In this end-year edition of the Republican Liberty Caucus monthly newsletter, we provide a summary of RLC progress in 2009, as well as the latest news from our state affiliates — including election results, 2010 candidate endorsements, and much more.
Since the last newsletter, the RLC has developed an exciting new candidate widget to promote our endorsed candidates and RLC candidates have done well at the polls.
Together, let’s make liberty a more popular quantity as we head into the new year.
Our wishes for a good December, holiday break, and New Year.
And look for much more to come from the Republican Liberty Caucus in 2010!
________________________________________________________________
Republican Liberty Caucus Year in Review
National Convention; New Chapters; Many Successes!
It’s been a very exciting time to be a part of the liberty movement, and, more specifically, an advocate of implementing the RLC strategy — which will help us achieve liberty in our lifetime.
Although founded in 1991, for many years the RLC consisted of a very tiny group of true believers, but never had the substantive grassroots membership to achieve the results we sought.
That has changed in the last five years. The Republican Liberty Caucus is now a vibrant, growing organization with a dedicated grassroots following. Our goals in 2010 are to hire full-time staff, redesign our website, expand state chapters, and create a quarterly print newsletter.
A few of our key achievements in 2009 are as follows. For this off-year cycle, we focused our efforts on beefing up the RLC, leveraging support, building a broad-based coalition for liberty, and outreach:
PROMOTING INNOVATIVE LIBERTY CANDIDATES
· A RLC-endorsed candidate was elected to the New York City Council. Dan Halloran is not just a RLC member, but also serves on the National RLC Board of Directors. Now he’s on the New York City Council representing Queens.
· The RLC helped Ken Cuccinelli win the GOP nomination for Attorney General in Virginia. Now the state’s Attorney General-elect, Cuccinelli has vowed to fight for Virginia state sovereignty and is a true believer in limited government. Noted GOP pundit Soren Dayton, “From eyeballing, people identified with either the Republican Liberty Caucus or the Campaign for Liberty seemed to be about 10-15% of the [Virginia GOP] convention. They pushed Cuccinelli over the top.”
· For the first time, a RLC-backed candidate was endorsed by The Washington Post. Eric Brescia, 24, a candidate for Virginia Delegate in heavily Democrat Arlington, received support from The Post for his innovative policy ideas.
· A list of other RLC election victories in 2009 is available here.
CHANGING THE PARTY LEADERSHIP: OUT WITH THE UNPRINCIPLED
· In California, two RLC chapters have had tremendous influence on local GOP elections: the Sonoma and Alameda County RLC chapters. In Alameda County, the RLC gained many seats on the county GOP Central Committee and proposed resolutions on non-intervention and in support of HR 1207 (Federal Reserve audit). RLC members in Sonoma County run the party and have worked to enact limited government proposals both locally and within the GOP.
· In Minnesota, RLC Chair David Fitzimmons was elected Sixth District Chair of the Minnesota GOP.
· In North Carolina, a Liberty Slate secured 15 of 20 At-Large seats in elections to the District 4 GOP Executive Committee. Additionally, three At-Large District Committee seats were filled with RLC supporters. Additionally, two North Carolina RLC members joined the state GOP Platform Committee.
· In Tennessee, state RLC Vice-Chair Matt Collins was elected to the Davidson County GOP Vice-Chairmanship after narrowly losing a run-off election to be Davidson GOP Chair.
· In Utah, RLC members helped former State Representative Morgan Philpot become Vice-Chair of the Utah GOP.
PROMOTING SPEAKERS TO EDUCATE ABOUT LIBERTY
The RLC has rarely focused so much effort on recruiting speakers to address audiences as in 2009. This year, our chapters hosted notable speakers, including: talk radio host Mike Church; investor Lawrence Lepard; Dr. Bob Levy of the Cato Institute; Dr. Rand Paul; Dr. Thomas Woods of the Mises Institute; and many more. Additionally, many RLC members spoke or participated in Tea Parties across the country.
