Summer Picnic & Party!
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Come out for the Libertarian Party of Hamilton County's Summer Picnic and Party!
When: Saturday, June 29, 11:30-?
Where: Forrest Park, Picnic Area #2, 701 Cicero Rd, Noblesville IN
Donation: $10- Proceeds to support 2014 candidates
Menu: Venison steaks, hot dogs, burgers, sides
Note: The park has a no alcohol policy. Please *do not* bring alcoholic beverages.
Come on out and toss the frisbee, run around with the kids, and hey- maybe talk politics. Considering running for office? Discuss the particulars with party leadership.
Sign in via Meet-up!
Labels: Forrest Park, Libertarian Party
posted by Mike Kole @ 2:38 PM,
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Did You Really Think They'd Let You In?
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
For the past several years, small-l libertarians been treated to large cups of Kool-Aid from the Republican Party. 'Just join the Republicans and change things from the inside,' libertarians had been assured. 'You can back people like Ron Paul!'
Yeah, BS. From the NY Times:
Delegates from Nevada tried to nominate Mr. Paul from the floor, submitting petitions from their own state as well as Minnesota, Maine, Iowa, Oregon, Alaska and the Virgin Islands. That should have done the trick: Rules require signatures from just five states. But the party changed the rules on the spot. Henceforth, delegates must gather petitions from eight states.Just like Lucy and ol' Charlie Brown. 'Come on, Charlie Brown! Kick the ball. I promise I won't pull it away from you! Honest!'
How many times can you be kicked in the crotch? Are you really supposed to transition from calling for sound money, an end to profligate spending, an end to deficits, an end to the wars and interventionist foreign policy... to Romney? Really? Really? That would make absolutely no sense.
Gary Johnson now carries the torch. Get to know him. You'll like him. You'll be proud to vote for him in November.
Labels: Charlie Brown, Gary Johnson, Libertarian Party, libertarianism, Mitt Romney, Republican Party, Ron Paul
posted by Mike Kole @ 8:16 AM,
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Judge James Gray in Indiana!
Sunday, August 05, 2012
Very exciting news! Libertarian Vice Presidential candidate Judge James Gray will visit our state tomorrow, Monday August 6th, with a stop at the Indiana State Fair (1-3:30pm) and in Lafayette (6-7:30pm).
If you haven't had a chance to meet the Judge in person, please take the opportunity to do so. You will be refreshed by his firm pro-liberty principles!
From Libertarian Randy Young in Tippecanoe County:
Libertarian Party Vice-Presidential candidate Judge Jim Gray will be at the Lafayette Brewing Co. Monday August 6th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. as guest at a “meet & greet” event hosted by the Libertarian Party of Indiana and the Tippecanoe Co. Libertarian Party. Jim Gray is an Orange County, California judge, and is the running mate to Gary Johnson on the Libertarian ticket for President.
The Lafayette Brewing Company is just about an hour away from Carmel, (map link) and a pretty easy drive. The beers are pretty good to boot!
Labels: Indiana State Fair, Judge James Gray, Lafayette Brewing Company, Libertarian Party
posted by Mike Kole @ 9:16 PM,
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Sad News - David Nolan, R.I.P.
Monday, November 22, 2010

Labels: David Nolan, Greg Noland, Libertarian National Committee, Libertarian Party, The Advocates For Smaller Government
posted by Mike Kole @ 9:22 AM,
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More Unofficial Returns
Friday, November 05, 2010
While we did not win our ultimate goals- election to office- in the recent general elections, the Libertarian Party can show that our base has grown significantly here in Hamilton County. Let us compare the countywide numbers with the same cycles from elections past:
2010 US Senate Results
Rebecca Sink-Burris
5380 votes, 6.66%
2004 US Senate Results
Al Barger
970 votes, 1%
(In 2006, there was no Democratic candidate for US Senate. Libertarian Steve Osborn got 4,226 votes, 8%, in a two-way race with Republican Dick Lugar.)
