Hillsborough Libertarian Party of Florida

At the 2008 February meeting, the Libertarian Party of Hillsborough County elected it's new officers for the year.

LPHC Officers Contact Info

Florida doesn't allow large cash contributions to Political Parties anymore. Effective January 1st 2008, political party contributors may only make contributions over $50 via personal check. See new statute below.

No Libertarian candidate did better in the state than Kim Snow of Carrollwood, who received an unheard of 31 percent of the vote against a Republican incumbent.

TAMPA - Florida Libertarians, those no-tax, stay-out-of-my-bedroom types, managed some respectable third-party performances in Tuesday's general election.

Sure, several of its candidates crossed the finish line with percentages of 2, 3 and 5 percent. But others polled over 20 percent, numbers rarely seen by any party challenging the Republican and Democratic political duopoly. In one South Florida race Libertarian Frank Gonzalez managed to garner 27.6 percent of the vote for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Number-wise, though, no Libertarian did better in Florida state House or congressional elections than Kim Snow, a software consulting company executive from Carrollwood.

Taking on Republican incumbent Kevin Ambler, she got 31 percent of the vote in a low-budget campaign for his northwest Hillsborough County seat in the state House of Representatives.

That pleased Florida Libertarian Party administrator Ralph Swanson, whose definition of political success is broader that many organizers.

"We here in the party have a rule of thumb: If we can get 30 percent, people will respect us," he said. "Kim Snow did a good job."

One couldn't find Snow gushing about the results Wednesday. Although she viewed her tally as a step forward for state Libertarians, she expected to do better against Ambler, an independent-minded conservative who barely survived a bruising primary fight with fellow Republican Bill Bunkley, a Christian conservative.

"I would have liked to have broken 40 (percent), rather than 30 (percent)," the mother of three said. "Given, I raised $6,000 . . . not bad."

She said she "probably" will run for office again, though maybe not for the state House. "I keep telling people it's like childbirth," she said. It's painful while it's happening, but afterward, "you're willing to do it again."

Question is, did her relative success owe more to Ambler's vulnerability than her own candidacy as a Libertarian?

Ambler infuriated many die-hard Republicans during the primary. Special interest groups on both sides launched a flurry of negative campaign ads that led to accusations of hitting below the belt. Ambler, who never denounced the ads, barely survived. His winning margin was the smallest of any incumbent house Republican with an opponent.

Bunkley didn't support Ambler in the general election. Others, such as former state Sen. John Grant, hinted that Republicans would defect to Snow.

In some cases, at least, that turned out to be true.

Barbara Wilcox said she voted for Snow as "payback" for Ambler's conduct during the campaign. On election night, she said she spoke with a handful of other Republicans who also cast ballots for Snow.

Some, like Bunkley, expressed their anger by skipping over the House 47 race.

"There are people who voted for Kim Snow in the race," he said. "There are people who didn't vote at all."

To Ambler, what matters is that 69 percent of voters sent him back to the House.

"It shows I earned the respect of Democrats and Republicans," he said.

Snow also appeared to benefit from the inability of Democrats to field a candidate. Across Florida, Libertarians did much better in races where they were the only alternative.

In three-way races, the only Libertarian to poll above 5.1 percent was U.S. House candidate Robert Johnson. Facing incumbent Rep. Jim Davis, D-Tampa, he drew 14 percent.

"I don't notice much, really," from the Libertarians, political analyst Susan MacManus said.

But when you're a Libertarian, you look for the silver lining.

With more money, Snow is confident she could have been even more competitive. Unlike Ambler, who had an army of volunteers, a mountain of brochures and a $200,000 war chest, Snow had just enough money for 1,500 fliers and some 60-second radio ads at the end of the campaign.

By taking 31 percent of the vote, Snow may have crossed the threshold to credibility, said Libertarian Charlie Westlake. That could help her raise money if she runs again, he said.

"It's very encouraging," said Westlake, who was creamed when he ran against Davis two years ago. "In the real world . . . you can't really attract money and support unless they believe you're a viable candidate."

Josh Zimmer can be reached at 813 269-5314 or zimmer@sptimes.com

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/11/04/news_pf/Hillsborough/Snow_s_showing_leads_.shtml

Originally Published in the LP News September 2000

He's the first LP candidate ever to run for Congress in Florida

Charlie Westlake: "Libertarians are more than paper tigers who will curl up and cry uncle," said the LP candidate for U.S. House (District 11) in Florida.

Campaign Profile

Libertarian Charlie Westlake has already made history by getting on the ballot -- and now he wants to make history again by running a competitive two-way campaign for U.S. House.

Westlake, 42, has become the first candidate in the Libertarian Party's 29-year history to run for Congress in Florida, thanks to a 1998 ballot measure that eased the state's previously insurmountable ballot access laws.

