Date: 04.03.09

Local/Municipal/State Elected Offices ~ Libertarian Candidate Guide and Filing Procedures

Authored By: William McDowall

Chair, Candidates and Campaign Committee

Page 2 Forward

Forward

What are the Benefits of Running as a Libertarian and Why is the Endorsement of the Libertarian Party of Ohio Important?

In years that the Libertarian Party has ballot access, anyone declaring themselves ‘Libertarian’ can run for office. Running as a Libertarian does not necessarily mean an automatic Party endorsement. The steps to Party endorsement are simple to follow, but nonetheless important. In short, the Candidates and Campaign Committee issues a recommendation to the Executive Committee who, in turn, vote on candidate endorsement. Especially in years of ballot access, it is fair to wonder why this endorsement procedure is important to a candidacy.

A Built In Voting Block – Even candidates who do not have the resources to run large campaigns can count on a certain amount of votes from persons who identify with the Libertarian Party. In 2008, Congressional Candidate Mark Noble received over 14,400 votes in his Congressional District although he was shut out from televised debates and radio broadcasts profiling the candidates. Mark Noble received more votes than the Independent candidate Don Eckhart who was permitted to participate in all the above mentioned media events. Mark Noble did not personally meet 14,400 people to ask them for their votes. His identifiable party

affiliation played a large role in his vote tally.

Candidates and Campaign Committee

Endorsed candidates have at their disposal the efforts of the Candidates and Campaign Committee to assist them in the paperwork and filings needed to make valid a candidacy before filing deadlines. This committee can acquire voter lists and arrange them in a sensible form to ease the pressure of signature gathering. Endorsed candidates can also work through the Candidates and Campaign Committee to get specific answers to questions directed to the Ohio Secretary of State. While some of this research can be done by the candidate without the Party, it is important that duties unrelated to ‘getting votes’ be farmed out to the Party, volunteers, and to campaign officers whenever possible. Party endorsement affords this extra layer of support.

Strategic Targeting Committee

After an endorsed candidate has filed with the Board of Elections and the filing deadlines for competing candidates have passed, the endorsed candidate may work with the Strategic Targeting Committee to refine their campaign. This committee will assist in doing opposition research, evaluate the minutes of council meetings, and provide an environment to strengthen the campaign. This committee can even provide mock-debates (complete with cameras, podiums,

Page 3 Forward

etc) and mock-newspaper interviews to prepare candidates for media attention. Candidates may also be advised on presentation and appearance issues. Campaign managers will find the efforts of this committee infinitely valuable.

Field Development and Volunteer Efforts

During the course of a campaign, a candidate will have a need for volunteers. In many regions of Ohio, Field Development teams exist that can help in volunteer recruitment. The L.P.O. has a Field Liaison in each quadrant of Ohio as well as a College outreach program and even a Women’s Caucus that a candidate may find useful in their campaigning efforts.

Website Development

While this is a new directive currently under development, the L.P.O. hopes to provide each candidate with a basic website and biography page upon endorsement. Many candidates may have taken on web development in-house with elaborate pages that include contribution opportunities and interactive features. However, in smaller races, a basic page may be all that is required to maintain a ‘web presence’.

Financial Assistance

A candidate for office should have a framework in place for their own fundraising. The L.P.O. has a certain budget

each election to spend on efforts to elect endorsed Libertarians. This budget is based solely on incoming contributions, and as Libertarians, we do not spend money we do not already have. The amount that the L.P.O. can contribute to campaigns varies widely. However, the Candidate and Campaign Committee will contribute to endorsed candidates and will seek to empty its accounts in this effort each election season.

Lastly, an endorsed candidate may coordinate through the L.P.O. Treasurer limited access to donor lists. Donors to the L.P.O. who live within a candidate’s municipality may well be pleased to contribute to a local candidate. Donor lists also include other persons who may be able to provide volunteer resources (printing capability, rental tents for parties, food products for fundraisers….) that help candidacies in ways not measured in dollars and cents.

If a Libertarian seeking office does not seek the Party’s nomination, much, if not all, of these resources may be withheld. Even endorsed Independents might not be granted complete and total access to the resources listed above. To ensure access to the benefits of Party endorsement, join the Libertarian Party ~ take ‘The Pledge’ online, and we’ll team up on the campaign trail!