2010 Indiana Secretary of State Results
Mike Wherry
5,880 votes, 7.35%
2006 Indiana Secretary of State Results
Mike Kole
1,775 votes, 3%
2010 Indiana Auditor Results
Eric Knipe
3,360 votes, 4.31%
2002 Indiana Auditor Results
Bruce Parisi
1,535 votes, 4%
(The Libertarian Party did not field a candidate for Indiana Auditor in 2006.)
2010 US House, District 5 Results
Chard Reid
7,584 votes, 9.45%
2006 US House, District 5 Results
Shari Conover Sharlow
2,393 votes, 4%
Links to Hamilton County election results: 2010, 2006, 2004, 2002.
It has always been the experience of the Libertarian Party throughout Indiana that the candidates at the top of the ticket, for federal offices like President or US Senate, tended to get the lowest returns, with numbers improving further downticket in local races. So, the numbers pulled by Chard Reid and Rebecca Sink-Burris are positively encouraging.
Both Reid and Sink-Burris earned some broad name recognition, Reid having been endorsed by the Indianapolis Star, and Sink-Burris performing well in three televised debates. This clearly translated into votes for each.
These are huge gains that suggest to me that our base has grown significantly, and that the voters are increasingly comfortable with casting votes for offices perceived to be the most important. This is a source of great pride for me as County Chair!
The Secretary of State race is also very interesting to compare, as Mike Wherry more than doubled up my 2006 results, the Democrats stayed flat, while the Republicans took a hit.
2010 R: 67.03%
2006 R: 71%
2010 D: 25.62%
2006 D: 26%
No doubt the voter registration issues dogging Republican Charlie White were a factor here. Interesting, though, that White's status as Republican County Chair did not help overcome losing support to Wherry. But also, I suspect the fact of the Secretary of State race as the ballot status race for the Libertarian Party was also a factor.
In other races where we had candidates, Libertarians also fared well.
2010 County Council Dist 3 Results
Joe Tucker
2,761 votes, 17.08%
2002 County Council Dist 3 Results
Terry Baker
830 votes, 8%
There was no Libertarian in this race in 2006, and in 2002, Baker ran in a three-way race, so there isn't an apples-to-apples comparison available here. We can compare to a different district though. In 2002, in District 2, Gregg Puls ran in a two-way race for County Council and got 1,079 votes and 11%. It could be that the Noblesville area is more inclined to vote Libertarian than the Fishers area was at that time. It could simply reflect the party's growth, or more likely, some of both.
2010 County Council Dist 2 Results
Mike Kole
1,643 votes, 6.88%
2002 County Council Dist 2 Results
Greg Puls
1,079 votes, 11%
As with District 3, there was no Libertarian candidate in 2006, and there isn't an apples-to-apples comparison, because 2002 was a two-way, and 2010 was a three way race. I take stock in the increase in number of votes, especially considering there was a Democrat taking roughly 25%. No doubt in 2002, some Democratic voters cast votes for Puls lacking a candidate of their own to vote for. What I noticed right away, though, was that my 2010 vote total of 1,643 votes represents just three of the County's nine townships, my 2006 vote totals of 1,775 for the Secretary of State were taken from the entire County. That's pretty remarkable.
2010 Indiana House Dist 36 Results
Greg Noland
29 votes, 4.01%
2008 Indiana House Dist 36 Results
Greg Noland
36 votes, 3.41%
This is a nice one to compare, as we had the same candidate running against the same incumbent Democrat. While the Dem lost 10 points, we went up by more than half a point. This district is primarily in Madison County, but it does extend into White River and part of Jackson Townships.
