A good number of RLC-endorsed candidates advanced through their primaries and on to the general elections in 2008, in what could be considered a breakout year for libertarian Republicans.  A listing of all of the RLC’s candidates is available here.

Each of the below candidates endorsed by the RLC ended up advancing in their respective primary race.  Congratulations!

• Alaska: Lt. Governor Sean Parnell, who was endorsed by the RLC, looks likely to lose in his race against Don Young. Both men are vying to represent Alaskans in Congress. Even if Parnell does lose, he will remain Lt. Governor. If McCain-Palin are successful in November, he will become Governor.

• Arizona: Sydney Hay, who is currently the underdog to replace Rick Renzi in Arizona’s First Congressional District. Hay received a donation from the Republican Liberty Caucus PAC.

• Colorado: George Lilly, who was inspired to run for Congress by Ron Paul.  Lilly is running in District 1 and is not favored to win the race due to district demographics.

• Florida: Ritch Workman, who is running for State Representative in District 30.

• Georgia: Dr. Paul Broun, who won his first campaign for Congress in 2007 and then faced a challenge from the establishment GOP in 2008.  Additionally, incumbent State Senator Jeff Chapman and State Representative Steve Davis, both RLC-endorsed, fended off challengers.

• Idaho: Elizabeth Allan Hodge, a former State Representative, won the GOP primary for State Representative in district 16B.

• Indiana: GOP challenger Bill Johnson narrowly lost his primary for State Representative in District 19.  However, in a victory for the RLC, the GOP challenger dropped out of the race for personal reasons and the county GOP decided that Johnson would be the ideal replacement.

• Maryland: The RLC has endorsed several victorious primary challengers in Maryland, including Richard Matthews (CD 02), Peter James (CD 04), Collins Bailey (CD 05), Roscoe Bartlett (CD 06), and Dr. Michael Hargadon (CD 07).  Unfortunately, all of the challengers are likely to lose due to district demographics.  Rep. Roscoe Bartlett is likely to retain his seat.

• Michigan: Three RLC candidates were victorious in their primaries in Michigan, including Justin Amash for State Representative (District 72), Bob Genetski for State Representative (District 88), and Tyler Whitney for Bash Township Trustee.

• Montana: RLC-endorsed candidates Greg Hinkle and Mike Miller won their races for State Senate and State Representative, respectively.

• Nevada: Kris Pickering won her primary for State Supreme Court and up-and-coming GOP rock star Lindsay Nicole Madsen won a tough primary for State Senate in District 7.

• North Carolina: Dr. B.J. Lawson won his primary and will face incumbent David Price for U.S. Congress, District 4.

• Oregon: Delia Lopez won her primary in Oregon, District 3 and will face veteran Earl Blumenauer in November.

• Texas: Dr. Ron Paul won his primary in Congressional District 14 and will return to Congress come January.

• Washington: Michael Delavar won his primary against an establishment GOP candidate in Congressional District 3. He will face incumbent Democrat Brian Baird in November.

• West Virginia: Edward R. Burgress, the RLC contact for West Virginia, won his primary in District 30 (St. Albans) for the House of Delegates. Seven individuals, all of them currently Democrats, represent this large district.

RLC member Kurt Fiech penned an excellent letter to the editor in The Lafayette Journal and Courier in Lafayette, Indiana.

His wishes are for Lafayette, Indiana, but Mr. Fiech’s wishes apply universally to those of us who yearn for liberty.

Freedom wish list for Greater Lafayette

Ten wishes to bring more freedom to our community:

1. More community needs met by voluntary contributions and fewer community needs met by force of government taxation.

2. More government services through private competition and fewer government services through government monopoly.

3. More decentralized government power residing closer and accountable to the people through townships and town councils; and less centralized government tyranny residing farther away and unaccountable to the people through the ivory towers of the county building, the Indiana State House, the Capitol building and the White House.

4. More elected short-term, “common citizen” government office holders and fewer re-elected, long-term, “professional politician” government office holders and appointed bureaucrats.

5. More peace officers like Andy Griffith and fewer law enforcement officers like Barney Fife.

6. More malum in se laws by percentage as a result of fewer malum prohibitum due to repeal.

7. More disputes settled by arbitration and fewer disputes brought to civil court.

8. More criminal court decisions resulting in restitution for crime victims and fewer criminal court decisions resulting in jail sentences for lawbreakers at taxpayer expense.

9. More “wayward children” sent home and fewer “juvenile delinquents” sent to “detention.”

10. More schools emphasizing reading proficiency and fewer schools ignoring the fact that 70 percent of our children lack reading proficiency.

