[Lnc-business] Developing a regular process for funding Libertarian candidates and campaigns

Fri Sep 23 23:23:54 EDT 2016

I am really in favour of a candidate support committee.  I have observed
the affiliate support committee and been very impressed.

On Fri, Sep 23, 2016 at 9:15 PM, Starchild <sfdreamer at earthlink.net> wrote:

> I continue to feel inadequately informed to vote on these various requests
> for funding, and feel that we ought to try to develop a fair, equitable,
> and predictable process for the LNC to handle funding requests from state
> affiliates, LP candidates, and so on.
>
> One aspect of this that occurs to me is that while things like lawsuits
> and outreach events can happen unpredictably throughout the year, most
> general elections happen in November. For that campaign cycle, at least, I
> think a promising method for making funding decisions might be to establish
> two or three pre-announced funding periods during which times any LP
> candidates interested in obtaining funding from the LNC would be invited to
> submit their requests. For instance, we might hypothetically designate the
> 2nd week in June (after primaries are generally over), the 1st week in
> August, and the last week in September as periods for applying.
>
> For each of these periods, we could budget a total amount of funds to be
> distributed, based on our current resources, and announce the availability
> of these funds, along with the requirements and deadlines to apply for a
> portion of them. Appoint a committee to review all the applications
> received and make recommendations to the full LNC on how to divide up the
> pile of funds available for that distribution period among the various
> campaigns that applied. Lay out a clear timetable – say a week for the
> committee to make its recommendations, and another week for the LNC (to
> whom the applications would also be made available as they are submitted)
> to meet electronically or in person, debate and vote on any amendments to
> the committee's recommended disbursements, and get checks sent out – so
> that campaigns would know when to expect the requested funds, if any.
>
> To apply for funding, campaigns could be asked to fill out a standard form
> (available on LP.org and perhaps printed in LP News) providing
> information such as name, office sought (partisan or non-partisan),
> campaign website, and responses to a number of questions such as:
>
> • How much money are you requesting?
> • How would you plan to spend these funds (be specific)?
> • How useful would it be to your campaign if you are only granted a
> portion of the funding you request?
> • Where do you fall on the Nolan Chart (submit filled-out quiz with
> application)?
> • What are your three top campaign issues?
> • What campaign promises have you made?
> • How much press has your candidacy received (include links/clippings)?
> • Has there been any polling in your race, and if so, what were the poll
> results (sources/numbers/dates)?
> • How much money have you raised so far, and on what has it been spent?
> • What are the legal restrictions on how much you can raise and spend?
> • Who are your opponents and how much have they raised and spent?
> • Besides trying to get you elected, what is your campaign doing to build
> the Libertarian Party and advance the cause of freedom?
> • Please list at least one reference other than a family member who can
> vouch for you and your campaign and confirm as much of the information
> you've provided here as possible.
> • Will you provide to the LNC within 30 days of the election a report on
> how your campaign went, and how the money granted to you by the party was
> spent (being specific)?
>
> Some of the above questions clearly relate to candidates and would not be
> relevant to ballot measure campaigns seeking to defeat or enact a
> particular proposal. For those types of campaigns, there might be other
> questions not applicable to candidates, such as:
>
> • Please provide the text of the measure in question (can be a web link)
> • Please provide a list of the groups and prominent individuals supporting
> the measure in question, and a list of the groups and prominent individuals
> opposing it
> • What is your assessment of the impact that passing this measure would
> have?
>
> I would propose that campaigns not be deemed automatically ineligible for
> funding as a result of failing to provide any particular requested
> information, but obviously the LNC and the members of its appointed
> subcommittee would be likely to take the completeness of information
> provided into consideration when making their decisions.
>
> What do other LNC members think of this as a general approach for general
> election campaign/candidate funding? Any suggested modifications or
> additions?
