Libertarian Party of Alabama
Libertarian Party of Alabama | |
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| Abbreviation | LPAL |
| Chairman | Laura Lane |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Headquarters | P.O. Box 211371, Montgomery, Alabama |
| Ideology | Libertarianism |
| Senate | 0 / 35 |
| House of Representatives | 0 / 105 |
| U.S. Senate | 0 / 2 |
| U.S. House of Representatives | 0 / 7 |
| Website | |
| www | |
| This article is part of a series on |
| Libertarianism in the United States |
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The Libertarian Party of Alabama (LPAL) is one of four political parties officially recognized by the Secretary of Alabama.[1] and is the Alabama affiliate of the national Libertarian Party (LP). It is headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama. Due to the high signature requirement to get onto the ballot and the requirement that a party run a statewide candidate that receives at least 20% in order to maintain ballot access the Libertarian Party of Alabama has rarely fielded candidates.
History
In 2000, after collecting over 60,000 signatures, the Libertarian Party of Alabama ran a small slate of candidates. Those candidates included Harry Browne for president, for U.S. Congress: District 1: Dick Coffee, District 2: Wallace B. McGahan, District 3: John Sophocleus, District 4: Craig Goodrich, District 5: Alan Barksdale, District 6: Terry Reagin, District 7: Ken Hager, for Alabama Associate Justice Sydney Al Smith, and for Public Service Commissioner Matthew Givens. Libertarian Candidate Sydney Al Smith garnered over 20% in a statewide race and in 2002 the Libertarian Party of Alabama was the first minor party to have achieved major party status in Alabama in over thirty years. In the next election cycle the Libertarian Party of Alabama ran 58 candidates ranging from governor to tax collector. Unable to garner over 20% in a statewide race, the Libertarian Party of Alabama lost its major party status and associated ballot access after 2002.
Since 2002, the Libertarian Party of Alabama has not been able to collect the nearly 60,000 raw signatures that would be required to regain statewide ballot access. However, they have successfully been able to place their presidential candidate on the ballot as an independent ever since. In 2004 presidential candidate Michael Badnarik appeared on the ballot as an independent. In 2008 presidential candidate Bob Barr appeared on the ballot as an independent. In 2012 presidential candidate Gary Johnson appeared on the ballot as an independent.
The party made headlines in 2006 when Loretta Nall, their write-in-candidate for governor of Alabama, campaigned on a small government and greater personal freedoms platform.[2][3][4][5]
The Libertarian Party of Alabama (LPA) led efforts to defeat Amendment One, the tax increase plan proposed by Republican Governor Bob Riley. Alabama Libertarians were credited by talk radio host Russ Fine as "the leader in Internet activism" for their efforts in directing an online campaign against the tax plan. The Libertarian Party of Alabama hosted a meeting in Birmingham, Alabama between many of the key people and organizations opposing the ballot measure. Key personalities from the Tennessee Tax Revolt, Inc. shared their experiences from recent tax battles in the neighboring state. In attendance were representatives from the Eagle Forum, talk radio programs, Citizens for a Sound Economy, the Libertarian Party and local businessman Stan Pate. The primary result of this meeting was a coordinated coalition activity geared toward defeating the ballot measure. While the Alabama Republican Party eventually offered a weak disapproval of Riley’s tax plan, the Libertarian Party of Alabama was the only political party to offer active resistance to the proposed tax hike. The measure was rejected by voters on September 9, 2003, with 68 percent opposed to it.
After gathering over 8,000 petitions, the LPA was granted ballot access in Jefferson County, the most populated county in Alabama.[citation needed] Currently the LPA is seeking candidates for this county and collecting signatures for surrounding counties.
The unofficial motto of the Libertarian Party of Alabama comes from the Constitution of Alabama, and it reads: "The sole object and only legitimate end of government is to protect the citizen in the enjoyment of life, liberty, and property, and when the government assumes other functions, it is usurpation and oppression."
In 2018, the LPA ran four candidates across the state. The most successful candidate was Frank Dillman, Sr., for Macon County Commission with 16% of the vote.
See also
References
- ^ "Massachusetts Directory of Political Parties and Designations". Archived from the original on 2019-03-26. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
- ^ https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/23/AR2006102300485.html
- ^ http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,223998,00.html
- ^ [1][permanent dead link] [2][permanent dead link]
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-08-08. Retrieved 2009-08-16.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
Notes
External links
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