Page 4 Table of Contents

Table of Contents

5 - Introduction

6 - The Decision Process

8 - Self Examination

10 - Evaluating the Political Landscape

11 - The Ohio Secretary of State Website

12 - The County Board of Elections

13 - Condensed Instructions for Local/Municipal Libertarian Candidacy

15 - Continuing Commitment and Your Future in the Party

16 - Conclusion

Page 5 Introduction

Introduction

This document is intended for the use of Libertarians running for public office in a local election. The term ‘local’ is described as a partisan or non-partisan race for an office that governs at the township, city, or county level. Examples of these offices include:

- Township Trustee

- Fiscal Officer

- Village Trustee

- Village Administrator

- City Council

- President of City Council

- Mayor

- County Commissioner

Libertarian candidates for General Assembly as well as statewide office (Attorney General, Treasurer, Governor…etc.) are welcome to use this handbook, but may find some sections lacking in detail concerning the complexities of their campaigns as compared to local races. A candidate handbook for those seeking General Assembly and statewide office is forthcoming.

The L.P.O. (Libertarian Party of Ohio) has ‘ballot access’ though the elections of 2010. Ballot access is defined as the right to list ‘Libertarian’ beneath the name of the candidate on a voter ballot. Getting ballot

access is a problem that the L.P.O. deals with yearly. However, whether the L.P.O. has ballot access or not has little bearing on the actions of a well run campaign. Freedom of speech gives candidates the right to brand themselves in any way they wish in campaigning efforts. A candidate’s hand bills, yard signs, mailings, banners, flags, refrigerator magnets…etc. may have the word ‘Libertarian’ printed on them in any manner the candidate sees fit. Even in non-partisan races, campaign information may be used that blatantly brands the candidate as a Libertarian. (This tactic may or may not be a good idea and candidates should consult with their campaign managers, as different races may dictate different strategies)

Lastly, a candidate should have an understanding of what it takes to win. While there is genuine and legitimate value to ‘paper’ candidacies, this manual is intended to enhance the efforts of plausible candidates that intend to win their races. The advice and instruction in this manual is by no means the only way to successfully run a local campaign, but attention should be paid to the timelines described and the processes outlined. A passage containing information that is believed to be of high importance to most any Libertarian candidate for local office will appear in bold italic font as can be seen here.

Page 6 The Decision Process

The Decision Process

The first step in a candidacy is deciding for what office to run. While this may seem obvious, there is more to it than one might imagine. A candidate should visit the municipality’s website and determine the structure of local government as dictated by the adopted charter. Some municipalities have a city council form of government. In others, a city manager is the senior elected official. If a candidate has the experience and political drive to become Mayor, a candidate should be sure that the Mayor is, in fact, the top elected official. For example, in Marion, Ohio, the City Council President is the top elected official. In Mason, Ohio, City Council elects a Mayor from amongst the elected board members, but the position carries no weight over and above that of a rank and file council member.

Of equal importance, a candidate should evaluate whether an existing or recent career lies in conflict with the required actions of elected office. Each Libertarian candidate aims to implement the Libertarian governing ideals of smaller government, fiscal responsibility and social tolerance. These ideals cannot be pressed if the office holder has to recuse himself or herself from key votes stemming from conflicts of interest. For example, many local level public offices are part time positions and meet only in the evening allowing the office

holders to maintain a ‘day job’. If the office holder is employed by an engineering firm, a construction firm, an architect or similar vocation, that office holder may have to recuse themselves frequently from contract negotiations on improvement projects if their firm is active in bidding for these jobs. Similarly, candidates in the computer industry may experience comparable issues if the municipality seeks to improve their data systems and holds open bidding for these contracts. Correspondingly, most of Ohio’s public schools do not permit teachers to serve on an elected school board. To summarize, a candidate must determine if their business dealings will unduly hinder their career in public office.

The next step is to review the municipality’s ordinance dictating the requirements of the position. Some candidates may wish to run for Mayor. This position in smaller communities is occasionally won in unopposed elections. However, it must be noted that certain prestigious positions in local government do not pay well in comparison to private sector jobs. Also, candidates should note the days that the office holder must be physically present in office and on which evenings the official must be available for meetings or other events. Prospective candidates must evaluate which position they wish to run for based on their availability to perform the duties of the office.

