Francis Wendt
| Francis Wendt | |
| Chair Montana Libertarian Party | |
| April 2018—2019 | |
| Predecessor: | Michael Fucci |
| Successor: | Current |
| Secretary Libertarian Party of Gallatin Valley | |
| April 2018—April 2020 | |
| Predecessor: | Raymond Porter |
| Successor: | Current |
| Treasurer Montana Libertarian Party | |
| September 9, 2017—April 2018 | |
| Predecessor: | Michael Fucci |
| Successor: | Joe Levengood |
| Assistant Treasurer Montana Libertarian Party | |
| May 2017—September 9, 2017 | |
| Predecessor: | Michael Fucci |
| Successor: | Joe Levengood |
| Personal Details | |
| Birth: | December 20, 1981 Great Falls, Montana |
| Education: | Montana State University |
| Military: | U.S. Air Force, Montana Army National Guard |
| Occupation: | Finance & Customer Service |
| Residence: | Bozeman, MT |
| Party: | Libertarian Party |
| Media | |
| Website: | https://franciswendt.com |
| Facebook: | |
| Twitter: | [@franciswendt Twitter] |
| view image gallery | |
Francis Vernon Wendt (born December 20, 1981) is an American Soilder and Politician in Bozeman, Montana. He is the Libertarian candidate for Montana Senate District 32 in the 2018 Montana elections.
Early life and Education
Francis Wendt was born on December 20, 1981, in Great Falls, Montana, the 14th child of Vernon Joseph Wendt , a U.S. Air Force Veteran of the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and Kathyrn Rae Nyman-Wendt, a performing artist. Wendt enlisted in the United States Air Force following his graduation from Great Falls High School, and received training as an Aircraft Armament Apprentice at Shepherd AFB, TX in 2000. During his service in the Air Force he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. After his initial enlistment, he settled in Bozeman to attend Montana State Univeristy. He briefly studied Electrical Engineering, but eventually perused his education in Business and Economics. As a non-traditional student, his studies were prolonged due to financing, and He will graduate with a B.S. in Business Management with a minor in Economics in December of 2018. He has held a multitude of service and finance related positions honing his skills in management and business. In 2011 Wendt reenlisted in the Montana Army National Guard as a supply specialist. He was activated in 2013 and again in 2017 by the governor of Montana for support and suppression of wildfires in Lolo, Montana.
Political Career
Wendt was drawn to Libertarian activism in 2012 as a supporter of Gary Johnson. His studies in economics, the borderline poverty of his childhood, and his dedication to the founding principles of the United States together led him to embrace the The Libertarian Party. In 2016 He furthered his involvement by running for office in Montana's House District 61. He garnered 4% of the vote with no funding. During his Montana House Run he assumed the role of State Director for the 2016 Johnson/Weld Presidential campaign. This introduced him to such people as Michael Fucci and Cindy Dyson, and led the way for the restructuring of the Montana Libertarian Party following the death of long-time chair and liberty activist Mike Fellows.
In 2017 he served as interim chair of the Libertarian Party of Gallatin Valley during its initial organization. LPGV drafted bylaws and elected a small group of dedicated officers to help lead Montana in a new direction. Wendt supported Mark Wicks during the 2017 Special Election for Montana's lone congressional seat.
In May of 2017 following the resignation of Ron Vanevender as the MTLP Chair several vacancies occurred on the MTLP Executive Committee. Wendt was appointed to serve as Assistant Treasurer of the state party. On September 9, 2017 the MTLP Central Committee convened in Bozeman, MT to approve new bylaws and confirm officer appointments. Wendt was elected by acclimation to Treasurer of the MTLP during these proceedings to succeed Michael Fucci who was elected to serve as Chair. In April of 2018 Fucci resigned as chair of the MTLP and Wendt was subsequnetly appointed by the Executive Committee to serve the remainer of Fucci's term.
Wendt presided at the 2018 MTLP Delegate Convention on May 19th in Butte, Montana where he delivered his "Lands and Liberty" speech.