Libertarians gathering in Wixom for the Special Convention.

Special Convention Delegates Vote on Petitioners Concerns in Wixom

Link to the May Issue of the Michigan Libertarian

By Scotty Boman

Wixom, MI – On April 1st 42 Libertarian Party of Michigan (LPM) Delegates converged at the VFW Post #2269 in Wixom. They were there to vote on the concerns expressed in three petitions:  A petition calling for a vote of no confidence in Chair Andrew Chadderdon, a petition to hold officer election to fill vacancies, and a petition to appoint an investigatory committee to consider possible misconduct by Dave Canny, Greg Stempfle, and Joe Brungardt. This was a Special Convention called by the Libertarian Party of Michigan Executive Committee chaired by Andrew Chadderdon.

Opening Remarks Highlight the Need to Improve Bylaws

Special Convention credentials by Jeff Pittel
Jeff Pittel handling membership records and credential work in Wixom

As Chair Andrew Chadderdon addressed controversy in the LPM. He supported ending it in a manner that complied with the party’s bylaws.  Chadderdon expressed hope that inconsistencies in the bylaws would be remedied at the Summer convention which will probably be on a, yet to be scheduled, date in July. He said,

The guiding principal that kinda got me here to leading this convention was to stick to the bylaws. Make sure we hear them, and try to work to make them more agreeable. I think a major factor in having a political party, is there will always be disagreements, but I think a really critical aspect of the bylaws is they provide a mechanism to adjudicate disagreements.

After Chadderdon’s opening comment Membership director Jeff Pittel provided the credentials report stating that 36 delegates were present, but 5 wished to be elevated to delegate status. The addition of delegates requires 7/8 approval.  They were approved by 34 of the delegates thereby raising the count to 41.

“No Confidence” Vote Draws Support

Connor Nepomuceno made a motion to remove the “No Confidence” vote from the agenda but the motion was soundly defeated in a voice vote. During debate over the motion Secretary Daniel Ziemba stepped away from taking notes to say, “I’m the Secretary. I too would like to speak against this motion. I want my victory.” Delegates responded with laughter and applause.

One Agenda Item Made Confidential

According to the minutes,

… the motion to appoint an investigatory committee to consider possible misconduct by Dave Canny, Greg Stempfle, and Joe Brungardt in the creation of the petition (which was ultimately submitted on January 3rd), was followed by a private Executive Session:

  • Executive session begins; non-delegates exit and live stream paused (…)
  • Chair Andrew C responds to a request for information as to the source of the requirement to enter executive session, stating that RONR requires this occur while describing specific accusations against Party members.

2024 POTUS Hopeful, Jacob Hornberger Speaks to Delegation

Jacob Hornberger
Jacob Hornberger

In 2020 Jacob Hornberger ran for the Libertarian Party’s Presidential nomination.  He lost at the convention, but received the honor of the national Mises Caucus endorsement.  This was the first of a couple stops in Michigan and he was the only Libertarian Presidential candidate to choose to attend the convention. Jacob Horneberger is an author, and the founder of the Future of Freedom Foundation.

Hornberger presented his case for a Presidential campaign that would speak boldly and directly on controversial issues, rather than trying to appear more moderate or apologetic, like Republicans.  He had this to say about the GOP:

I don’t like Republicans… Republicans are just as Responsible as Democrats for turning this country dead on the plight its in today: Their out of control spending. With their out of control debt, $31 Trillion; Their monetary debauchery; Getting us close to nuclear war; in Ukraine, because they didn’t affect prices… the Pentagon admitted it; And we need to hold them to account.

Delegates applauded him several times.

Delegates Vote to Fill Vacancies

Special Convention Delegate Jim Fulner in Wixom.
Special Convention Delegate Jim Fulner in Wixom.

One of the three Special Convention petitions called for the election of officers to fill vacancies. Wixom Convention Delegates elected the following people to hold these respective offices for the remainder of the original holder’s terms:

  • 1st Vice Chair: Leah Dailey
  • 2nd Vice Chair: Trevor Step
  • Treasurer:  Greg Black

By District Caucus:

  • District 2: Rich McClain Jr.
  • District 6: Larry Henneman
  • District 8: Kevin Ellis
  • District 13: Dave Franklin
  • District 14: Jeff Pittel

Ranked Choice Voting Organizer Addresses Libertarians

Ron Zimmerman spoke to the attendees about “Ranked Choice Voting.” This approach, also known as “Instant run-off” voting (IRV) has already been implemented by Ferndale and Ann Arbor.  Zimmerman expects to get similar proposals on the ballot in Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Lansing, East Lansing, and Royal Oak.

Zimmerman said he hopes the precedent set in municipalities will make state-wide implementation more likely to pass when Michigan voters have that choice on their ballots.

A Musical End

Connor Nepomuceno concluded the event with a passionate a cappella performance of “500 Miles.”

Readers may give it a listen at the end of the third of these videos:

Link to the May Issue of the Michigan Libertarian

 

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