ADVANCING PRO-LIBERTY RESOLUTIONS/LEGISLATION
The California RLC introduced a resolution to the California GOP in support of auditing the Federal Reserve. The resolution passed. The Texas RLC led a campaign against a proposal to give more unconstitutional authority to Child Protective Services. And the Tennessee RLC helped Representative Susan Lynn draft and pass a State Sovereignty resolution.
All of these successes are a testament to the RLC’s mission of working within the Republican Party to promote liberty-related ideas and individuals.
RLC Continues Outreach at Students for Liberty Regional Conferences
In November, the RLC finished its 2009 outreach at the Students for Liberty conferences in Boston and Philadelphia.
In October, RLC members talked about our strategy to achieve liberty at Students for Liberty conferences in Illinois, North Carolina, and Texas.
View some photos from the RLC student outreach efforts.
Nadia Gaona of the Bexar County RLC discusses the RLC at the Texas Students for Liberty Conference in October.
________________________________________________________________
RLC Still Hopes to Charter in States
The RLC is looking for leaders in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, and West Virginia.
Please contact us if you can assist in your state.
________________________________________________________________
RLC Election Results 2009
The Republican Liberty Caucus endorsed 38 pro-liberty Republicans in 2009. Winners included:
Lynne Blankenbeker
State Representative, New Hampshire
Michael Patrick Carroll (Re-elected)
State Representative, New Jersey
Ken Cuccinelli
Attorney General, Virginia
Cameron DeJong
Manchester Selectman, New Hampshire
Michael J. Doherty
State Senate, New Jersey
Kara Egbert
Sahuarita Town Council, Arizona
Phil Greazzo
Manchester Alderman, New Hampshire
Dan Halloran*
NYC City Council, New York
Michael A. Tams*
Lisle Township Board, Illinois
Brad Wyatt*
Boylston School Committee, Massachusetts
We also had several non-endorsed candidates that are RLC members win their elections, including two candidates in Minnesota, one in Alabama, and one in Virginia.
Stay tuned to the RLC website as we begin the 2010 endorsement process.
*Indicates a RLC state officer or contact.
Florida and Georgia RLC Chapters Will Host December Statewide Meetings
The Florida and Georgia chapters of the Republican Liberty Caucus are holding strategy sessions this month — and we hope you can attend!
Please join Georgia RLC’ers this Saturday (December 5) in Smyrna at 1pm. The event will occur at Varner’s Tavern, 725 Concord Rd. (Smyrna, GA).
Florida RLC’ers will gather next Saturday (December 12) in Kissimmee at the Gaylord Palms Resort, 6000 W Osceola Pkwy. It will be from 12noon to 6pm. Please contact Kristi Dunn for details.
If you live in Florida or Georgia, we hope you’ll attend these statewide RLC meetings.
Wisconsin RLC Hosts Up-State and Down-State Meetings
The soon-to-be-chartered Wisconsin chapter of the Republican Liberty Caucus held meetings in Appleton and Milwaukee (photo, above) in late November.
The Milwaukee meeting followed a speech by Dr. Thomas Woods and included some notable speakers and candidates.
To learn more about the Wisconsin chapter or to become involved, visit http://wi.rlc.org/.
________________________________________________________________
December RLC Events
Northeast Florida RLC Christmas Party – December 5
Details at http://www.rlcnef.org/events/
Georgia RLC Annual Convention – December 5
Smyrna, Georgia
RSVP at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=176508476860
District of Columbia RLC Happy Hour – December 7
RSVP at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=186406002831
Central East Florida RLC Meeting – December 7
RSVP at http://www.meetup.com/rlccef/calendar/11976158/
Florida Statewide RLC General Meeting – December 12
Kissimmee, Florida
RSVP at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=184816027509
Do you have an event submission or newsletter content suggestions or recommendations? If so, please contact us.
