National Convention 2004
The 2004 Libertarian National Convention was held at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia Memorial Day weekend, May 27 to May 31. Michael Badnarik was chosen as the party's presidential candidate, beating out Gary Nolan and Aaron Russo on the third ballot; Richard Campagna was chosen as the party's vice-presidential candidate over Tamara Millay, and Michael Dixon was elected chair of the Libertarian National Committee. The convention was chaired by Geoffrey Neale.
Gary Nolan's campaign was managed by former LNC National Chair and LP Executive Director Steve Dasbach. Russo's campaign was managed by the LP's current Political Director, Stephen Gordon. Fred Collins, with the assistance of his wife Barbara Goushaw-Collins assumed the managerial responsibilities of the Badnarik campaign during the 2006 convention. Prior to the convention, Jon Airheart and Trevor Southerland had been Badnarik's key staffers.
The convention was organized by Nancy Neale. Audio, video and stage production was handled by Atlanta-based Van Gogh Productions.
The convention was broadcast on television nationally by C-Span, as well as other media outlets.
The theme of the convention was "LIBERTY Works!"
Speakers included:
- Michael Badnarik
- Gary Nolan
- Aaron Russo
- Dr. Ron Paul, former Libertarian Presidential candidate and current Republican Congressman
- Neal Boortz, national syndicated radio talk show host
- James Bovard, author of Terrorism and Tyranny
- anti-Brady Bill sheriff Richard Mack
- David Nolan, Libertarian Party founder
- retired U.S. Navy vice admiral Michael Colley
- actor Dean Cameron
- James Gray, Superior Court Judge and author of Why Our Drug Laws Have Failed And What We Can Do About It
- Dr. Mary Ruwart, author of Healing Our World in an Age of Aggression
- Ed Thompson, 2002 Wisconsin Libertarian Party gubernatorial candidate
- Jimmie Vaughan, Grammy-Award-winning blues guitarist/singer, a founding member of the Fabulous Thunderbirds