Charles Schaefer, 2017 City Council candidate for Burien, WA
LCI talked with Charles Schaefer in an exclusive interview about his 2017 campaign run for City Council of Burien, WA. He touched on a few issues such as a absence of law enforcement and community outreach. He is currently actively volunteering in the community, specifically with homeless issues. Charles wants to work on issues with the community and his fellow council.
You can connect with Charles on the following platforms and sign up to volunteer or donate:
2017 Libertarian Party of Washington (LPWA) State Convention in Moses Lake, WA
The 2017 Libertarian Party of Washington State Convention was held in Moses Lake, WA from April 21st to 23rd, 2017. LCI was on-site for the Friday and Saturday festivities. Training for candidates and volunteers were held on the 23rd.
There was a great deal of surprise to everyone in attendance as current LPWA State Chair, David Traynor reported to the attendees that they were 3 members short of reaching quorum requirements to hold the business meeting portion on the convention. It was agreed upon by the body to host the business meeting portions of the State Convention on July 8th and possibly 9th, 2017; likely within King County to address the attendance situation. State leadership is said to have had the event in Moses Lake since City Council member, Don Myers is located there; along with the fact that Eastern Washington has held 4 of the last State Conventions and the East Side needed a turn. Despite the convenience of the location, only a small number of Eastern Washington Libertarians made the convention, primarily being an approximate 3/4 attendance from King, Snohomoish and Kitsap Counties.
LPWA Chair, David Traynor Addressing Quorum Issue at LPWA State Convention 4.22.2017
Libertarian Party of King County Vice Chair, Matt Dubin addressed the crowd and words of encouragement for the State Party.
LPKC Vice Chair Matt Dubin, speaks at LPWA State Convention 4.22.2017
Caryn Ann Harlos, National Region 1 Representative and Libertarian Historian presented the "Statement of Principles" and history on the LP back in 1972-74. You can see Caryn Ann's handout with the presentation at the following link: http://www.libertychronicle.net/2017/04/caryn-ann-harlos-presentation.html
Caryn Ann Harlos Speaks at LPWA State Convention 4.22.2017 - "Statement of Principles" of 1974
2017 Kent City Council Candidate, Paul Addis addressed the convention with his own "Letter from Paul" to rally together members of the state party.
Larry Sharpe speaks at LPWA State Convention 4.22.2017 (HD Version)
Don Myers, current Libertarian City Council member of Moses Lake, WA closed out the speaking session for that Saturday and had more words of inspiration for the LPWA body in attendance.
Don Myers, Moses Lake City Council memeber speaks at the LPWA State Convention 2017 4.22.2017
David Traynor,Matt Dubin, and Don Myers video courtesy of LCI Independent Contributor, Alex Love of Love 4 Liberty. Editing by LCI E.I.C. David Malekar.
The first video was streamed live via Facebook and has been converted to YouTube Format. This was an age 21 and over event.
Libertarian Party of King County hosted their first "Liberty Rocks Seattle" event at the Columbia City Theater in Seattle. The event featured LPKC Chair Michelle Darnell, LPKC Co-Chair Billy Doyle, LPKC Political Director David Johnson, Region 2 Associate Director of King County WA David Malekar, Everett WA City Council candidate Justin Murta in this first part of the event.
Liberty Rocks Seattle 4.13.2017 - Libertarian Party of King County Event, LCI Exclusive - Part 1
Liberty Rocks Seattle 4.13.2017 - Libertarian Party of King County Event, LCI Exclusive - Part 2
The following is a transcript as read by Political Director David Johnson:
"Hello Seattle! Hello King County! Thank you for joining us tonight.
We've got a lot of great candidates here. I wanted to talk a little bit
about our strategy as an organization as well, and where we're going -
not only this year, but beyond this year, because I think our candidates
need to understand that this year is an awesome year, we've got awesome
opportunities, AND they're a part of something bigger here. And I want
you guys to understand that we're not in this just for this year; we're
in this to win this, long term, and we want your support long term.
You're all here because you're pioneers and we're striking out on a new
journey here. Like all pioneers we are operating lean here. This is our
first event; if you look at most Democrat events they have a lot more
people. We are the pioneers, the disruptors, the entrepreneurs right
now, fighting the big man.
So the exciting part is that the
journey has now just begun. You're here in this room; this is the
beginning of our journey. This is not the end, and we are going to get a
lot bigger, and a lot louder.
Today could not be a better
reminder of why we are doing what we are doing. I lost track in the last
24 hours of how many countries we're bombing, or at war with, or are
nearly at war with. Does anybody have a number out there? I know it was
seven before Trump got into office; I'm losing track now. I would count
our own country at this point. I sure as heck can't count and I can't
explain how any of those wars are helping Americans at this point.
