Chair Candidates, LNC 2018-2020

Chair

Nicholas J. Sarwark (Incumbent)

What experience and accomplishments do you have in the Libertarian Party? Include internal party positions as well as positions on LP campaigns for public office.

I've been active in the Libertarian Party since 1999, my entire adult life. My previous service to the Libertarian Party includes being Chair of the Libertarian Party of Maryland, Vice Chair of the Libertarian Party of Colorado, member of the national Bylaws Committee and Judicial Committee. Since July 2014, I have served as Chairman of the Libertarian National Committee.

What experience do you have outside of the Libertarian Party that you think would be useful or relevant to the position you’re seeking?

I have professional experience in information technology, law, sales, and am a principal in a small business. My legal experience included five years as a public defender, which provided negotiation skills as well as public speaking practice that comes with trying over 36 cases to a jury.

What does the national committee currently do well, and how can it improve?

Most of the committee is currently focused on making the Libertarian Party more successful in politics and not distracted by internal power struggles. While this is much better than previous national committees, it could always improve. I would also like to see more committee members practicing their writing, public speaking, and fundraising skills.

What specific goals would you would like to accomplish during the 2018-2020 term, if elected?

Continue our growth in fundraising, membership, vote totals, and candidates. If possible, I would like to revive training programs similar to Success '99 to train candidates and activists in the state parties with the skills they need to be more successful.

How do you see the role of the position you are seeking (e.g. Chair, Secretary, etc.) as it relates to the rest of the LNC, and to the LP Staff?

At its best, the Chair provides an example and a tone to the other members of the committee and acts as a referee to help committee members disagree amicably and move forward after decisions are made.

How do you think the national committee can best serve the state and local affiliates, and help get more Libertarians elected to public office?

Providing resources such as training and support to help the state and local affiliates grow into self-sufficient organizations with defined roles and an independent fundraising infrastructure. The national committee should be teaching people to fish and maybe providing discounted rods and tackle, not handing fish out.

Joe Paschal

What experience and accomplishments do you have in the Libertarian Party? Include internal party positions as well as positions on LP campaigns for public office.

No previous positions in the party I have

What experience do you have outside of the Libertarian Party that you think would be useful or relevant to the position you’re seeking?

I have been a business owner rancher construction manager responsible for as many as 1500 people and billions of dollars of budget

What does the national committee currently do well, and how can it improve?

They keep the current membership appesesed for the most part. The party needs growth both latterly and vertically I can help bring the classic liberal group back and the edgy conservative

What specific goals would you would like to accomplish during the 2018-2020 term, if elected?

Push the bottom up philosophy

How do you see the role of the position you are seeking (e.g. Chair, Secretary, etc.) as it relates to the rest of the LNC, and to the LP Staff?

The actions of the Chair can both positively and negativity impact the LP and it’s members transparency is the key

How do you think the national committee can best serve the state and local affiliates, and help get more Libertarians elected to public office?

The LNC should act in a support function and with the Regions to assure consistency

Joshua Smith

What experience and accomplishments do you have in the Libertarian Party? Include internal party positions as well as positions on LP campaigns for public office.

I am currently the Region 5 Representative for the Libertarian Party of Washington State. I'm the County Chair for Clark County. I sit on the LPWA retention committee. I've worked with several local campaigns, and am contributing social media help to more campaigns than I can count right now.

What experience do you have outside of the Libertarian Party that you think would be useful or relevant to the position you’re seeking?

I have 15 years on and off in sales and marketing, including consulting for fine dining restaurant rebrands. Several that have become huge million dollar revenue a year successes. I have been heavily entrenched in customer service for almost 20 years in one way or another, and have sold everything from whole sale art, to high end home theatres.

What does the national committee currently do well, and how can it improve?

I think they hold a good meeting, but we are very very bogged down by committees. I'd like to find creative ways to change that. Whether that's by just naming directors or not, I don't know. It's something I will be looking in to.

What specific goals would you would like to accomplish during the 2018-2020 term, if elected?

I've set very high fundraising goals. I said I want to raise 4 million in 2019, and I believe I have put together a team and plan that will accomplish this. I plan to get even higher in 2020. I would like to see us help as much as we can with breakout candidates at the state rep level in 2018. I have spoken with Y.A.L. about endorsing and helping candidates, and I will continue to foster coalitions that help our party in the same way. I will institute a candidate educational tool that helps to train candidates on campaigning. I want to see a tech upgrade, and wish to start a national LP news podcast to be put out from our social media, and have the LNC members start doing video blogs to let our members know what we are doing, and how they can help. HUGE focus on viral marketing. The fundraising team I wish to put together are some of the best marketers we have in the party, and I plan to have them come up with viral marketing campaigns that let people know how our policies will enrich their lives.

How do you see the role of the position you are seeking (e.g. Chair, Secretary, etc.) as it relates to the rest of the LNC, and to the LP Staff?

I believe the chair should be inspiring activism, overseeing meetings, and constantly looking for ways to improve our party, and the base for our candidates. The chair should also make sure that the staff are doing the things they are hired for. I've proposed that we do surveys to find out how our members believe we can improve, and what impact paid staff are having on party processes.

How do you think the national committee can best serve the state and local affiliates, and help get more Libertarians elected to public office?

Fundraising to me me is at the top of this list. I believe that the national committee should return it's focus to the grassroots. I have proposed that we revive an old program that gives new national member's first year contributions back to the state parties. Spotlighting local and state candidates from the national media hub, including calls to action for volunteers. I've also proposed that we send out new member packets to new national member's that get them in touch with their local and state affiliates in a timely manner, and let them know what local campaigns they can help on. I believe that I have built a good team to work on viral marketing campaigns that will greatly improve our media platform and in turn give help to getting local and state candidates elected. That is undoubtedly where we are going to win first.

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