"Before 1998, it was easier for a third-party candidate to get on the ballot in St. Petersburg, Russia than it was for one to be on the ballot in St. Petersburg, Florida," said Westlake.

But thanks to Revision 11, passed by state voters two years ago, Westlake didn't have to collect 11,000 signatures to get on the ballot. Instead, he merely had to be nominated by the state Libertarian Party, notify the Secretary of State by May 12, and pay an $8,200 filing fee -- the same requirements as his Democratic opponent.

"It's a huge victory for us to finally be able to compete for federal offices," said State Chair Lisa Bullion. "We're putting the old parties on notice that we've arrived and will be there to contest more and more offices. It means they will have to re-evalute what is considered a 'throw-away district.' "

The first-ever Florida LP Congressional campaign has already transformed the District 11 race from a "throw-away" district into an "unexpectedly tight two-man race" with the Democratic incumbent, said Westlake.

His opponent, Jim Davis, "has now started making [campaign] appearances, and he has tentatively agreed to a debate," said Westlake. "His last two Republican opponents were weak candidates with strong negatives whom he easily trounced, so he apparently thought he could beat a lowly third-party candidate without campaigning.

"Win or lose, he has found that Libertarians are more than paper tigers who will curl up and cry uncle -- Libertarians work to publicize their superior and contrasting ideas."

The decision to run for office as a Libertarian was a "gradual" one, said Westlake.

"Like most people, there have been many times where I said what an idiot the guy in office was, and how I could do a better job, but I had not seriously considered running," he said.

That changed in late 1998 or early 1999, said Westlake, when he was having a "spirited discussion" with a neighbor about public education.

"I made a comment to her about how she should run for office," he said. " 'Not me! Why not you?' was her reply. The question stayed with me, and I kept asking myself why I did not run."

A few months later, a local Republican County Commissioner candidate "looked me in the eye and lied to me" about a proposed waiting period for gun purchases, said Westlake -- at which point "I changed my voter registration to Libertarian from Republican. The rest is history."

He decided to run for Congress, he said, "because even with a 100% Libertarian state or local government, the federal monster is so out of control it can negate state and local laws and force compliance with Washington's edicts, not our own. I entered it to win and put Libertarian ideas front and center in the U.S. Congress."

His campaign will focus on those kinds of federal control issues, said Westlake. Specifically, he is advocating:

• Cutting federal taxes by 10% a year for five years along with corresponding spending cuts, with an "eventual goal of a 10% rate on whatever type of tax we end up with."

• Closing the federal Department of Education and sending "all the money back to the states it comes from."

• Privatizing Social Security.

"I chose these because they are highly contrasting positions [with the Democrat]," he said.

Westlake admitted he is running his campaign on "pennies, gumption, and shoe leather" -- but said if he could raise $100,000, "I could either win it outright or make it so close that I would be positioned to win in 2002."

So far, Westlake has raised about $16,000, he said. To reach voters, his campaign is relying on "some" advertising, direct mail, political forums, and door-to-door campaigning.

"I anticipate picking up most of the Republican vote," he said. "Additionally, there are still many yellow dog Democrats in this area. Many of these are conservative in their politics, but just will not vote for a Republican. I believe I will get their vote if they hear my message.

"If I could raise enough money to drive home to the electorate how liberal [my opponent's] positions really are, I could win this election."

Westlake is a self-described "lifelong Floridian." He lives in Tampa with his wife, Michaela, and their three children -- including new daughter Elizabeth Ann Westlake, who was born on August 11. Professionally, he is an insurance agent.

To make a contribution to the Westlake campaign, visit: www.westlakeforcongress.com

Call: (813) 933-9429.

E-mail: Cwestlake@WestlakeForCongress.com. Or write: P.O. Box 22661, Tampa, FL 33622-2661.

Just a decade ago Florida Libertarians had some of the toughest ballot access laws. The Libertarian Party of Florida helped ease the way for third party candidates being on the Florida Ballot. It was no easy task either (read 1998 article below) but the hard work paid off with the win of Revision 11 -- that eventually yielded nearly 2 million votes for Libertarians.

Original LP News Article from November 1998

Florida LP lobbies for Revision 11

November 3 initiative would reform the worst ballot access laws in the nation
After two years of lobbying, testifying, coalition-building, and proselytizing, Florida Libertarians have their fingers crossed that state voters will pass a measure this November to liberalize the Sunshine State's restrictive ballot access laws.

 
Libertarian Party members Tom Regnier (back row, second from left) and Tom Smith (back row, far right), show their support for Revision 11 at a meeting of Floridians for Fair Elections. Also present: Representatives from the Reform, Natural Law, Green, and American Reform parties.
Revision 11, an initiative that would dramatically reduce ballot access barriers for third parties, "is the most important issue facing the Florida LP today," said Tom Regnier, state party Vice Chair and coordinator of the pro-Revision 11 campaign.

