[Lnc-business] Request for assistance from Mark Wicks

Tue May 9 18:37:25 EDT 2017

PS: Joshua thank you for your lengthy response.  Mark is an enthusiastic
candidate that connects well with Montanans. And I didn't vote for that
"deficit on paper" budget either.

-Caryn Ann

On Tue, May 9, 2017 at 4:32 PM, Caryn Ann Harlos <carynannharlos at gmail.com>
wrote:

> I will get the appropriate links and commentary about the debate from Mr.
> Wicks.
>
> -Caryn Ann
>
> So we have myself and Joshua willing to co-sponsor a motion for $5,000.
> We would need two more.
>
> On Tue, May 9, 2017 at 4:27 PM, Joshua Katz <planning4liberty at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> I take that to mean that there is no ballot access retention based on
>> this race.  It might be true that better voter numbers than we have ever
>> seen before makes a difference for us, perhaps even a national-scale
>> difference (which is what it takes, short of ballot access, in my eyes, to
>> invest national money).  What I'm less sure of, though, is that investing
>> money into this campaign will achieve that.  Is the debate video available
>> somewhere, or commentary saying he won the debate?  That makes a
>> difference, and I can certainly see the value of $5,000 to amplify that if
>> it is credible and exists.
>>
>> I also note that, while it's a 3-way race, the Democrat doesn't strike me
>> as particularly serious, which could be an opportunity.  I don't think
>> either of those candidates has been able to demonstrate that they care, and
>> if Wicks can do that, if he had debate moments like Bill Clinton's answer
>> on the national debt in that town hall debate, and we can make an ad with a
>> 5 second clip like that, I'm sold.
>>
>> I'm less excited about the fact that this is an at-large Congressional
>> seat.  Yes, online ads have the greatest reach, but don't across to most as
>> being as credible, and there's no other real way for him, with his budget,
>> to reach across the state.
>>
>> He is right that $5,000 is a small amount to invest.  I don't like
>> investing small amounts.  As I argued at the last meeting about the
>> consultants, people tell you what they are worth.  Someone pricing
>> themselves well below market is telling you something.  Wicks is not
>> pricing himself low, but I'm not convinced that $5,000 can do anything for
>> him.  It can get him an online ad, but I'm not sure it can get enough
>> impressions to get people talking.  So let me ask against - what is the
>> maximum we can give?  Also, if we gave more than $5,000, does he have the
>> campaign infrastructure to use it effectively?  I'm more interested in
>> spending money where it can do good than in minimizing the money spent in a
>> given place.
>>
>> I like that the ask is for less than he's raised.  I'm less thrilled
>> that, with the full ask, he'd have $11,600 for a statewide Congressional
>> race.  I'm not concerned about that because it's not enough to win - I'm
>> concerned about that because I don't know that it's enough to be heard
>> outside of a small echo chamber.
>>
>> He has a very nice website.  It looks good, it draws you in, it's fairly
>> interactive, and it focuses on applying our ideas in ways that matter to
>> Montanans.  On the other hand, with $6k raised, he didn't use a
>> professional photographer, I think, for his photos.  He looks much better
>> in his tv shots than in his own pictures.
>>
>> Bernie Sanders is campaigning for the Democrat (like I said, not serious)
>> while Trump and Pence are both campaigning for the Republican.  The
>> Republicans, between party and PACs, are spending $1,600,000.  Democrats
>> are spending somewhere in the 6 digits.  I don't think $11,600 is enough to
>> have a voice, but $20,000 might be, if used correctly.  This is a unique
>> opportunity and a strong race.  We've already put national firepower into
>> getting him into the debate.  I would like to see us give more, and
>> accompany it with a national staffer acting as campaign adviser to improve
>> a few of the nuts and bolts and making sure the amplification works out
>> well.  In the meantime, I will cosponsor a motion to give $5,000.  I will
>> not cosponsor a motion to give $2,500.
>>
>> On the bigger picture: I agree that we need a better structure than
>> having this board make such decisions on the basis of limited information,
>> without much time to research.  I had wanted to come up with such a
>> structure, but life has gotten in the way, both for me and for the LNC.  I
>> also acknowledge that our budget is in a deficit - but our budget does
>> include a line for candidates and campaigns, and only half of that line has
>> been allocated, so we've already put aside money for this (in a sense).
>> Furthermore, our cash position is entirely the result of our own
>> decisions.  I don't think we can make ourselves cash-poor, write a budget
>> that shows a deficit (which I didn't vote for, for that reason among
>> others), and then use that as a reason that we cannot help our candidates
>> who can, in fact, make a difference and help grow this party - growth that
>> will, hopefully, close that gap next year.  Last year, we took in quite a
>> bit more than we budgeted for - in large part based on the attention our
>> national ticket was getting, and in large part because, I think, people
>> wanted us to support key races.  Is this a key race?  I think it is, given
>> the timing, the lack of a serious Democrat, the spending imbalance between
>> the Rs and Ds, and so on, but that's for each of us to decide.  Our
>> candidate has also not just gotten into a debate, but shown that he knows
