex Bell
- 2016 - Steve Dillon
- 2015 - John Schick
- 2014 - Beth Duensing, Greg Kelver and Michael Schultheiss
- 2013 - Dale Wedel
- 2012 - Mark Burris and Rebecca Sink-Burris
- 2011 - Greg Hertzsch
- 2010 - Todd Singer (Hendricks), Dale Wedel (Hendricks), and Dan Drexler (LaPorte)
- 2009 - Andy Horning (Owen)
- 2007 - Mark Rutherford (Marion), Mike Runnebohm (Shelby)
- 2006 - Brad Klopfenstein (Marion), Cindy Kirkpatrick (Marion), Kenn Gividen (Bartholomew)
External links
- Libertarian Party of Indiana
- Past LPIN Candidates
- Free Hoosiers, the LPIN Social Network
- Principles, Issues and Activism
- By-Laws
Conventions
| Dates | Venue | City | Key Note Speaker(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 4-6, 2018 | Indianapolis Marriott Downtown | Indianapolis | TBD[1] |
Elections
See Also
- Steve Osborn - 2006 US Senate Candidate
- Mike Kole - 2006 Secretary of State Candidate
- Marvin Scott - 2004 US Senate Candidate
- Aaron Milewski - 2004 Attorney General Candidate
- Paul Hager - 2002 US Senate Candidate
| State Organizations of the National Libertarian Party | ||
|---|---|---|
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