The Libertarian Party of Connecticut is a statewide affiliate of the U.S. Libertarian Party. According to the bylaws posted on its web site, the Connecticut Libertarian Party has the basic aims of furthering individual freedom and opposing the initiation of force against individuals, among other things.[1] It does this by engaging in political, educational, and social activities.
The party leadership declined to endorse celebrity author Ann Coulter in a run for Congress in 2000, in a bid against Chris Shays for the 4th district. As a result, her congressional campaign did not take place.[2][3]
Sub-affiliates
The party is active in seven of the eight counties of Connecticut; the exception is Tolland County.[4]
- The Libertarian Party of Fairfield and Litchfield Counties
- The Libertarian Party of Hartford County
- The Libertarian Party of New Haven County
- The Libertarian Party of Windham, New London, and Middlesex Counties
The Norwich Libertarian Town Committee was formed in May, 2013.[5]
Membership
Active Registered Libertarian Voters in Connecticut
To register as a member of the Libertarian Party with the Connecticut Secretary of the State, an eligible voter must write in "Libertarian" in Box 9 of the state voter registration form.[6] As of November 3, 2014, Connecticut had 1,780 active registered Libertarians, making it the state's fourth largest party, trailing the Democratic, Republican, and Independent parties.[7] Some areas of the state have a larger share of the membership than others. By Congressional District, party membership is distributed as follows:[8]
18.9% reside in Congressional District 1
26.0% reside in Congressional District 2
16.0% reside in Congressional District 3
19.8% reside in Congressional District 4
19.4% reside in Congressional District 5
Between October 21, 2003 and November 3, 2014, the party experienced 177% growth in active voters registered with the Secretary of the State.[9][10]
Voters may also register with the state party itself as either an associate member or a full member.[11] An associate member does not pay dues, may not be a member of the State Central Committee or the Judiciary Committee, and does not have voting privileges at party functions, such as its annual convention. A full member enjoys all membership privileges and must pay annual dues of $25. Both associate members and full members must sign the Libertarian pledge, which states “I hereby certify that I do not believe in or advocate the initiation of force to achieve political, social, or economic goals.”[12]
A voter may register with the state Libertarian Party as either a full or associate member while remaining a registered member of another party with the Secretary of the State.
Elected Officials
There are no elected officials in Connecticut who were elected on the Libertarian Party ballot line. There were two registered Libertarians elected on other party ballot lines in November, 2013.[13]
Joshua Katz was elected on the Republican line to the Westbrook Planning Commission.[14]
Sean Foley was elected on the Democratic line to the Burlington Board of Finance.[15]
Election Results
2016
| Office |
Candidate |
Total Votes |
Percentage |
| President |
Gary Johnson |
62,010 |
3.78% |
| US Senate |
Richard Lion |
17,665 |
1.14% |
| US Congress 2 |
Daniel Reale |
4,811 |
1.50% |
| G.A. 9 |
Richard Lion |
1,070 |
12.90% |
| G.A. 35 |
Austin Coco |
195 |
1.51% |
2015
| Office |
Candidate |
Total Votes |
Percentage |
| Board of Directors - Manchester |
Richard Lion |
392 |
N/A - Not Elected |
2014
| Office |
Candidate |
Total Votes |
Percentage |
| US Congress 2 |
Daniel Reale |
2,602 |
1.14% |
| G.A. 9 |
Richard Lion |
830 |
14.11% |
2013
The candidates for Norwich Councilman received a cumulative 14.03% of the vote (2,868 votes for Libertarian candidates out of a total of 20,442 votes cast for the office.)[16]
| Office |
Candidate |
Total Votes |
Percentage |
| Mayor - Norwich |
William Russell |
386 |
8.54% |
| Councilman - Norwich |
Julia Anne Gorham |
669 |
N/A - Not Elected |
| Councilman - Norwich |
Axel Rodriguez |
614 |
N/A - Not Elected |
