Minnesota RLC Endorses Tom Emmer for Governor

Yesterday the Republican Liberty Caucus of Minnesota, a state affiliate of the Republican Liberty Caucus, announced endorsements for 12 candidates who will restore fiscal responsibility, individual liberty, and reduced size to state government.  The Minnesota primary occurred last month.

“Our state government is living well beyond its means, and Minnesotans are feeling the consequences of the DFL-led legislature’s inability to set the state’s spending priorities given the realities of current revenues,” said state RLC Chairman David FitzSimmons.

The caucus endorsed Rep. Tom Emmer (pictured) for Governor, Pat Anderson for State Auditor, Rep. Dan Severson for Secretary of State, and Lee Byberg for the Seventh Congressional District.

Incumbents endorsed by the Caucus include Rep. Ron Shimanski, House District 18B and Sen. Chris Gerlach, Senate District 37.

Challengers endorsed by the Caucus include Dave Kruse, House District 23B; Doug Wardlow, House District 38B; Dale Helm, House District 51B; Mark Fotsch, House District 54A; Andrea Kieffer, House District 56B and Krysia Weidell, Senate District 67.

“The strength of this slate is a testament to those who remember and respect the principles that founded our country since they are running to preserve our freedoms here in The North Star State,” concluded Chairman FitzSimmons.

A full listing of the Minnesota RLC’s endorsements is available here.

New Hampshire RLC Endorses 142 Candidates

With just two weeks until the New Hampshire primary, the state chapter of the Republican Liberty Caucus has endorsed 45 additional candidates for office. The group of 45 joins the 97 other candidates endorsed by the New Hampshire RLC previously.

The candidates were selected after reviewing candidate surveys from www.rlcnh.org/survey, which were used to judge the candidate’s positions on the issues.

“Once elected, these 142 candidates will be leaders who bring restorative change to New Hampshire with their common sense agenda,” said Andrew Hemingway, chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire. “No longer will growing government and the taxes and spending that come with it govern the state. These leaders will restore the principles of limited government, individual liberty, personal responsibility and free enterprise to New Hampshire.”

RLCNH is promoting Common Sense for New Hampshire, an effort to elect legislators who will promote policies favorable to economic opportunity, health care savings, and parental/community empowerment. The New Hampshire RLC is also targeting seven “Republicans in Name Only” (RINOs) this fall.

A listing of the newly endorsed New Hampshire candidates is here and a listing of previously endorsed RLCNH candidates is here.

With momentum building in its campaign to bring common sense back to the State House, the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire endorsed 36 candidates after reviewing a second round of surveys submitted through the group’s website, http://www.rlcnh.org/survey.

The 36 include candidates for state senator, state representative and executive councilor. They join a coalition of 61 other Republicans already endorsed by the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire.

“I am confident these leaders will work together once elected to bring common sense back to Concord,” said RLCNH Chairman Andrew Hemingway.

Thus far about one third of the 468 Republican state representative and state senator candidates have responded to the RLCNH candidate survey. The RLCNH board will continue to consider candidates who submit their surveys leading up to the primary and will announce new endorsements periodically.

The newly endorsed candidates include:

David Wheeler, Executive Council, District 5
Kyle Tasker, State Representative, Rockingham 1
Al Baldassaro (Incumbent), State Representative, Rockingham 3
Daniel Tamburello, State Representative, Rockingham 3
Donna Mauro, State Representative, Rockingham 4
Bob Fesh, State Representative, Rockingham 5
Steven Doyle, State Representative, Rockingham 13
Gary Wheaton, State Representative, Rockingham 14
Stephen B. Stepanek, State Representative, Hillsborough 6
Win Hutchinson, State Representative, Hillsborough 9
Muni Savyon, State Representative, Hillsborough 10
Shuvom Ghose, State Representative, Hillsborough 11
William Infantine, State Representative, Hillsborough 13
Jonathan Maltz, State Representative, Hillsborough 27
Lynne Ober (Incumbent), State Representative, Hillsborough 27
Andy Renzullo (Incumbent), State Representative, Hillsborough 27
Jordan Ulery (Incumbent), State Representative, Hillsborough 27
Tony Soltani, State Representative, Merrimack 8
Scott Spaulding, State Representative, Merrimack 8
Pamela Ean, State Representative, Merrimack 12
Garret Ean, State Representative, Merrimack 12
Bob Greemore, State Representative, Belknapp 3
Colette Worsman, State Representative, Belknapp 3
Greg Sorg (Incumbent), State Representative, Grafton 3
Charles E. Sova, State Representative, Grafton 10
Evelyn Logan, State Representative, Strafford 1
Carol Vita, State Representative, Strafford 3
David L. Mincin, State Representative, Strafford 3
Christopher Buck, State Representative, Strafford 4
David Childs, State Representative, Strafford 7
Tony Blane Wilson, Sr., State Representative, Sullivan 4
Thomas W. Laware, State Representative, Sullivan 5

In a major effort to build a coalition of lawmakers who will bring common sense back to the State House, the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire endorsed 61 candidates after reviewing the first round of surveys submitted through the state chapter website, http://www.rlcnh.org/survey.