This is why we're doing what we're doing. After an election where the
Democrats put forward a candidate that wanted to shoot down Russian
planes, I can't blame people who tried to vote for the lesser evil. But
the reality is, there's no lesser evil. There's one evil. There is one
party that is a duopoly that is controlling our country right now. That
duopoly stands for three things that we stand against: Endless war,
militarized police, and crushing debt.
As we stand here today
facing not a two party system but a one party scam, we are here for one
goal; to form a SECOND party that stands for love, liberty, and logic. I
want to talk about what those three points are and what they mean for
us here when we're trying to spread our Libertarian message to our
neighbors.
Love means that you don't go around the world like a
monster bombing everybody. Some people say you're crazy if you question
the American war machine right now. I say you're crazy if you DON'T
think we should question why we should go kill somebody.
Logic
says that you don't make excuses for unsustainable debt as a path to
economic ruin. You don't have to believe in the principle that taxation
is theft to realize in practice that warmongering and irresponsible
social engineering are stealing the future away from our children.
And liberty says that you cannot protect life, liberty, and property
through a bigger, more powerful, more invasive state with the vain hope
that they will do good with that power. But rather, life, liberty, and
property are best protected by focused, limited government that leads in
respecting others by example, instead of leading through violence,
persecution, and bullying our fellow Americans. Whether it is a
Republican or a Democrat bullying a Republican, a Democrat, a
Libertarian, a Green Party [member]; it doesn't matter who you are, the
government shouldn't be bullying you, it shouldn't be telling you what
to do with your life, and it shouldn't be limiting your opportunities.
So these three pillars are the foundation on which the second major
party coalition will be built in opposition to the current major party
that is pro-war, pro-debt, and anti-individual; we are anti-war,
anti-debt, and pro-individual.
Here in King County it's critical
that we spread the message [that] not only do we believe people have
inherent right to life, liberty, and property because of abstract
principle, but also because those rights are the only means by which we
can allow the best in us to flourish. As the major party today leads by
example in attacking others and plays Americans against one another, we
must show the power to do good and live at peace with one another that
comes with liberty.
We will show King County that free people can
choose to feed the homeless. We will show King County that free people
see problems with addiction and want to empower them rather than
imprison them. We will show King County that free people can race to the
top building more homes for more people instead of trying to control
more and keep homes from being built. And we will show King County that
free people can talk about hard issues while treating each other with
dignity and finding reasonable common ground with each other.
Our
candidates today are the front-line soldiers in this fight, running out
by their own choice into a battle where the army behind them is still
being recruited, putting everything on the line. I've sat down with all
of our candidates as political director; I see every day the stress they
go through, the hard work they put through, and the barriers that are
put in the way that they fight. Unlike real war, where the people on the
frontlines go and they get shot, and they die, and you have a nice
ceremony for them, our candidates get back up after every attempt, and
we get stronger. This is a fight to do our best this year, AND this is a
journey where we will change an entire generation. We will not win
AGAINST any individual, whether they're a Republican, a Democrat, voted
for Green Party, or didn't vote at all - they're the people we're
working with to build a better world.
I've been to Democrat and
Republican events over the past several months, and let me tell you the
worst-kept secret in politics here: the major parties are literally
dying. There are no young people at any of their events. They're a sea
of gray hair, whether you're in Seattle or Kirkland or anywhere.
We're the future. This is not a gray audience. I don't see almost any
gray hair out here. It's a completely stark contrast. There's a little
bit, and we appreciate it. But if you go to a Democrat or Republican
event, no comparison. We are the new generation. We are going to outlive
the people who we are fighting against right now.
The
Libertarian Party tells the story of the next generation, and I am
honored to help write your story, and I look forward to the incredible
journey ahead."
LCI Exclusive Interview with Randy McGlenn, candidate for 2017 LPWA Chair
*Editor Note* Thanks to Randy for talking with us after the convention for a quick interview on what LPWA Chair means to him and goals for 2017
Minutes Credits: Alex Love is an independent journalist from Lynnwood, WA / Phoenix, AZ. He is a community servant and activist who also runs a non profit called Love 4 Liberty. Video Credits: This contribution is from Seattle-based independent journalist, David Malekar, Editor in Chief for the Liberty Chronicle Independent; and publishes content to other online publications.
Libertarian Party of King County, WA First Convention 3.18.2018 - Introduction about LPKC by Michelle Darnell 1 of 11 (13
Minutes 29 Seconds)
History was made in King County Washington, Saturday March 18th.
The Libertarian party of King County held its first convention, ratified its by-laws and elected its first official board.