2010 Indiana House Dist 87 Returns
Joe Hauptmann
1,638 votes, 16.76%
2008 Indiana House Dist 87 Returns
Pamela Hickman (Democrat)
4,991 votes, 31,19%
There isn't an apples-to-apples comparison for this race for 2002-2010, but this one is interesting. In 2008, there was no Libertarian candidate, and Republican Cindy Noe ran a two-way race with Democrat Pamela Hickman. Against the same candidate in 2010, Libertarian Joe Hauptmann got more than half the percentage of the Democrat, who was boosted by a national pendulum swing to the Democrats in 2008.
In Summary: Our numbers are going up despite our candidates not having huge advertising budgets. We do a fantastic job of taking advantage of earned media. The base of the Libertarian Party in Hamilton County is growing at all levels, but most significantly at the top of ticket, where voter confidence was previously very scarce. The key now is to translate more votes into more candidates for future ballots, and more volunteers to walk neighborhoods and work phone banks and polling places. We may be getting near to Malcolm Gladwell's tipping point, where we start electing officials to office in Hamilton County!
Labels: Chard Reid, Charlie White, Eric Knipe, General Election 2010, Greg Noland, Joe Hauptmann, Joe Tucker, Libertarian Party, Mike Kole, Mike Wherry, Rebecca Sink-Burris
posted by Mike Kole @ 9:05 PM,
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Unofficial Returns
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
Unfortunately, I did not win in my bid for County Council. That's okay- I'll take stock in the positives:
I enjoyed going door-to-door to talk issues with my neighbors. I know that more people have an understanding of what a Libertarian would do in office if elected, and dispelled some misnomers.
We found where some of our supporters are. I am hopeful this will result in more people active with the Libertarian Party.
The support of friends was tremendous! Many, many thanks to friends who braved the cold to pass out palm cards on election day, including Jim Hurst, Mark Kolovrat, Craig Witt, Lars & Pami Noldan, and Matt Mulder.
The unofficial returns have me getting 6.9% of the votes, with the Democrat getting 24.8%, and the Republican 68.3%. This was the first time this Council seat had a three-way race. It was unchallenged in 2006 with the Republican unopposed, and in 2002 Libertarian Gregg Puls got 11%, but there wasn't a Democrat in the race. Now we know where the baselines are for this area.
The best Libertarian showing in a three-way County Council race was in 2002, when Terry Baker got 8% in the district that includes Noblesville.
The turnout was really low. Just 44% of registered Hamilton County voters appeared at the polls. That's disappointing, but consistent. 4 years ago, the turnout was also just 44%. It just goes to show that even though there is more media buzz and more commercials on TV, the result isn't necessarily translating into more voters.
More later on the Libertarian numbers for Hamilton County and across Indiana. Very encouraging!!!
Labels: ballot results, General Election 2010, Hamilton County Council, Libertarian Party, Mike Kole
posted by Mike Kole @ 9:59 AM,
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Congratulations, Chard Reid!
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Chard Reid is the Libertarian candidate for US House of Representatives in District 5. Reid is seeking to replace Republican Dan Burton, and his chances just got a healthy boost as the Indianapolis Star has endorsed him! From the Star endorsement article:
Reid, a young economics teacher at Plainfield High School, has taken the fight to Burton on taxes and the deficit. He maintains that the 14-termer has not worked for systemic change despite his conservative persona. Reid also offers thoughtful ideas for cutting spending, simplifying the tax code and reforming entitlements.I couldn't be more proud of Chard! Every Hamilton County voter will be able to vote for Chard, as the 5th District covers our county entirely.
Reid represents the best of Libertarian small-government ideals. He would be a refreshing departure from the incumbent's complacency and cavalier attitude toward ethics.
Labels: Chard Reid, endorsement, Indianapolis Star, Libertarian Party
posted by Mike Kole @ 7:20 AM,
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Your Hamilton County Libertarian Candidates
Friday, October 15, 2010
Election Day is Tuesday, November 2. Be sure to plan to vote! Every resident of Hamilton County will have at least four Libertarian candidates to vote for.