>
> Love & Liberty,
>                                     ((( starchild )))
> At-Large Representative, Libertarian National Committee
>                                  (415) 625-FREE
>
>
> On Sep 23, 2016, at 12:20 PM, Daniel Hayes wrote:
>
> The initial request was for $12,000 for a television campaign and now has
> been lowered to $5000.  I don't understand how either amount of money on
> television can have any demonstrable effect on an election.  While this
> opponent may have poor name recognition the Democrat Party has an extreme
> hold on the vote process in Massachusetts.  How much money has Mr. Simmon's
> raised for his campaign so far? This is always one of the considerations I
> use when considering a donation to a candidate.
> Also, as Whitney has stated, Mr. Simmons says he needs the entire $12,000
> from National.  That isn't legal.  There are ways around things but that
> all takes extra time.  Even if members cosponsored this it would still be
> at least a day before it even started being voted on and then would take up
> to 10 days after that.  This motion doesn't meet the amount he says he MUST
> have from the LNC and doesn't meet his time frame.  I wish luck to Mr.
> Simmons in his campaign but I don't think we can help him.
>
>
> Daniel Hayes
> LNC At Large Member
>
>
>
> On Sep 23, 2016, at 11:01 AM, Caryn Ann Harlos <carynannharlos at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> Just bringing up the immediate practical concerns.  It takes day to get
> co-sponsors, if they can be gotten and ten days for an email vote which
> already puts this past any week deadline.
>
> We need a Candidate Support Committee badly.
>
> On Fri, Sep 23, 2016 at 11:54 AM, Patrick McKnight <
> patrick.joseph.mcknight at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I am seeking cosponsors of my amended motion to allocate $5,000 in
>> support a TV ad for Thom Simmons. Thom is running for Congress in western
>> Massachusetts. http://simmons4congress.com/
>>
>> I am forwarding the attached storyboard for Thom Simmons' proposed ad.
>>
>> From Thom regarding the storyboard:
>>
>> "They are looking at three different ads that would cover western
>> massachusetts (Berkshire region), which, incidentally, would also spill
>> over into NY and VT - which could only help with Alex Merced's Senate race
>> and the J/W campaign in Vermont as I do not shy away from the Libertarian
>> label. :-)
>>
>> The first and third require some explanation, as they are unique: they
>> are REVERSE attack ads, meaning: at first, they start out dark as if they
>> are an attack ad against me, with the voice over saying something such as,
>> "he wants to end common core.."  The idea is to get people to say to
>> themselves, "yeah, me too!"  and then end by showing people they agree with
>> me and the LP after they have already said this on their own heads.
>>
>> The second ad plays on the print media, which has called my opponent
>> "disappearing," "missing" etc, by showing him and then fading out.  It is
>> the single biggest factor in this campaign, as the Berkshires - dems, reps,
>> Inds...are LIVID at his inattention to that portion of the district.
>>
>> This could be a gamechanger.
>>
>> I realize that everyone wants money - and I will be blunt: if we are to
>> do this, I need $12,000 for the full campaign from National. And I need to
>> know within a week to get into production.
>>
>> I would appreciate it if you could bring this to the attention of the
>> powers that be in the LP, and see we can get them to invest in my
>> campaign.  The Mass State Cmte is fully aware of, and supports this
>> request."
>>
>> "We're talking five weeks of three ads.  There is no realistic way to
>> know what percentage of the electorate will see them, except that the only
>> TV in western Mass is Cable and they are working through the Cable system,
>> so ANYONE watching TV will see them.  Of course you can see the ad, I can
>> not produce the ad without knowing I have the funds to do so!  The
>> Storyboards give a general idea...we cant expect scripts or more polished
>> ads if we cant guarantee to pay the studio.
>>
>> Most important, there will NOT be a "sea" of political ads:  NO ONE is
>> spending TV time in Massachusetts, as there are NO OTHER CONTESTED RACES in
>> western Mass!  The Presidential campaigns are not even spending money in
>> Mass."
>>
>>
>> Thank you for your consideration of this matter,
>> Patrick McKnight
>> Region 8 Rep
>>
>>
>>
>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>> From: Thomas Simmons <simmons4congress at gmail.com>
>> Date: Tue, Sep 13, 2016 at 11:59 AM
>> Subject: Fwd: Simmons rough storyboard concepts
>> To: patrick.mcknight at lp.org, Larry.Sharpe at lp.org
>>
>>
>> Patrick and Larry,
>>
>> I am forwarding the very rough storyboard mockups from WeThinkAdvertising
>> in Schenectady, NY, with whom I met last week for a possible TV Ad campaign.