“I am very excited about these candidates, because they are leaders who will bring common sense back to Concord—something that has been lacking for several years,” said Andrew Hemingway, chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire. “Each one of these candidates will fight for lower taxes, less spending and limited government, and we will do everything we can to support them.”

RLCNH is unlike many groups that survey candidates since the caucus actually publishes its list of endorsed candidates before the primary in an effort to get them elected. Endorsed candidates will receive financial support, networking opportunities and the chance to use prepared campaign materials and services, such as Web site design and hosting services, talking-point memos and palm-card templates.

Endorsed candidates will also have the opportunity to build upon a shared RLCNH agenda called Common Sense for New Hampshire, which will build momentum in the Legislature for laws that will promote jobs and economic opportunity, fix health care in New Hampshire and empower parents and local communities.

In general, endorsed candidates are strong proponents of limited government, individual liberty, personal responsibility and free enterprise. They have shown their dedication to these ideals with their score on RLCNH’s 20-question candidate survey and their reputation among liberty activists. Endorsed candidates must score 80 percent or higher on the survey and they must have a strong character recognized by their peers.

So far, about a quarter of the 468 Republican state representative and state senator candidates have responded to the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire candidate survey. The RLCNH board will continue to consider candidates who submit their surveys leading up to the primary, and will announce new endorsements as a group from time to time.

“I want to encourage all Republican candidates for office to identify their true affinity toward liberty for both their constituents and their peers by taking the RLCNH candidate survey,” Hemingway said. “This will help our caucus move New Hampshire forward once our candidates get elected. We are confident that candidates’ affiliation with the RLCNH will help them work closely together to restore the principles that made this state and nation great.”

The endorsed candidates include:

For State Senate:
Jim Forsythe, Senate District 4 (Strafford)
John Lewicke, Senate District 12 (Mason)
Andy Sanborn, Senate District 7 (Henniker)
Raymond White, Senate District 9 (Bedford)

For State Representative:
Mike Ball, Hillsborough 9 (Manchester)
Hon. J. Gail Barry, Hillsborough 16 (Manchester)
Robert E. Barry, Hillsborough 16 (Manchester)
Omer Beaudoin, Hillsborough 8 (Manchester)
Joseph W. Bendzinski, Cheshire 3 (Keene)
Jerry Bergevin, Hillsborough 17 (Manchester)
Spec Bowers, Sullivan 3 (Sunapee)
Lester W. Bradley, Grafton 4 (Thornton)
Harriet Cady, Rockingham 1 (Deerfield)
Jenn Coffey, Merrimack 6 (Andover)
Seth Cohn, Merrimack 6 (Canterbury)
Tim Comerford, Rockingham 9 (Fremont)
Steve Cunningham, Sullivan 2 (Croydon)
Jason A. Czekalski, Cheshire 7 (Rindge)
Cam DeJong, Hillsborough 9 (Manchester)
Jason Allen Dubrow, Merrimack 13 (Dunbarton)
Sheridan B. Folger, Strafford 5 (Dover)
Jim Headd, Rockingham 3 (Auburn)
JR Hoell, Merrimack 13 (Dunbarton)
Timothy Hogan, Hillsborough 23 (Nashua)
Rob Huxley, Hillsborough 3 (Greenville)
Daniel Itse, Rockingham 9 (Fremont)
Kyle Jones, Strafford 1 (Rochester)
Laura Jones, Strafford 1 (Rochester)
Tom Keane, Merrimack 13 (Bow)
Marie Lozito, Sullivan 4 (Claremont)
Linda Luhtala, Grafton 6 (Rumney)
Robert Luther, Belknap 4 (Laconia)
Leigh Macneil, Merrimack 4 (Hopkinton)
Andrew J. Manuse, Rockingham 5 (Derry)
Carol McGuire, Merrimack 8 (Epsom)
Daniel McGuire, Merrimack 8 (Epsom)
Bernhard McKay, Strafford 1 (Rochester)
Paul Mirski, Grafton 10 (Enfield)
Keith Murphy, Hillsborough 18 (Bedford)
Jeanine Notter, Hillsborough 19 (Merrimack)
William L. O’Brien, Hillsborough 4 (Mont Vernon)
Bill Ohm, Hillsborough 26 (Nashua)
Richard H. Olson Jr., Hillsborough 12 (Manchester)
Stephen Palmer, Hillsborough 6 (Milford)
Katherine Prudhomme-O’Brien, Rockingham 5 (Derry)
John Reagan, Rockingham 1 (Deerfield)
Jon Richardson, Merrimack 8 (Allenstown)
Laurie Sanborn, Merrimack 5 (Henniker)
Brian Seaworth, Merrimack 7 (Pembroke)
Steven Smith, Sullivan 5 (Charlestown)
Will Smith, Rockingham 18 (New Castle)
Greg Surbey, Hillsborough 24 (Nashua)
Robert M. Tarr, Hillsborough 12 (Manchester)
Jack Thorsen, Rockingham 16 (Portsmouth)
Stella Tremblay, Rockingham 3 (Auburn)
Mark Warden, Hillsborough 7 (Goffstown)

The Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire, a state chapter of the national Republican Liberty Caucus, was launched in December 2004 to promote and advance traditional Republican Party values, such as limited government, low taxes and spending, individual liberty, personal responsibility, free enterprise and loyalty to the U.S. and N.H. constitutions.

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Contact: Andrew Hemingway, RLCNH Chair, 603-236-6720, akreins@gmail.com
RLCNH | 26 South Main Street, PMB 525, Concord, N.H. 03301 – info@rlcnh.org – www.rlcnh.org

Tim Condon of the New Hampshire RLC has written an article entitled “Former New Mexico Governor a Hit in New Hampshire.” According to Condon,

During the question and answer session, one member of the audience noted that Johnson seemed to be responding to the questions clearly and directly “without trying to avoid giving an answer. Do you think you could give lessons to other politicians?” The crowd roared with laughter.

The general impression of Gov. Johnson seemed to be positive. At one point a questioner, clearly pleased with Gov. Johnson’s political positions and recommendations, asked “What would it take for you to consider moving to New Hampshire?” Johnson grinned back, saying: “How could you not consider moving to New Hampshire when the license plate says ‘Live Free or Die’?”

Read more at the RLCNH website.

Jim Forsythe, New Hampshire RLC Chair, introduced Gary Johnson.

The Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire will host an educational forum with Gary Johnson on Saturday evening, January 23 in Concord.

Gary Johnson is the former two-term Governor of the swing state of New Mexico. He is the Chairman of Our America Initiative.

In 1999, Johnson became the highest-ranking elected official in the United States to advocate the repeal of drug prohibition. Saying the War on Drugs was “an expensive bust,” he advocated the decriminalization of both drug use and possession in order to save money and potentially regulate currently illegal drugs.

In the 2008 election campaign, Johnson endorsed Ron Paul for the Republican presidential nomination. He is an avid triathlete who runs extensively and abstains from all recreational drug use, caffeine, alcohol, and some sugar products.

The event will be a reception with a cash bar. Food will not be served, however, we’ll be inviting guests to join us at a local restaurant afterward, for further camaraderie and discussion. The event will be held at the Grappone Center in Concord, NH, and starts at 4:30pm.

REGISTER ONLINE today!

Proceeds from this forum will support pro-liberty Republican candidates for New Hampshire House and Senate. (Thanks to New Hampshire RLC Chair Jim Forsythe for organizing this event.)

The Republican Liberty Caucus is pleased to announce the latest candidates we’re recommending you support in 2010.  They include:

* Congressional candidates Brian Miller (AZ-08), Adam Kokesh (NM-03), Jaynee Germond (OR-04), and Terri McCormick (WI-08);

* Virginia State Senate candidate Steve Hunt (January special election); and

* State House candidates Jenn Coffey in NH (incumbent) and Paul Curtman in Missouri, as well as Missouri House incumbents Shane Schoeller, Tim Jones, and Jim Guest.

Learn more about these and other endorsed candidates at our 2010 endorsements page.

Another election gone by, and it turned out quite well for the Republican Party overall and the Republican Liberty Caucus in specific.

Republicans elected new Governors in New Jersey and Virginia. Neither of the candidates, Chris Christie or Bob McDonnell, was endorsed by the Republican Liberty Caucus, but we believe they will provide a better vision for their states than their respective opponents.

In Virginia, voters elected State Senator Ken Cuccinelli to the post of Attorney General. Cuccinelli is a social and fiscal conservative, and some RLC members have been offended by his social conservatism. Still, he seems to be one of the few politicians in the state that understands the concept of limited government, and has a voting record consistent with the RLC’s goals. His new position elevates Cuccinelli to one of the most high-level advocates of limited government in the country.

