The Republican Liberty Caucus is one member shorter today. Our At-Large Board member Stephen M. Wright (pictured) passed away yesterday in a car accident. Steve, a candidate for Harford County Executive in this fall’s election, was heading to a pro-life event when he was in the accident.

Steve and I began talking in 2008 when some of the Ron Paul campaign supporters decided to form a Maryland chapter of the Republican Liberty Caucus. Steve was assigned o work on the by-laws of the new organization. He was very thorough and took the job very seriously. He would call me often to ask procedural or logistical questions about developing the by-laws.

In 2009, Steve attended the Republican Liberty Caucus National Convention in Jacksonville, Florida and was elected to the RLC Board of Directors. Steve was a very active member of the Harford County Republican Party Central Committee and was Chairman of the Route 40 Republican Club in Harford County.  Last summer, Steve and his wife Krista attended a small gathering of some active RLC members from the DC area — see below photo.

We in the RLC remember Steve as a passionate defender of liberty, a family man and father, and as a dynamic speaker.  Steve’s passing comes just a year and a half after the sudden passing of another RLC member from Maryland, Patrick Citroni, who passed away in 2008 in a motorcycle accident. The Maryland RLC created a tribute fund for Patrick.

On behalf of all of the Republican Liberty Caucus members, especially those from Maryland, we will miss Steve and we send our deepest sympathy and support to his family in this difficult time.

California, Florida, Maryland, and Nebraska chapters of the Republican Liberty Caucus have revised and launched new versions of their state Republican Liberty Caucus websites.

The California and Florida RLC websites offer quicker load times and ease of access. Both chapters also have quite a few active local affiliates.

The new Maryland RLC offers information on current candidates, pending legislation, and upcoming events.  The Nebraska RLC website is in a new, easy format that emphasizes 2010 candidate endorsements.

Learn more about these and other RLC affiliates at our chapter page.

The Republican Liberty Caucus of Maryland, which was chartered in winter of this year, held its first annual Convention on Saturday, March 26 in Laurel, Maryland.  John Orlando (photo below), RLC Chair, presided over by-law changes and I oversaw the elections.  Two by-law changes were adopted.

A new board was elected, including: John Orlando, Chair (pictured); Steve Wright, Vice-Chair; Randy Gearhart, Secretary; Ingrid Dean, Treasurer. Outgoing Treasurer Rich Matthews is moving out of state. The Convention business began around 3:00pm and ended around 3:15pm.

A RLC strategy discussion was held from 5:30 to 6:00pm.  Between 3:15pm and 5:30pm, many speakers were heard from — including past candidates, current candidates, organization leaders, and general members.

Overall, the meeting was a great success.  Delegates came away energized and poised to continue their fight for a free Maryland.  After the Convention, delegates gathered for dinner at a local restaurant.  Some photos from the event follow.

Delegate Joe Boteler addressed the crowd. He explained how he wears a t-shirt in his community that says “ordinary citizen” and encourages his neighbors to view him as such.

Delegate Don Dwyer addressed the crowd. Dwyer was quite passionate and was excited about the Tenth Amendment legislation that he will introduce in the near future.

Delegates listened as Collins Bailey discussed his run against House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.  Bailey was endorsed by the RLC in 2008 and also serves on the Charles County Board of Education.

Mr. Collins Bailey speaks to the crowd.

Joe Seehusen talked about his run for State Senate in Maryland, District 42 (Baltimore County).  Seehusen was Deputy Campaign Director for the Ron Paul 2008 Presidential campaign.

Delegates discuss strategy.

Delegates enjoy a laugh.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer’s town tall meeting in suburban Maryland Tuesday evening dissolved into chaos, with attendees at several points bringing the event to a complete halt, according to Politico.

“We want the government out of our business!” said one person.

“This is not how the government is supposed to work!” yelled another.

According to Politico:

“The night’s most curious twist came when Collins Bailey, a Republican who serves on the Charles County Board of Education [and ran against Hoyer last year], strode to the microphone and asked Hoyer whether the health care reform effort would be paid for.

“The crowd whooped.

“Collins, how are ya?” Hoyer asked, smiling.

Hoyer went on to pledge that, yes, everything in a reform package would be paid for.”

Of course, he didn’t explain how.

Mr. Bailey is a Republican Liberty Caucus member and was endorsed by the RLC in his 2008 race.  He is very eloquent and a passionate defender of individual rights and constitutionally limited government.

This is the second time in the last two month that a RLC member in Maryland has gained attention for asking a hard-hitting question to their representatives.

In late July, RLC supporter Robert Broadus poignently questioned U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) at his town hall.  He asked, “I want to know — are you going to tell me, an individual, that I have to buy health care or you’re going to fine me $2,500?”  Here’s a clip of the Broadus’s question as well as his appearance on Your World with Neil Cavuto.

