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

Fri Sep 23 23:27:57 EDT 2016

And I largely agree with Joshua.  We have spoken on this quite a bit.  And
of course, I would never vote to approve such a Committee without
transparency. The whole motivation behind my recent transparency motion is
to get to a place where we can craft THIS committee for candidate support.

-- 
*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
Communications Director, Libertarian Party of Colorado
<http://www.lpcolorado.org/>
Colorado State Coordinator, Libertarian Party Radical Caucus
<http://www.lpradicalcaucus.org/>

On Fri, Sep 23, 2016 at 9:24 PM, Joshua Katz <planning4liberty at gmail.com>
wrote:

> I agree that a process is needed if we're going to do this, and I largely
> agree with your suggested format.  I have a few suggestions.  First, I
> would like to appoint the committee with power.  We should strive to
> appoint a committee that is well-informed and knowledgable on the topic,
> and let them decide how to parse out the money we budgeted.  We can't
> expect the LNC to be informed on the details of these races, and I'm not
> sure what is added by us listening to people who know more about the
> question, but then acting on the recommendation instead of letting them do
> it.
>
> At the same time, I'd like the LNC to give broad strategic direction to
> the committee.  We can tell them our major goals for this process, and
> where funding candidates fits into the bigger picture, and expect them to
> act in accordance with those broad ideas.
>
> That strategic direction should also, in my view, direct the choice of
> questions for that questionaire.  I'm not going to go through and note
> every point of disagreement with the suggested questions because, first, I
> realize they are only examples, and second, I think figuring out sorts of
> questions there should be without a more explicit statement of what we're
> trying to achieve is putting the cart before the horse.
>
> Joshua A. Katz
> Westbrook CT Planning Commission (L in R seat)
>
> On Fri, Sep 23, 2016 at 11:15 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
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> This E-mail and any of its attachments may contain We Think Advertising
>>> proprietary information, which is privileged, confidential, or subject to
>>> copyright belonging to We Think Advertising. This E-mail is intended solely
>>> for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed. If you
>>> are not the intended recipient of this E-mail, you are hereby notified that
>>> any dissemination, distribution, copying, or action taken in relation to
>>> the contents of and attachments to this E-mail is strictly prohibited and
>>> may be unlawful. If you have received this E-mail in error, please notify
>>> the sender immediately and permanently delete the original and any copy of
>>> this E-mail and any printout.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 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
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Lnc-business mailing list
>>> Lnc-business at hq.lp.org
>>> http://hq.lp.org/mailman/listinfo/lnc-business_hq.lp.org
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> *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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