US Senate - Rebecca Sink-Burris
US Representative, District 5 - Chard Reid
Secretary of State - Mike Wherry
Treasurer of State - Eric Knipe
There are additional candidates for portions of the county:
Indiana Representative, District 36 - Greg Noland (White River & Jackson Twps)
Indiana Representative, District 87 - Joe Hauptmann (part of Clay Twp)
Hamilton County Council, District 2 - Mike Kole (Delaware, Fall Creek, Wayne Twps)
Hamilton County Council, District 3 - Joe Tucker (Noblesville, Jackson, White River Twps)
Fall Creek Township Trustee - Lars Noldan
Election Day polling place staffing is also needed. A smiling face handing out palm cards can be worth a 5% boost! We especially need staffing for Joe Hauptmann in Clay Township, and Mike Kole in Fishers, although when you work your home precinct, you are most effective when you talk with your neighbors prior to their votes. We have materials for Rebecca Sink-Burris, Chard Reid, and Mike Wherry also.
Contact Mike Kole to schedule for AM rush (6-9am) and PM rush (4-6pm) and for materials pick-up.
Labels: Chard Reid, election, Eric Knipe, Greg Noland, Joe Hauptmann, Joe Tucker, Libertarian Party, Mike Kole, Mike Wherry, Rebecca Sink-Burris
posted by Mike Kole @ 3:11 PM,
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The Grown-Ups In The Room
Thursday, October 14, 2010
I've been watching the debates for Congress across Indiana and one thing keeps striking me: The Republicans and Democrats sling mud at each other and dance around the questions, and the Libertarians are the grown-ups in the room. From Indiana Public Media, on the first US Senate debate:
Both Democrat Brad Ellsworth and Republican Dan Coats were on the offensive during last night’s Senate debate in Indianapolis… while Libertarian Rebecca Sink-Burris remained more focused on questions and responses.As a Libertarian, I'm going to prefer the Libertarian candidate's answers 95 times out of 100, but the glaring difference in demeanor gets me. The electorate is fed up with Washington insiders and their nonsense. Here were two Washington insiders and their nonsense, and a grown-up in the room. I hope the voters are really taking note.
Not affecting Hamilton County, but I love the coverage Scott Wise got on a Fort Wayne TV station along these same lines, in his debate in Indiana's 3rd Congressional District:
Rebecca Sink-Burris will debate two more times with fellow candidates for US Senate. Well, she will debate. The others will no doubt sling more mud. I hope she tells them to knock it off and behave.
Fri Oct 22, at Fort Wayne
Mon Oct 25, at Vincennes
These should be widely televised again. If you missed the first US Senate debate, see it by clicking here.
Labels: Libertarian Party, Rebecca Sink-Burris, Scott Wise
posted by Mike Kole @ 2:23 PM,
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Promote Libertarian Candidates
Thursday, September 30, 2010
We're about 5 weeks away from the upcoming elections. Sad to say, but many people are only now beginning to pay attention to candidates. Help them out! Get stickers for your vehicles and be a moving billboard for our Libertarian candidates
Contact me with a mailing address, and I'll send bumper stickers to you. I have them for Mike Wherry (candidate for Secretary of State and continued Libertarian ballot access) and Chard Reid (US Congress, District 5).
Labels: bumper stickers, Chard Reid, Libertarian Party, Mike Wherry
posted by Mike Kole @ 9:53 AM,
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Greg Noland Campaigns In Atlanta
Monday, September 27, 2010
Greg Noland is the Libertarian candidate for Indiana House in District 36, and was good enough to set up a booth at the Good Earth Festival in Atlanta this past weekend.
No, Greg didn't travel to Georgia. Out of state campaigning is something Republicans do. Atlanta is a small town on Route 19 in the northern part of Hamilton County. Greg's district is primarily in Madison County, but it does extend into parts of White River and Jackson Townships in out county.