| Councilman - Norwich |
Cyndia Shook |
603 |
N/A - Not Elected |
| Councilman - Norwich |
Michael Holman |
537 |
N/A - Not Elected |
| Councilman - Norwich |
Chandler Alfred Jr. |
445 |
N/A - Not Elected |
| Board of Directors - Manchester |
Richard Lion |
465 |
N/A - Not Elected |
2012
Secretary of the State's office acknowledging 2012 incorrect vote totals
After receiving the largest vote total in Connecticut Libertarian Party history, Paul Passarelli became the party's first US Senate candidate to retain ballot access for that office despite the towns of Middlefield and Washington failing to report any votes for his candidacy to the Secretary of the State. The town of Seymour also inadvertently failed to report any votes for both Libertarian Party Presidential candidate Gary Johnson and Independent Party candidate Rocky Anderson on its amended returns to the Secretary of the State after including the correct totals of 72 votes for Johnson and 37 votes for Anderson on its initial returns. The towns of East Windsor and Preston also inadvertently failed to report any votes for a combined 14 Working Families and Independent Party candidates.[17] The unfortunate cluster of errors was not noticed until after the Statement of Vote was officially certified and changes cannot be made to the Statement of Vote after that time.
| Office |
Candidate |
Total Votes |
Percentage |
| President |
Gary Johnson |
12,580 |
0.81% |
| US Senate |
Paul Passarelli |
25,045 |
1.66% |
| US Congress 2 |
Daniel Reale |
3,511 |
1.17% |
| State Senate 20 |
Marc Guttman |
665 |
1.65% |
2010
In 2010 John Szewczyk became the first and only Libertarian Party candidate to appear on the ballot as a cross endorsed candidate for a state or federal office. He was cross endorsed by the Republican, Independent, and Connecticut for Lieberman Parties.
| Office |
Candidate |
Total Votes |
Percentage |
| Secretary of the State |
Ken Mosher |
8,631 |
0.78% |
| Comptroller |
Joshua Katz |
10,328 |
0.96% |
| State Senate 20 |
Marc Guttman |
699 |
2.18% |
| G.A. 100 |
John Szewczyk |
100 |
1.02% |
2008
| Office |
Candidate |
Total Votes |
Percentage |
| US Congress 4 |
Michael Carrano |
2,049 |
0.66% |
| State Senate 20 |
Marc Guttman |
700 |
1.59% |
2006
| Office |
Candidate |
Total Votes |
Percentage |
| US Congress 4 |
Philip Maymin |
3,058 |
1.45% |
| Secretary of the State |
Ken Mosher |
13,043 |
1.25% |
| Treasurer |
Steve Edelman |
15,354 |
1.51% |
| Comptroller |
Richard Connelly |
23,688 |
2.34% |
| G.A. 5 |
Richard Lion |
77 |
3.79% |
| G.A. 82 |
Arline Dunlop |
492 |
7.44% |
2005
| Office |
Candidate |
Total Votes |
Percentage |
| Mayor - Meriden |
Arline Dunlop |
1,732 |
17.25% |
2004
| Office |
Candidate |
Total Votes |
Percentage |
| President |
Michael Badnarik |
3,367 |
0.21% |
| US Senate |
Leonard Rasch |
9,188 |
0.64% |
| State Senate 24 |
John McGowan |
297 |
0.85% |
| G.A. 5 |
Richard Lion |
95 |
2.59% |
| G.A. 33 |
Vincent Marotta |
152 |
1.77% |
| G.A. 78 |
Linda Rasch |
315 |
4.63% |
| G.A. 82 |
Arline Dunlop |
456 |
6.77% |
2003
| Office |
Candidate |
Total Votes |
Percentage |
| Mayor - Hartford |
Richard Lion |
564 |
5.62% |
| Mayor - Meriden |
Arline Dunlop |
421 |
3.42% |
| Mayor - Windham |
Lori Jeffers |
219 |
6.05% |
2002
| Office |
Candidate |
Total Votes |
Percentage |
| US Congress 5 |
Walter Gengarelly |
1,503 |
0.72% |
| Secretary of the State |
Darlene Nicholas |
13,922 |
1.46% |
| Treasurer |
Ken Mosher |
12,449 |
1.32% |
| Comptroller |
Leonard Rasch |
12,651 |
1.36% |
| G.A. 33 |
Vincent Marotta |
125 |
2.16% |
| G.A. 82 |
Arline Dunlop |
158 |
2.37% |
2001
| Office |
Candidate |
Total Votes |
Percentage |
| Mayor - Hartford |
Richard Lion |
260 |
2.25% |
| Mayor - Meriden |
Arline Dunlop |
240 |
1.72% |
| Mayor - Windham |
Lori Jeffers |
216 |
5.76% |
2000
Michael Costanza's 26.08% of the vote in General Assembly District 43 set the Connecticut Libertarian Party record for the highest vote percentage for a state or federal candidate. His 40.15% of the vote in the North Stonington portion of the two town district bested both his Republican and Democratic opponents.