Kurt Fiech
Lafayette

In June, the Arizona and DC chapters had their first affiliate meetings. The DC chapter is very close to chartering. [UPDATE Oct. 2008: The DC affiliate is now chartered. Join the RLCDC eGroup HERE to learn more.]

On July 15, the local chapter of the RLC — which is not yet chartered — sponsored a forum with RLC member Dick Heller of Heller v. DC, the Supreme Court’s recent gun case. The youthful audience asked questions of Mr. Heller and worked to formalize a charter.

RLC member Ken Rineer organized a meeting of RLC members and activists in Tucson, Arizona on July 29. Interested parties discussed chartering an RLC affiliate in Arizona. Additionally, Joe Higgins, Republican candidate for the Pima County Board of Supervisors (District 1), was the guest speaker.

DC and Arizona are expected to submit their charter paperwork to the RLC National Committee in short order.

In Indiana, a meeting was held at RLC organizer Kevin Van Linden’s house on August 17. The chapter submitted its Charter Application and affiliate by-laws to the National Committee for consideration shortly after their meeting. Photos from the meeting follow.

[UPDATE Oct. 2008: The RLC in Indiana is chartered and has its own web site.]

Additional chapters are working to charter RLC affiliates, including Connecticut, Mississippi, Missouri, and Wisconsin.

Arizona, the District of Columbia, Nebraska, North Carolina, and Utah hosted their first RLC meetings in the month of June. Meanwhile, Florida continued its great effort as the model RLC chapter.

In addition, California, Florida, Missouri, North Carolina, Utah, and Wyoming have recently updated or added content to their web sites. In July, the Texas RLC elected a new Board of Directors and will be revamping their outdated web site shortly. The Minnesota RLC hosted a meeting to endorse candidates and selected a new state Board of Directors.

RLC activists in Arkansas, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, and Wisconsin have expressed interest in organizing state chapters and holding RLC organizing meetings. I will continue to keep you updated on the progress of other state affiliates.

Below is a list of some RLC events that you can attend in the month of August. If there are no events in your area, please volunteer to host an RLC meeting in your area.

Please spread the word about the below events.

California:

San Fernando Valley Republican Liberty Caucus Meetup
August 5 at 7:00pm at Galpin Ford in North Hills, California (15555 Roscoe Blvd., just east of the 405) in the 2nd Floor Meeting Room. For for information, join the meetup group at http://rlc.meetup.com/41/.

Silicon Valley Republican Liberty Caucus Meetup
August 11 at Round Table Pizza in San Jose (4400 Stevens Creek Blvd.). For for information, join the meetup group at http://rlc.meetup.com/109/.

Sacramento Republican Liberty Caucus Meetup
August 27 at 7:30pm. For more information, join the meetup group at http://rlc.meetup.com/6/.

Sonoma County Republican Liberty Caucus Meetup
August 25 at 7pm at Redwood Cafe Coffee House and Grill (8240 Old Redwood Highway) in Cotati. For more information, join the meetup group at http://rlc.meetup.com/115/.

Delaware:

Delaware RLC Meeting
August 23 at 1:00pm at Crossroads Restaurant (4579 Kirkwood Highway/intersection of Rt. 2 and Rt. 7) in Wimington, Delaware. This meeting is in conjunction with the Libertarian Party of Delaware’s annual Convention. RLC’ers are gathering to gauge interest in chapter formation in The First State.

Indiana:

Indiana RLC Re-Chartering Meeting
August 17 at 2:00 pm in Crown Point, Indiana. Contact Kevin for details.

Michigan:

RLC Meeting at State GOP Convention
August 23 in the afternoon. Contact Dan for details.

RLC National Convention
September 12-14 at the Crowne Plaza in Romulus (Detroit), Michigan.

Texas:

Austin RLC Meeting
August 8 at 7:00 pm in the Conference Room at Garlo-Ward (505 E. Huntland Dr.), floor 3. The speaker will be RLC Texas Chair, Judge Melissa Goodwin.

Bexar County RLC Meeting
August 30 at 10:00am the Tobin Library at Oakwell (4134 Harry Wurzbach, San Antonio 78209), the Bexar County RLC affiliate will meet. The featured speaker will be Terri Hall, founder of Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom. Don Zimmerman, RLC Executive Director and candidate for Tax Assessor Collector in Travis County, will also be addressing the audience.

Utah:

Utah RLC Convention
September 27 at 10:00 am at Location TBD. Contact Lowell for details.

Wyoming:

Wyoming RLC Convention
August 23 at time at the Best Western Inn (260 Grand View Drive) in Lander. Contact Don for details.