>>
>> They are looking at three different ads that would cover western
>> massachusetts (Berkshire region), which, incidentally, would also spill
>> over into NY and VT - which could only help with Alex Merced's Senate race
>> and the J/W campaign in Vermont as I do not shy away from the Libertarian
>> label. :-)
>>
>> The first and third require some explanation, as they are unique: they
>> are REVERSE attack ads, meaning: at first, they start out dark as if they
>> are an attack ad against me, with the voice over saying something such as,
>> "he wants to end common core.."  The idea is to get people to say to
>> themselves, "yeah, me too!"  and then end by showing people they agree with
>> me and the LP after they have already said this on their own heads.
>>
>> The second ad plays on the print media, which has called my opponent
>> "disappearing," "missing" etc, by showing him and then fading out.  It is
>> the single biggest factor in this campaign, as the Berkshires - dems, reps,
>> Inds...are LIVID at his inattention to that portion of the district.
>>
>> This could be a gamechanger.
>>
>> I realize that everyone wants money - and I will be blunt: if we are to
>> do this, I need $12,000 for the full campaign from National. And I need to
>> know within a week to get into production.
>>
>> I would appreciate it if you could bring this to the attention of the
>> powers that be in the LP, and see we can get them to invest in my
>> campaign.  The Mass State Cmte is fully aware of, and supports this request.
>>
>> Thanks for anything you can do for me.
>>
>> Thom Simmons
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>> From: Theresa Smolen <tsmediaconsulting at gmail.com>
>> Date: Fri, Sep 9, 2016 at 1:24 PM
>> Subject: Fwd: Simmons rough storyboard concepts
>> To: simmons4congress at gmail.com
>>
>>
>> Hi Thom, (We have another Simmons we have dealt with in the past - I
>> apologize for my last email with Scott in the greeting!)
>>
>> Here are three commercial concepts.
>> They are very rough at this point. We will need more/better photos of you
>> if you have more, so we can put together nicer storyboards for you to
>> present.
>>
>> Let us know what you think!
>>
>> Thank you,
>> Theresa
>>
>> Theresa Smolen
>> Project Manager
>> We Think Advertising
>> 426 State Street, 3rd Floor
>> Schenectady, NY 12305
>> 518.810.8760 cell
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>>
>>
>> Begin forwarded message:
>>
>> *From: *Christopher O'Reilly <coreilly at wethinkauto.com>
>> *Subject: **simmons*
>> *Date: *September 9, 2016 at 1:12:28 PM EDT
>> *To: *Theresa Smolen <tsmediaconsulting at gmail.com>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Christopher J O'Reilly
>> President
>> We Think Auto
>>
>> (518) 281-5540
>> coreilly at wethinkauto.com
>>
>>
>>
>> www.wethinkauto.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Website: Simmons4Congress.com
>>
>>
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>>
>
>
> --
> *In Liberty,*
> *Caryn Ann Harlos*
> Region 1 Representative, Libertarian National Committee (Alaska, Arizona,
> Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Washington) - Caryn.Ann.
> Harlos at LP.org <Caryn.Ann.Harlos at LP.org>
> Communications Director, Libertarian Party of Colorado
> <http://www.lpcolorado.org/>
> Colorado State Coordinator, Libertarian Party Radical Caucus
> <http://www.lpradicalcaucus.org/>
>
>
>
>
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-- 
*In Liberty,*
*Caryn Ann Harlos*
Region 1 Representative, Libertarian National Committee (Alaska, Arizona,
Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Washington) - Caryn.Ann.
Harlos at LP.org <Caryn.Ann.Harlos at LP.org>
Communications Director, Libertarian Party of Colorado
<http://www.lpcolorado.org>
Colorado State Coordinator, Libertarian Party Radical Caucus
<http://www.lpradicalcaucus.org>
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