[Lnc-business] Fwd: Letter to the LNC from Ian Epstein, Chair, Libertarian Party of Oregon

[Nicholas Sarwark]

All,

Attached is an email I received from Ian Epstein.

-Nick


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ian Epstein <johannstein at gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Sep 18, 2015 at 5:30 AM
Subject: Letter to the LNC from Ian Epstein, Chair, Libertarian Party of Oregon
To:


Dear Members of the LNC,

As you are aware, the national Judicial Committee rescinded it's
ruling of 2011.  In doing so it reinstated the 2011 resolutions passed
by the LNC.  My fellow officers and I are proud to be properly
recognized as the leadership of LNC's Oregon affiliate.

We look forward to once again receiving data dumps, being placed on
the State Chair discussion list, and having all references to the
LNC's Oregon affiliate be directed to our website (www.lporegon.net)
and email addresses (we encourage you to check out our website).

We request that you direct the LNC Secretary to notify the Secretary
of State of the Judicial Committee's ruling. The previously split
decision between the LNC and the Judicial Committee caused the
Secretary of State to take no action to update the records as to the
legitimate officers.

I am optimistic that, as LNC members did in 2011 regardless of their
personal opinions, LNC members and Chair Sarwark will abide by the
Judicial Committee ruling of 2015 in accordance with our national
bylaws.

While I have been a registered Libertarian for many years, I became
active early this year motivated by a desire to lead the LPO as an
organization run by members who have signed a non-aggression pledge.

I have no personal animosity against those in the other group.  While
I believe what they did on March 31, 2011 was unacceptable, I am
confident that they thought they were doing the right thing.

My goals in the coming year will be to heal the rifts that exist
between Libertarians in Oregon, heal the rifts that exist between the
LNC and some Oregon Libertarians, and build a culture of principled
success here in Oregon.  Because I am relatively new to the LPO, have
a short track record with it's members, and have animosity toward
noone, I believe I am the right person to accomplish these goals.
Toward those ends, I promise the following:

1.  The LPO will fully and constructively participate in the 2016
Orlando convention. We will seat any Oregon members who show up,
regardless of faction, until our allotment of seats is full.  All
votes within our delegation will be respected, regardless of faction.
Once we secure control of Oregon's ballot line, which we believe will
happen shortly after the Sec. of State hears about the Judicial
Committee ruling from our national Secretary, we will guarantee that
whoever is nominated for president and vice-president at the Orlando
convention will appear on the Oregon ballot.

2.  We will encourage LPO members to join and donate to the LNC in
order to strengthen the organization.  We will encourage LPO members
to attend the 2016 national convention.  We will ask national party
figures and candidates for national office to visit Oregon so we can
find ways to help each other.

3.  According to our bylaws, all registered Libertarians in Oregon are
already considered "registered members" of the LPO who can vote to
nominate candidates for public office or be candidates themselves.  We
will reach out to as many of these Libertarians as we can to
participate in the LPO.  We will take a positive tone and will not
attempt to cast blame on the other group.

You may not be aware that our group has continuously functioned as if
nothing was wrong in Oregon.  We have held State Committee meetings
almost monthly, we have held annual business conventions, have run
campaigns for local non-partisan offices (and had one contested
victory), have held candidate nominating conventions, have maintained
active Facebook and web pages, have sent delegations to our national
conventions, and more.

We have had success in the Oregon legislature.  The LPO actively
lobbied for and was recognized by Portland's Cascade Policy Institute
and State Rep. Mitch Greenlick (D) as being part of a coalition which
worked to pass HB2300 into law. This bill legalized recreational
marijuana in Oregon, and our effort was endorsed by Gov. Gary
Johnson's Our America Initiative organization.

We are also taking point on a ballot measure that would enhance voter
privacy by making it illegal for county elections to disclose whether
voters have voted or not before Election Day, LPO member Richard
Whitehead is the Chief petitioner of the “Voter Privacy Act,”
initiative #50, which is getting it's initial 1,000 signatures.

My point is that, even against the tremendous headwinds we have faced
because of infighting in Oregon, our group has continued to be active
as a political party and will be able to offer and accommodate
opportunities for involvement to all LPO members regardless of
faction.  You have my word.

I have read about how tired all of you are of dealing with the Oregon
problem.  I give you my word that I will be a constructive partner in
solving it and knitting the Oregon party together again.

My only interests are to:  1) Ensure that LPO governing documents are
amended only in accordance with amendment processes outlined within
those documents and, 2) Ensure that internal party decisions are made
exclusively by those who have opted-in to the LPO and subscribe to a
NAP - just as is the case with the national party.  Beyond that, I am
willing to compromise with any and all factions and do what I can to
make our national and state parties better and stronger.  Thank you.

Yours in Liberty,

Ian Epstein, State Chair
Libertarian Party of Oregon