Alex Merced
Alex Merced (born 1985) is an American author, blogger, marketing consultant, and Libertarian pundit. Merced runs a YouTube channel where he discusses Libertarian ideas such as individual liberty and free markets. He ran for Public Advocate of New York City in 2013, getting 10,400 votes. He ran for Senator of New York in 2016.
Early life
Alex Merced was born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1985. His mother is from Guatemala and his father from Puerto Rico.[1]
His parents divorced after giving birth to his little brother. Merced's mother worked multiple jobs to raise her children while going to school. She eventually graduated, got a job, and bought a house in the suburbs.[1]
In High School Alex attended Howell Cheney Technical Vocational School. During this time he read Anthem by Ayn Rand, which Alex "found compelling and always held in the back of his mind as it sparked a deep value for individuality".[1]
Career
Merced is a graduate of Bowling Green State University in Ohio where he got his B.A. in Popular Culture studies and minored in Marketing. He worked for the local college radio station (WBGUFM 88.1FM), promoting concerts . He also owned a hobby retail store called The Gamers’ Lounge, which he eventually sold to pay for college.
During a trip to Manila, Merced watched the Fox Business News debate between Rudy Giuliani and Ron Paul, which heavily influenced his Libertarian views.
After graduation, Merced moved in with his father in Long Island. He worked at a marketing internship at Shane and Shawn. Later, he was a broker dealer and worked at Greico Financial Training.[1][2]
In 2005, Merced started a vlog on his YouTube channel where he discusses Libertarian ideas such as individual liberty and free markets.[3]
In 2016, Merced started Merliva[4] LLC, a consulting company for social media marketing.[1][2]
Politics
Merced is the Web Chair of the Brooklyn Libertarian Party[5] and Co-Media Chair of the Manhattan Libertarian Party.[6]
2013 New York City Public Advocate election
In 2013 Merced ran for Public Advocate of New York City in 2013, getting 10,400 votes.
2016 Senate election
in 2016, Merced ran for Senator of New York[7][8][9] in order to unseat incumbent Chuck Schumer. “And neither of the two candidates in the senate race (Schumer and Long), or neither of the major presidential candidates, Trump and Clinton…have talked seriously, in a productive way about the drug war or foreign intervention abroad in a way that would save lives. I tell people , ‘a vote for libertarian is not just a vote against two major parties, it’s a vote for life and death. You’re voting for the only party seriously talking about policy interventions that would save actual lives.” says Merced.[10]
His platform involved lowering regulations, a 20% flat tax on income, tax credits, saving accounts, ending the war on drugs, and rolling back regime change in foreign countries.[11] He was endorsed by 2016 Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson and four New York State Assemblymen.[12]
Personal life
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Alex Merced for New York" (in en-US). http://alexmercedforny.com/.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "About the Company" (in en-US). Merliva LLC.. 2016-02-02. http://www.merliva.com/about-the-company/.
- ↑ "Alex Merced". https://www.youtube.com/user/AlexMerced/featured.
- ↑ "Merliva LLC." (in en-US). http://www.merliva.com/.
- ↑ "Officers" (in en-US). Libertarian Party of Brooklyn. 2016-02-03. http://www.brooklynlp.website/officers/.
- ↑ "MLP Officers - Manhattan Libertarian Party" (in en-US). Manhattan Libertarian Party. http://manhattanlp.org/about/mlp-officers/.
- ↑ "Schumer, Long square off in Senate election". lohud.com. http://www.lohud.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/11/07/schumer-long-ny-senate-race/93413318/.
- ↑ Dawson, Evan. "Congressional Candidate John Plumb; U.S. Senate Candidate Alex Merced". http://wxxinews.org/post/congressional-candidate-john-plumb-us-senate-candidate-alex-merced.
- ↑ "Alex Merced". Libertarian Party. https://www.lp.org/candidates/liberty-candidates-16/alex-merced-0.
- ↑ Sukert, Chris Bolt, Elana. "Libertarian Merced Ready to Challenge Schumer for US Senate Seat" (in en). http://waer.org/post/libertarian-merced-ready-challenge-schumer-us-senate-seat.
- ↑ "Alex Merced | Nov. 8, 2016 - General Election Voter Guide" (in en). News 12. http://politics.news12.com/voters-guide/long-island/guide/nov-8-2016-general-election/candidate/alex-merced.
- ↑ "Endorsements" (in en-US). Alex Merced for New York. 2016-07-20. http://alexmercedforny.com/endorsements/.
- ↑ Secret Fire Media (2014-11-17), Becky & Alex | Connecticut Wedding Video | Secret Fire Media, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iFqxvkGdbA, retrieved 2016-10-19
- ↑ Alex Merced (2012-10-14), Alex Merced Proposes to Becky, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tki3KQmI6JM, retrieved 2016-10-17