Page 7 The Decision Process

Additionally, residency requirements must be met for elected positions. Obviously, a candidate must reside within the governing municipality, but attention must be paid to ward and precinct designations as these lines are occasionally redrawn based on census information and political pressures. Local boards of elections should not be relied upon to make these designations known to candidates. A savvy campaign manager may well end an opposing candidacy citing errant filing technicalities.

Page 8 Self Examination

Self Examination

Most every person that contacts the L.P.O. with an interest in running in a local election is qualified to hold office. Libertarians that decide to become candidates are concerned citizens that are willing to offer up their record for public scrutiny. One does not need to be an attorney or hold a Master’s Degree in Political Science to run successfully in a local election. In even the smallest of Ohio’s communities, municipal websites list detailed biographies of current officeholders. College graduates are in the minority of some City Councils. The ratio is even lower at the township level.

Regardless of education level or prior political experience, all successful officeholders have one thing in common: commitment to community involvement. That is not to say that a young professional Libertarian with an impressive education could not win a local election with a well conceived campaign message, significant door-to-door work, and some money, but that person would be vulnerable to a retired community businessperson who was a member of the local chamber of commerce, serve on the P.T.A., was appointed to the local zoning appeals board, is active in their church, and acts as vice-president of their homeowner’s association.

With the possible exception of Mayor, all local public offices can be won with no political experience. The question becomes, ‘How plausible are my chances?’

Voters value prior public service. President Barack Obama was elected in 2008 touting his record of civic involvement as a community organizer. No one elected Mr. Obama to the post of community organizer. It can be argued that Senator McCain served people he represented better than President Obama, but it is inarguable that Senator McCain never had his political fate dictated by his ability to organize at the grassroots level.

All Libertarian candidates are urged to prepare themselves for office by building the plausibility of their candidacy through actions and associations. Many people are surprised to learn how many civic positions are available simply by visiting a website and signing up for consideration. Some of these opportunities include:

- Joining the local homeowner’s association

- Applying to be an alternate to the local zoning review committee

- Joining the P.T.A.

- Applying to be an ‘Area Coalition’ board member

Page 9 Self Examination

- Volunteering at the Red Cross, United Way or other charitable organization

- Joining the area Chamber of Commerce

- Volunteering for a faith-based position

- Volunteering for the local Youth Booster Association

- And many more…

While a candidate might be professionally qualified for a public office, taking these community involvement steps enhances ones plausibility factor.

Page 10 Evaluating the Political Environment

Evaluating the Political Environment

Once a candidate has determined the office they wish to hold, investigate the availability of the office for election. If one is running for city council, all members may be elected simultaneously or on a staggered election schedule. It is prudent to investigate the political ‘lay of the land’.

For instance, if a candidate wishes to serve as representing City Ward 3 and the current office holder as been serving for many years and winning elections by sizable margins, the candidate may decide to run at-large. Conversely, a well-entrenched office holder may well run unopposed. This situation can set up as an exciting and opportunistic way to place a very different choice in front of voters. Candidates are encouraged to stay in touch with the local Board of Elections to remain aware of how many other candidates have filed to run for office and the political party to which they belong.

Appraising the competition early may well make the difference in the outcome of a race. Candidates should evaluate honestly the likelihood of winning the race before filing for candidacy and should be prepared to adjust their plans to take advantage of the competition.

Page 11 Evaluating the Political Environment

The Ohio Secretary of State’s Website

Aside from a candidate’s campaign website, the website of the Ohio Secretary of State will be the most important tool to a candidacy. It is important in that the website lists specific instructions as well as resources for candidates.

Before a candidate accepts any campaign funds or buys a single campaign related item, a Campaign Treasurer must be named. A candidate’s Campaign Treasurer must be above reproach. Many books that advise candidates running for office suggest naming a reputable person from another political party. A candidate should treat this decision as the most important personnel pronouncement they will make before taking office.

Candidates must download the Campaign Finance instructions for candidates from the Ohio Secretary of State’s website. As of April, 2009, that link is:

http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/Upload/candidates/CFGuide/chapters/02Candidates08-06.pdf

This instructional text covers campaign financing laws, fund raiser reporting, corporate contributions and many other important documents. Special attention must be paid to text detailing contribution limits. Once a candidate has determined that they will run for office in the next election, the

Ohio Secretary of State’s website should be visited and evaluated even before filing at the local Board of Elections.