>> what he's doing once there, and in the process gotten himself useful
>> soundbites for an ad campaign (I'm assuming affirmative answers to my
>> questions above).
>>
>> Joshua A. Katz
>>
>>
>> On Tue, May 9, 2017 at 4:13 PM, Caryn Ann Harlos <
>> carynannharlos at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Mark Wicks provided these responses and apologized that he is not as
>>> eloquent as possible as he was calling from the campaign trail:
>>>
>>> "I think this is being looked at the wrong way. Both parties are
>>> looking for a win to prove their agenda is supported by the American
>>> people. We need to show that both parties are being rejected. A win cements
>>> that but we also win with better voter numbers than we have ever seen
>>> before. It gives legitimacy, and that helps all of us. It sets me up for
>>> 2018 and other candidates as well. We can't raise money without some
>>> measure of success. $5000
>>> <https://www.facebook.com/groups/1705462263069738/?multi_permalinks=1898512803764682%2C1898487450433884%2C1898483643767598&notif_t=group_activity&notif_id=1494240976827562#>
>>> is a small investment into a campaign that will pay dividends for all
>>> candidates. We won a battle getting into the debate, I won the debate, now
>>> we are positioning pieces for the next war and trying to inflict as much
>>> damage as possible in this one."
>>>
>>> -Caryn Ann
>>>
>>> On Tue, May 9, 2017 at 6:08 AM, Caryn Ann Harlos <
>>> carynannharlos at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Alicia, yes, and running strong campaigns.
>>>>
>>>> -Caryn Ann
>>>>
>>>> On Tue, May 9, 2017 at 1:36 AM, Alicia Mattson <agmattson at gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Also, is this looking to be a 3-way race with both the Democrats and
>>>>> Republicans running candidates?
>>>>>
>>>>> -Alicia
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Mon, May 8, 2017 at 4:19 PM, Caryn Ann Harlos <
>>>>> carynannharlos at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> On behalf of Montana candidate Mark Wicks running for the vacated
>>>>>> seat by the appointment of Zinke, he is requesting the LNC assist his
>>>>>> campaign financially.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I had let him know specific information we would need, and would like
>>>>>> to share that information:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I know you asked for a budget for how I will spend the money and with
>>>>>> time constraints and getting the word out online media seems to be the way
>>>>>> to go. We have ads that are being readied and ready to go anytime. Flathead
>>>>>> county is having a Liberty Bash combined with a send the work truck event.
>>>>>> We can get a live remote and good online adds for $2500
>>>>>> <https://www.facebook.com/pinkflameofliberty/messages/?threadid=1068158245&timestamp=1494282486430#>.
>>>>>> That will cover the valley really well. The east side of the state is taken
>>>>>> care of and all the big towns are covered except Great Falls. I can use as
>>>>>> much as the LP can send, but I think $5000
>>>>>> <https://www.facebook.com/pinkflameofliberty/messages/?threadid=1068158245&timestamp=1494282486430#>
>>>>>> would make a good impact. We have received $3600
>>>>>> <https://www.facebook.com/pinkflameofliberty/messages/?threadid=1068158245&timestamp=1494282486430#>,
>>>>>> plus I have put in about $3000
>>>>>> <https://www.facebook.com/pinkflameofliberty/messages/?threadid=1068158245&timestamp=1494282486430#>
>>>>>> total. I can't give any measure of impact. People are really searching for
>>>>>> a third choice so even minimal presentation will go a long ways.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> If any LNC member is interested in co-sponsoring a motion to assist
>>>>>> in any amount please let me know so we can craft.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> *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>
>>>>>> Chair, LP Historical Preservation Committee
>>>>>>
>>>>>> A haiku to the Statement of Principles:
>>>>>> *We defend your rights*
>>>>>> *And oppose the use of force*
>>>>>> *Taxation is theft*
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> Lnc-business mailing list
>>>>>> Lnc-business at hq.lp.org
>>>>>> http://hq.lp.org/mailman/listinfo/lnc-business_hq.lp.org
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> 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>
>>>> Chair, LP Historical Preservation Committee
>>>>
>>>> A haiku to the Statement of Principles:
>>>> *We defend your rights*
>>>> *And oppose the use of force*
>>>> *Taxation is theft*
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> *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>
>>> Chair, LP Historical Preservation Committee
>>>
>>> A haiku to the Statement of Principles:
>>> *We defend your rights*
>>> *And oppose the use of force*
>>> *Taxation is theft*
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Lnc-business mailing list
>>> Lnc-business at hq.lp.org
>>> http://hq.lp.org/mailman/listinfo/lnc-business_hq.lp.org
>>>
>>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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>
> Chair, LP Historical Preservation Committee
>
> A haiku to the Statement of Principles:
> *We defend your rights*
> *And oppose the use of force*
> *Taxation is theft*
>
>
>
>
>

-- 
*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>
Chair, LP Historical Preservation Committee

A haiku to the Statement of Principles:
*We defend your rights*
*And oppose the use of force*
*Taxation is theft*
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