RLC members in Virginia worked hard to help Cuccinelli win the nomination for Attorney General, and many contributed to his campaign directly. Cuccinelli has said that he will not enforce laws he deems unconstitutional. In 2007, Cuccinelli took the time to drive several hours to address a small group of RLC members. View his speech to RLC members at YouTube.

In the RLC’s biggest victory of the night, RLC National Committeeman Dan Halloran was elected to the New York City Council in a Queens district that leans heavily Democrat. Halloran is also the state Chair of the Republican Liberty Caucus in New York. He worked tirelessly to become elected and will join just four other Republicans on the 51-member City Council.

The RLC also had some other significant victories in New Jersey and New Hampshire. Incumbent Michael Patrick Carroll, who the RLC discovered earlier in the year, was re-elected to his New Jersey House seat. Perhaps the most successful liberty-oriented politician in the state, Michael Doherty, was elected to an open seat in the New Jersey State Senate. The RLC profiled Doherty in an earlier edition of our newsletter.

In the Granite State, Jim Forsythe led a team of liberty-loving Republicans that successfully helped three candidates obtain victory. Political newcomer Lynne Blankenbeker was elected in a special election to the New Hampshire House, and RLC members Phil Greazzo and Cameron DeJong were elected to Alderman and Selectman positions in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Several non-endorsed candidates with strong libertarian leanings were also successful on Election night, including Kim Rafferty, who was elected to the Birmingham City Council in Alabama, and Shaun Kenney, who was elected to a County Supervisor in Fluvanna County, Virginia. In Minnesota, RLC member Luther Stueland won a position on the Moorhead City Council and Patricia Barnum was elected to the West St. Paul ISD 127 School Board.  Additionally, Lisa Marie Coppoletta has advanced to a run-off in a race for San Marcos City Council in Texas.

Unfortunately, TABOR ballot initiatives — which would tie revenue increases to population and inflation growth to keep spending in check — were defeated by voters in Washington state and Maine. The gay marriage ballot initiative in Maine passed, overturning gay marriage in the state, while voters in Washington state chose to extend rights for gays and lesbians.

The nine victories for RLC-endorsed candidates this fall combined with the five spring victories (in Arizona, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Texas) have resulted in a very successful off-year election for liberty-focused Republicans.

Congratulations are extended to all of the above candidates, our other endorsed candidates, our supporters, and the folks that helped our endorsed candidates succeed.

Complete RLC election results are available here.

The Republican Liberty Caucus and PAC in New Hampshire have put together an excellent event for liberty-lovers in the Northeast. On Saturday, November 7, bestselling author and economist Tom Woods and venture capitalist Lawrence Lepard will be speaking at a fundraiser to support New Hampshire Liberty Republican candidates in 2010.

Please register for this event today. Tickets are $100, but well worth it to help an important cause.

Everyone (or couple) who registers by Monday, October 26 will get a free copy of Dr. Woods’ book, The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History. Proceeds will go to the Republican Liberty Caucus PAC.

Register today!

New York Times bestselling author of nine books Dr. Thomas E. Woods, Jr. will be joining Republican Liberty Caucus supporters in New Hampshire on November 7. Woods holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Harvard and a master’s, M.Phil., and Ph.D. from Columbia University.

Woods will do a fundraiser for the Republican Liberty of New Hampshire PAC and Caucus! Tickets will go on sale shortly, and will be $100. Says RLC Chair Jim Forsythe, “Although the price may be steep, meeting Dr. Woods in person, hearing him speak, and supporting our pro-liberty candidates in 2010 will be well worth it.”

Dr. Woods’ most recent book, Meltdown, does an outstanding job describing why the economy collapsed, and the Federal Reserve’s role in the collapse. He also recently testified in front of Congress in support of Ron Paul’s bill to audit the Fed. It’s an honor to get him here to speak with us, and we’re very much looking forward to the event.

If you are interested in sponsoring the event, please contact the New Hampshire RLC Chair. In the meantime, make sure to mark Nov 7th on your calendar!

As an aside, the New Hampshire RLC would like to bring students from the UNH College Republicans to the event. The students they are in touch with are energetic and enthusiastic and put a lot of work into New Hampshire campaigns. They deserve to hear the message of individual liberty, free-markets, small government, sound money, and non-interventionist foreign policy.

Of course, college kids are mostly broke, so they need your help. Please consider making a $25 donation to cover the cost of a UNH College Republican coming to our event. Or donate $100 to cover the cost of four. A donation link page for this event is not yet up and will be up shortly, but please contact Jim Forsythe if you can assist with a contribution.

And remember to mark November 7 on your calendar.