And, as the final days trickle away before November 3, when Florida voters will have their say -- and as state Libertarians continue their relentless pro-Revision 11 campaign -- the odds are looking good, said Regnier.

"We have a good chance of getting the voters to voice their approval," he predicted -- thereby reforming the "most difficult ballot access procedures of any state in the country, worse than in Russia or South Africa."

If passed, Revision 11 would make Florida ballot access requirements the same for all candidates, whether major party, minor party, or independent. Currently, smaller parties like the Libertarian Party must collect signatures from tens of thousands of voters to get on the ballot, while Republicans and Democrats merely pay a filing fee.

For example, getting a candidate on the ballot for a Congressional race requires more than 11,000 signatures, and a new party has to gather over 240,000 signatures to appear on the ballot for a statewide race -- a hurdle that has never been overcome since the laws were passed in 1931.

"Florida has the dubious distinction of having one of the most discriminatory ballot-access laws in the country," noted the Orlando Sentinel in an editorial. "The Sunshine State imposes the highest filing fee and requires the most petition signatures, by percent of population, of any of the 50 states for candidates to get on the ballot."

Richard Winger, publisher of Ballot Access News, put it even more starkly.

"Florida easily has the most restrictive ballot access laws for minor parties and independent candidates of any state," he said.

As a result, "Florida has more uncontested political races than any state," said Regnier. "In the last 20 years, about half of State House races and about a third of State Senate races were uncontested. This year, 18 of Florida's 23 races for U.S. Congress will have only one candidate."

The restrictive laws hit Florida's most active third party -- the Libertarian Party -- especially hard, he said.

"We are able to run political candidates only infrequently," he noted. "Yet, political campaigns are the best way to put a party in the spotlight as far as the press and the public are concerned. In order to [run more] political campaigns, we need to be able to get on the ballot more often."

To achieve that goal, Florida Libertarians launched a ballot access reform campaign in 1997. Their first target: The state's Constitution Revision Commission, which meets just once every 20 years to hear public testimony and recommend changes to the Florida Constitution.

Libertarians attended all 12 CRC meetings around the state in July, August, and September 1997. Their message: The urgent need to reform Florida's unfair ballot access laws.

"Libertarians from all over the state showed up at the hearings to recite the facts and figures on how Florida's restrictive laws have closed the political process to all but the two major parties and deprived voters of political choice," said then-State Chair Nick Dunbar.

The Libertarians' lobbying paid off on December 12, 1997, when the CRC unanimously approved a proposal -- later titled Revision 11 -- to guarantee that ballot access requirements for minor and independent candidates would be no more difficult than for "major party" candidates.

But getting Revision 11 on the ballot was just the first step: Since then, Florida Libertarians have been campaigning to get it passed.

The Florida LP helped found Floridians for Fair Elections, a coalition of independent parties and other groups seeking fair ballot access laws. Libertarians also unleashed a blizzard of letters-to-the editor, appearances on radio talk shows, bumperstickers, and mailings to newspaper editorial boards.

In their campaign, Libertarians have been stressing basic issues of fairness and democracy.

"Revision 11 embodies a basic principle of democracy -- that the electoral process should be as open as possible so that the American ideal of rule by the people can be fulfilled," said State Chair Brian Collar. "[Revision 11 will also] increase voter interest and participation [by] increasing competition. Instead of having voters who are drowning in apathy, we'd have clear sailing for the democratic process."

The lobbying seems to be bearing fruit, said Regnier: Revision 11 has already been endorsed by the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, Gun Owners of America, the League of Women Voters, the Cedar Key Beacon, Common Cause, the Tallahassee Democrat, and columnists at the Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel.

State party leaders say they plan to continue their campaign right up to Election Day -- buttressed by a final barrage of pro-Revision 11 radio ads on the Rush Limbaugh show.

And, as the days dwindle away, they've got their fingers crossed that Florida residents will help make political history.

"We've come a long way on this. There's just one more step," said Regnier. "Now it's up to the voters. If they say yes to Revision 11 in November, Florida will lose the distinction of having the harshest ballot access requirements in the free world!"

Revision 11 Wins with 64% of Vote

Excerpt from a December 1998 LP News Article -- LP candidates win 17 races; set Congressional vote record

In one of the biggest victories of Election '98 for the Libertarian Party, voters in Florida overwhelmingly passed Revision 11, a constitutional amendment that will level the ballot access playing field for third parties.

The measure, which was supported by the LP of Florida with a radio advertising and publicity campaign, passed with a whopping 64% of the vote.

"Our thanks go to the many Florida voters who [voted] 'Yes' on Revision 11," said Brian Collar, Florida LP State Chair. "They've shown they want more choices on the ballot, and we in the Libertarian Party will do all we can to oblige them. Look for us on the Florida ballot in the next election."