Greg has a great touch when speaking with voters. It was a pleasure for me to spend a little time with him, promoting his campaign and all of candidates on our ballot in November.
Make sure to vote for Greg Noland for Indiana House in District 36!
Labels: Atlanta, Greg Noland, Indiana House District 36, Libertarian Party
posted by Mike Kole @ 8:47 PM,
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Libertarian Party's Prosperity Plan
Saturday, May 30, 2009
The Bush & Obama Administrations have brought us false stimulus and offensive bailouts. So, what is the Libertarian Party's alternative? Its' 3-point Prosperity Plan:
1) Repeal the income tax: Adopt legislation repealing the income tax and abolishing the Internal Revenue Service. Until the income tax is repealed, adopt legislation preserving the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts and enacting across-the-board income tax cuts.
2) Adopt the Balanced Budget Amendment: Adopt a constitutional amendment requiring the federal budget be balanced, and balanced exclusively by cutting expenditures, not by raising taxes.
3) Abolish corporate welfare and bailouts: Adopt federal legislation prohibiting any federal spending program that provides payments or unique benefits and advantages to specific companies or industries, terminating programs that provide direct grants to businesses, eliminating programs that provide research and other services for industries and ending programs that provide subsidized loans or insurance to businesses.
Labels: bailouts, Libertarian Party, Prosperity Plan, stimulus, tax cut, taxes
posted by Mike Kole @ 11:32 AM,
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Vote Libertarian!
Friday, October 31, 2008
While Hamilton County is among Indiana's most prosperous, these declining economic times are a matter of grave concern. If you think government hasn't been doing right by you or by your country, now is the time to cast a vote for real change. After all, this mess has been brought to us largely by the Republicans, but no thanks also to the Democrats.
Wanted justice for the bad actors in the financial crisis? You got bailouts that punish us and reward the same bad actors, and their bad decisions instead
Wanted smaller government? You didn't get it.
Wanted lower taxes? You got shell games.
Wanted an end to an over-reaching foreign policy? It still over-reaches.
Wanted greater civil liberties? You're joking, right?
The best way to vote pro-liberty is to cast a straight ticket vote for the Libertarian Party. Do this by pushing the button opposite the Libertarian Party name, in the third position from the top, on the first page.
Here are the Libertarian Party candidates on the ballot in Hamilton County:
President - Bob Barr
Vice President - Wayne A. Root
Governor - Andy Horning
Lieutenant Governor - Lisa Kelly
Indiana Senate, District 30 - Steve Keltner
This is no time for the argument about the Wasted Vote Syndrome. If you want socialism, don't waste your vote. Vote McCain or Obama. The only difference is the speed by which you get socialism- tomorrow or next week. If you favor capitalism, individualism, and justice, vote for Bob Barr and his fellow Libertarian candidates, because these are the only ones who will do everything to deliver.
Labels: Andy Horning, Bob Barr, election, Hamilton County Libertarian Party, Libertarian Party, Lisa Kelly, Steve Keltner, vote, Wayne A. Root
posted by Mike Kole @ 4:00 PM,
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Barr Polls Well in Ohio
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Bob Barr is taking a big chunk of votes away from McBama in our neighbor state to the East. From the Sandusky Register Online:
Libertarian Barr close to double digits in Ohio
Friday August 29 2008, 11:08am
A Zogby International poll released Aug. 22 showed Libertarian Bob Barr is drawing support from 8 percent of the Ohio's voters. (The poll placed Barack Obama at 41 percent and John McCain at 36 percent, Ralph Nader at 1 percent and "Not Sure/Other" at 13 percent.)It's just one poll, but members of the Ohio Libertarian Party are pleased and hope the poll numbers show they can become a player in state politics.
8 percent is going to be about 4 times the margin of victory. It suggests that McCain and Obama are failing to win over Americans, and are off-base on some keys issues with voters.
Can't wait to see how Barr's doing here in Indiana!