Additionally, candidates are to read the entire section called “Frequently Asked Questions”, found here:

http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/Upload/candidates/CFGuide/chapters/16FAQs08-06.pdf

This section covers questions that many persons ask in their effort to comply with election financing law.

Lastly, the downloadable forms that are necessary in filing with the Ohio Secretary of State are found here:

http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/Campaign%20Finance/CFForms.aspx

As elections pass, different Ohio Secretaries of State will revise their websites. If the links listed above are unavailable, contact the Libertarian Party Chair of the Candidates and Campaigns Committee or the Ohio Secretary of State’s office directly to procure forms or instructions on filing.

http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/upload/publications/election/CRG09.pdf

Page 12 County Board of Elections

County Board of Elections

The candidate petition is a critical form. This document is available at the county Boards of Elections. The candidate will circulate this petition door-to-door seeking signatures from registered voters. This is an excellent opportunity for candidates to introduce themselves to their communities.

How many signatures required for a candidate to appear on the ballot varies based on whether the candidate is permitted to run as a Libertarian or is forced to run as an Independent. At present, the Libertarian Party enjoys ballot access and the required number of signatures is fewer than that of Independent candidates. Candidates must be sure to procure the correct candidate petition form from the county Board of Elections.

Very close attention must be paid to the instructions describing the process for completing candidate petitions. Those instructions can be found on the Ohio Secretary of State’s website here:

http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/upload/publications/election/CRG09.pdf

Please note the various nuances to petitioning law found on the above mentioned pages. Non-compliance can abruptly end a candidacy.

On the Ohio Secretary of State’s Website, there are downloadable lists of voter records arranged by county. This is a most valuable tool for a Libertarian running for local/municipal office. A candidate should download the appropriate county file to their computer.

Special instructions of note that are fully detailed in the “Ohio Candidate Requirement Guide” brochure:

- Only an unaffiliated voter or a candidate can circulate a candidate petition for a Libertarian.

- A candidate may not sign their own petition.

- If a petitioner knowingly allows a person to sign the petition who is ineligible, the entire petition is rejected.

- No more than three times (3x) the amount of required signatures will be accepted.

Please be aware that Boards of Elections are controlled by Republicans and Democrats. Opposing party officials will take every opportunity to scrutinize Libertarian candidate petitions. Be thorough and patient with filing procedures. Also, coordinate your efforts with the Candidates and Campaign Committee Chairman to remain abreast of current laws governing petitioning.

Page 13 County Board of Elections

Condensed Instructions for Local/Municipal Libertarian Candidacy

1. Read the Introduction to this manual and understand the terminology ‘ballot access’

2. Decide for which office to run. Determine if this position lies in professional conflict with a current career.

3. Read the municipal ordinance describing the expectations of the targeted political office. Be sure that availability, residence, and other basic requirements are met.

4. Perform a self-examination regarding the plausibility of candidacy. All candidates will be evaluated for endorsement first by the Candidates and Campaign Committee and then by the Executive Committee of the Libertarian Party of Ohio. Civic involvement and community activeness will be an ever increasing criterion.

5. Perform ‘due diligence’ on the public position desired. Determine the year that the office is up for election. Review the election results from previous races. Coordinate with the Candidates and Campaign Committee for guidance and useful research in evaluating the political environment.

6. Visit the Ohio Secretary of State’s website and download/print the Campaign Finance instructions for candidates running for office in Ohio. Name a Campaign Treasurer. Read the ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ section of the ‘Candidate Finance Guide’ of this website. Download the appropriate forms for Campaign Finance from this website and follow filing instructions closely, particularly the form for ‘Designation of Treasurer’. Do not accept monies in any form, from any source, until these documents have been reviewed and filed.

7. Procure a Candidate Petition from the County Board of Elections. Be sure to take the appropriate form (Partisan or Independent) based on Libertarian Party ballot access status. Taking the wrong form may result in a candidate having to re-gather signatures to correct a filing error.