Acting chair, Michelle Darnell, opened the meeting with “Tell us why you are here today!” James Sherman responded “Taxes!” Someone else yelled “second!” Adam Owen responded “15 dollar minimum wage in Seattle, 13 in WA state!” David Malekar “Identity politics have run amuck and everyone gets offended by the truth.” Jeff Jared “I’m worried about King county and Seattle in particular. I am seeing a fu-fufication of Seattle. It’s like San Francisco; too expensive to live there. It’s becoming elite because of progressive tax policy of the left.” Michelle Darnell added “On the top of my list is the homelessness problem, increasing rents, poverty, rapidly increasing taxation, regulations, injustice in courts, and the fact our leaders seem out of touch, touting “mo money mo money!”
Michelle went on to discuss the values statement of the LPKC, and what is meant by the Love, Logic and Liberty slogan. She said “One of the things I hear when talking to people in the community is that “Libertarians don’t have any compassion.” “People think we just want people to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and dismantle the safety net.” “This is not true. Capitalism has brought more people out of poverty than any government program it IS the compassionate solution.” Libertarians have a lot of talent and sophisticated ideas but we must reach hearts to change minds. Freedom empowers while excessive taxation and regulation is binding.
The LPKC also seeks to build bridges with all people who share our values even people from other parties. We are stronger united. Love. Logic. LIBERTY
LPKC, WA First Convention 3.18.2018 - Kirkland City Councilman, Toby Nixon 2 of 11 (39 minutes
33 seconds)
Lifetime LP member, Ran as state representative in
Georgia in 1990 received 6.9 percent in a 3 way race. Appointed to fill a
legislative vacancy in 2001. Elected as
a fire district commissioner in district 41. 2011 elected to Kirkland city
council and reelected without opposition in 2015. First got into politics in Jr
High school. Got into “party politics” in 1980. Wanted to be involved in some
way. Petitioned to get John Anderson on ballot in Florida. First Libertarian
legislative candidates to run TV ads. He talks about his experiences with
running for various offices, taking out unnecessary government departments, and
how to run an effective campaign.
LPKC, WA First Convention 3.18.2018 - James Passey, Seattle City Council, Position 8 candidate 3 of 11 (57 seconds)
Need 400 signatures and $10 from each signee to be
qualified for Democracy Voucher. Explains why a Libertarian would take a
Democracy Voucher.
LPKC, WA First Convention 3.18.2018 - Burien City Council Position 1 candidate, Charles Schaefer 4 of 11 (1 minute 11 seconds)
Attends City council meetings regularly. Big issue is
city’s zoning regulations.
LPKC, WA First Convention 3.18.2018 - Seattle Mayor Candidate, Casey Carlisle 5 of 11 (1
Minute 42 Seconds)
He is asking for feedback from the community. Asking for
donations to help campaign.
Libertarian Party of King County, WA First Convention 3.18.2018 - Amanda Carter 6 of 11 (2 Minutes 21 Seconds)
What are we doing as a community, individuals or as a
party?
LPKC, WA 1st Convention 3.18.2018 - Randy and Tiffany, Chair/Vice Chair candidates for LPWA 7 of 11
Talking about the “infighting” issue within the LP.
Doesn’t happen in King or Kitsap Co LP's.
Tiffany talked about keeping moral high. They want to
create a strong presence in WA state. Randy talks about positivity and success.
LPKC, WA First Convention 3.18.2018 - LPWA Region 2 Associate Director
of King County Endorses Randy for Chair and Tiffany for Vice Chair of
LPWA 8 of 11 (18 Seconds)
LPKC, WA First Convention 3.18.2018 - Robert Parker Endorses Randy and Tiffany 9 of 11 (1
Minute 36 Seconds)
LPKC, WA First Convention 3.18.2018 - Hank Myers, Redmond City Councilman 10 of 11 (2
Minutes 37 Seconds)
Get involved in your city at a grassroots level. A little
Q&A with Hank.
Libertarian Party of King County, WA First Convention 3.18.2018 - Closing Remarks with Michelle Darnell 11 of 11 (3
Minutes 28 Seconds)
There’s tons of work
to do here! Talk to friends and neighbors to build the movement.
Elected officials from the convention are as follows:
LPKC Chair: Michelle Darnell
LPKC Vice Chair: Matt Durbin
LPKC Co-Chair: Billy Doyle
LPKC Outreach Director: Adam Owen
LPKC Political Director: David Johnson
LPKC Secretary: Bill Herman
LPKC Treasurer: Charles Schaefer
LPKC IT Director: Steven Hoag
LPKC Area Director 1: Alex Love
LPKC Area Director 2: Brendan Roman
LPKC Area Director 3: James Sherman