“When you’re a child … you rely on your parents. If you want to get insurance, you buy it yourself,” said Broadus. “[For my family,] the economic downturn would better be spent on immediate, daily needs [than on health care],” he explained.

Bailey and Broadus provide two instances of appropriate ways for RLC supporters to ask questions at town hall meetings.  Their questions — both asked in a civil manner — were difficult for the Congressmen to address.

Earlier in the month, RLC chapter leaders from the DC, Maryland, and Virginia RLC affiliates gathered in the nation’s capital to discuss strategy for the 2010 election cycle.

Below is a photo from the event.  Thus far in 2009, the RLC has chartered new state chapter affiliates in Maryland, Alabama, Missouri, Tennessee, and Washington. Additionally, RLC chapters that were previously inactive (at least for a short period) have been revived in New Hampshire, Texas, and Virginia.

Front row, from left: Dave Nalle (National Chair), Aaron Biterman (National Press), Brett Guidry (DC Treasurer), Nancy Sellers (DC Secretary); back row, from left: Daniel Kamerling (guest), Rick Sincere (Virginia At-Large Board member), Steven Latimer (Virginia Vice-Chair), Matt Gagnon (Virginia Chair), Dr. Scott Pearson (guest), John Orlando (Maryland Chair), and Stephen Wright (Maryland Treasurer) plus his wife.

Last August, I blogged at RLC.org about Cheye Calvo, the Mayor of Berwyn Heights in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

Last year, Calvo was sitting at home when a SWAT team barged into his home, shot his two dogs, and accused him of being a drug dealer. Calvo and his mother-in-law were handcuffed and interrogated for hours while surrounded by the dogs’ carcasses and pools of blood.

Police shot the Mayor’s seven-year-old black Labrador retriever, Payton, near the front door and then his four-year-old dog, Chase, also a black Lab, as the dog ran into a back room.

It became quite clear to everyone almost after-the-fact that the Mayor and his family were not drug dealers and Calvo says that he doesn’t even think the police considered that possibility before raiding the home.

Recently, the Maryland legislature passed a bill that was inspired by the SWAT team raid of Calvo’s home, called HB 1267, on SWAT Team Activation and Deployment Reporting.

The bill, also signed by Governor Martin O’Malley (D-Baltimore), requires any police agency in the state to review and report on SWAT team raids every six months. It also requires specifics about any raid, such as the reason for the deployment of the SWAT team, the legal authority for the SWAT raid, and the result of each activation and deployment.  Law enforcement agencies also have to report on whether a weapon was discharged by a SWAT team member, a forcible entry was made, or whether any person or domestic animal was injured or killed by a SWAT team member.

If local police agencies do not comply, then they will be reported to the Governor and the Legislative Policy Committee of the General Assembly.

This legislation will hopefully prevent future unncessary police raids on citizen’s homes.

Kudos to Maryland Republican Delegates Smigiel and McConkey for sponsoring the legislation along with the Democrats.

The Mayor and his wife, with their now-deceased dogs.

On Friday, December 19, the Republican Liberty Caucus of Maryland had its first formal meeting. According to Matthew Gagnon, chapter Co-Coordinator, “We had a GREAT meeting. About 35 or so people showed up, and I actually have money from several of them to sign up for the RLC.”

Gagnon said the Maryland RLC is making progress: many former Congressional candidates were in attendance (including RLC endorsed candidates Collins Bailey, Rich Matthews, and Mike Hargadon) and two elected State Delegates attended, including the featured speaker, Del. Joe Boteler. “We did nominations for officers, discussed what was required of chartering, what the purpose of the state level RLC is going to be, and so on,” said Gagnon.

The Maryland RLC has set a new meeting date for January in Annapolis, during which time chartering, by-laws, officers, and other information will be discussed.

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.

A police SWAT team raided the home of the mayor of Berwyn Heights, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, DC, last week. The SWAT team shot and killed his two dogs after the Mayor, Cheye Calvo, brought in a 32-pound package of marijuana that had been delivered to his doorstep, according to The Washington Post.

“My government blew through my doors and killed my dogs,” Calvo said. “They thought we were drug dealers, and we were treated as such. I don’t think they really ever considered that we weren’t.”

Calvo described a chaotic scene, in which he — wearing only underwear and socks — and his mother-in-law were handcuffed and interrogated for hours. They were surrounded by the dogs’ carcasses and pools of the dogs’ blood, Calvo said. Calvo said that he did not know how the drugs wound up on his doorstep.

He works part time as the mayor and serves as director of expansion for the SEED Foundation, a well-known national nonprofit group that runs urban public boarding schools.

Police shot the Mayor’s 7-year-old black Labrador retriever, Payton, near the front door and then his 4-year-old dog, Chase, also a black Lab, as the dog ran into a back room.

Most of the citizens in Berwyn Heights were shocked to hear the news. The community of 3,000 is rallying around its mayor and forever fearing its abusive government and their ridiculous War on Drugs.

The Mayor and his wife, with Chase and Payton.