8. Download the appropriate county voter list from the Ohio Secretary of State’s website. Arrange voters by street within the residential boundaries of the elected office to allow for easy signature gathering. Gather up to three times (3X) the amount of signatures required. Carefully follow the instructions on

Page 14 Condensed Instructions

the petition regarding the procedure for signature gathering. Fill out each Declaration of Candidacy Statement and Circulator Affidavit clearly and with attention to detail.

9. Return the Candidate Petition to the County Board of Elections.

10. Join the Libertarian Party. Membership to the Party will greatly enhance a candidate’s chance for Party endorsement. Refusal to join the Libertarian Party will place significant constraints upon the Party’s ability to endorse. Although it is not impossible for a non-Party member to secure an endorsement from the L.P.O., membership in the Libertarian Party should be a paramount concern of any candidate actively seeking endorsement.

Page 15 Continuing Commitment

Continuing Commitment

Spreading Liberty as well as upholding the Party platform of ‘Lower Taxes, Less Government, More Freedom’ is the duty of all Libertarians. The best way to accomplish this is to work for permanent ballot access and elect Libertarian candidates to office. Libertarians winning elected office is the mechanism that will change Ohio and America.

While we are not currently operating on the same monetary scale as major political parties, our efforts demand certain expenses be paid. Maintaining a modest state office, conferences, candidate contributions and legal fees to combat those who would deny us the right to participate in free and open elections cost money.

As a candidate, it is proper and appropriate to donate to the State Party to ensure the L.P.O. can continue the crusade for these issues that we all hold dear for years to come. As a Party, we are blessed with many individuals that give of their time tirelessly and are always ‘on-call’ for candidates and committee members. Dedicated manpower is the L.P.O.’s greatest asset. However, without reliable income, our efforts suffer at the ballot box.

The L.P.O. asks that candidates give to the State Party by making a meager financial commitment. Please go to

WWW.LPO.ORG for more information. For as little as $17.76 per month (the average cost of a Music CD or download) you will become the shoulders on which future officeholders will stand while helping yourself in the process.

Your Future in the Party

When you are elected to office, it is assumed that you will uphold Libertarian ideals during your time of public service. After retirement, or in the unfortunate event you are not successful in an election, your journey within the L.P.O. will be just beginning.

Candidates with election experience are a precious commodity and former candidates will be relied upon to fill leadership roles within the Party to further the cause of freedom. The L.P.O. has a perpetual need for field representatives, CDC’s (County Development Coordinators) and committee chairs.

It is important to understand that being an endorsed candidate in the Libertarian Party of Ohio is but a step in your journey to spread Liberty and lay the groundwork for others to do the same.

Party officers take this issue very seriously. Becoming a Libertarian candidate for office is synonymous with a committed declaration of continuing Party involvement and participation.

Page 16 Condensed Instructions

Conclusion

As Libertarians, the Candidate and Campaign Committee does not conduct background checks over and above what a candidate mentions during an interview. A member of the Candidate and Campaign Committee and/or Field Development will make every effort to meet and interview persons wishing to run for office. At this time, no written application seeking the endorsement of the Party is required; however furnishing an L.P.O. officer with a written request for Party endorsement along with a narrative detailing positions, personal goals and experience is helpful.

Candidates seeking the Party’s endorsement should prepare themselves for an interview by an L.P.O. officer. Many questions will be asked so that the L.P.O. officer gets a feeling on where a potential candidate stands on issues. Some questions that might be asked are listed below.

Remember, candidate interviews are not interrogations and are frequently informal meetings allowing everyone to get acquainted to discuss the road ahead.

1. Do you have any experience in local government? Your Treasurer?

2. Have you selected a campaign manager? Their experience?

3. What is your current vocation?

4. Have you contemplated that you may well have to stand up to public scrutiny or opposition research from other candidates? Are you comfortable with taking political jabs from opponents?

5. Have you researched the current political situation enough to get an idea of your chances of winning?

6. Have you been an active attendee at civic meetings or other events to show your concern for local government?

7. What civic organizations are you active in?

8. What do you think will be your primary source of campaign funding?

9. Aside from an endorsement and money, what do you want from the L.P.O. in terms of support?

10. Are you a Libertarian Party member?

At this time, no formal application seeking the endorsement of the Party is required. However, there is a form that has been made available to County Development Groups and the Field Development team so that they can pass along your interest and basic information to the Candidate Review Committee.

Page 17 Notes

Notes

Page 18 Notes

Notes