Update: Barr is currently polling at 7% here in Indiana, with McCain at 40%, Obama at 39%. Zogby shows both Ohio and Indiana as undecided right now. Here's a link to Zogby's 50-state daily polling map.
Labels: Barack Obama, Bob Barr, John McCain, Libertarian Party, Ohio, Zogby International poll
posted by Mike Kole @ 5:25 PM,
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Paying For The Opposition
Thursday, August 14, 2008
If you are a Libertarian, you are still paying to subsidize the Republicans and Democrats, and their conventions. Where are the moral objections, from either of those parties, on the grounds that it is wrong to be forced to fund one's political opponents? Where are the small government Republicans? Where are the Jeffersonian Democrats? Crickets.
Bob Barr comments:
August 13, 2008 9:35 am EST
Atlanta, GA - “My party has already held its convention without a single taxpayer dollar in its support,” notes Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party presidential nominee. But the Republican and Democratic conventions live on federal subsidies. Each party is receiving $16 million for operating expenses and another $50 million for security. But even this might not be enough in the view of some people. Colorado officials are talking about trying to pry some additional money from the feds.
“It probably doesn’t surprise a lot of people that Sen. Barack Obama’s party is trying to pry more money out of government. After all, Democrats have perfected the art of using a political crowbar to bust open the Treasury’s doors. But why is Sen. John McCain, supposed maverick and reformer, going along with the raid? How is he any different than any of the other people who fill Washington clamoring for a bailout?” Barr asks.
“Unfortunately, too many people spend too much time prying money from the feds,” observes Barr. “And both parties are to blame. It’s easier to list the groups that don’t get federal handouts than those that fill their pockets every year. With a half-trillion dollar deficit and a $9.5 trillion national debt, we obviously can’t afford to have all of these people breaking into the Treasury all the time,” says Barr.
“But what can be more obnoxious than forcing taxpayers to underwrite other people’s political opinions? As Thomas Jefferson told us: to compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions that he disbelieves is sinful and tyrannical. You’d think someone who postures as an opponent of special interests and government pork wouldn’t expect the taxpayers to subsidize his own very special interest political campaign,” notes Barr.
The Libertarian Party staged its' national convention in Denver earlier this year, where it nominated the ticket of Bob Barr and Wayne Root. The convention was staged strictly with private money.
Labels: Barack Obama, Bob Barr, Democratic Party, Denver, John McCain, Libertarian Party, Republican Party
posted by Mike Kole @ 3:38 PM,
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Barr Says DC Should Respect Heller Decision
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
July 21, 2008 3:25 pm EST
Atlanta, GA -- “Citizens of Washington, D.C. and firearms rights organizations must be prepared to file a quick and clear challenge to the new Washington, D.C. gun control law designed to keep them disarmed,” says Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party candidate for president. “The City Council is attempting to flout the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Heller that explicitly affirmed an individual’s right to own firearms. The Council is disingenuously doing this by appearing to legalize gun ownership while restricting the right into ineffectiveness.”Link to full post.
For instance, explains Barr, “the District of Columbia will continue to ban semi-automatic weapons, the most common kind of handgun in America. Moreover, residents will be required to keep their guns unloaded and either disassembled or disabled with a trigger lock. Unfortunately, most criminals aren’t going to give homeowners the courtesy of waiting for them to make their weapons operational before striking.”
The right to bear arms is correctly an absolute. Heller was a 'mostly good' decision, but fell short of ensuring this most basic liberty.
Dick Heller is considering a run for office as a Libertarian candidate.
Labels: Bob Barr, Dick Heller, Heller vs DC, Libertarian Party
posted by Mike Kole @ 10:07 AM,
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Andy Horning's Platform
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Our Libertarian candidate for Indiana governor has a unique platform- The Indiana Constitution.
Labels: Andy Horning, governor, Indiana Constitution, Libertarian Party
posted by Mike Kole @ 11:24 AM,
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