| Office |
Candidate |
Total Votes |
Percentage |
| President |
Harry Browne |
3,484 |
0.24% |
| US Senate |
Wildey Moore |
8,773 |
0.67% |
| US Congress 4 |
Daniel Gislao |
2,034 |
0.98% |
| State Senate 22 |
Carl Vassar |
262 |
0.73% |
| State Senate 25 |
Joseph Bucciarelli |
460 |
1.39% |
| State Senate 32 |
Richard Antico |
2,291 |
7.24% |
| G.A. 11 |
Richard Connelly |
89 |
1.52% |
| G.A. 33 |
Vincent Marotta |
334 |
5.90% |
| G.A. 39 |
Donald Nicholas |
307 |
8.70% |
| G.A. 43 |
Michael Costanza |
2,832 |
26.08% |
| G.A. 44 |
Sandra Cote |
357 |
6.36% |
| G.A. 49 |
William Rood |
896 |
15.85% |
| G.A. 46 |
William Russell |
63 |
0.94% |
| G.A. 66 |
George Eggert |
379 |
3.35% |
| G.A. 67 |
Robert Kinney |
179 |
1.94% |
| G.A. 84 |
Arline Dunlop |
91 |
1.80% |
| G.A. 98 |
Ned Vare |
434 |
5.21% |
| G.A. 100 |
James Madison |
86 |
0.83% |
1999
| Office |
Candidate |
Total Votes |
Percentage |
| Mayor - Bethlehem |
George Eggert |
147 |
10.54% |
| Mayor - Meriden |
Arline Dunlop |
683 |
6.54% |
| Mayor - Oxford |
John Joy |
180 |
5.92% |
| Mayor - Windham |
Ken Mosher |
169 |
5.39% |
1998
| Office |
Candidate |
Total Votes |
Percentage |
| US Senate |
Wildey Moore |
5,196 |
0.54% |
| US Congress 4 |
Marshall Harrison |
1,449 |
1.06% |
| Governor |
Ned Vare |
5,637 |
0.54% |
| Lieutenant Governor |
Robert Loomis |
5,637 |
0.54% |
| Attorney General |
Richard Pober |
7,537 |
0.82% |
| Secretary of the State |
Ken Mosher |
9,920 |
1.10% |
| Treasurer |
Louis Garofalo |
11,375 |
1.28% |
| Comptroller |
Steven Edelman |
9,207 |
1.04% |
| State Senate 22 |
Carl Vassar |
175 |
0.70% |
| State Senate 25 |
Joseph Bucciarelli |
721 |
4.91% |
| State Senate 32 |
Dan Fitzgerald |
432 |
1.36% |
| G.A. 11 |
Richard Connelly |
58 |
1.33% |
| G.A. 39 |
Darlene Nicholas |
54 |
1.85% |
| G.A. 66 |
George Eggert |
706 |
10.34% |
|
1996
| Office |
Candidate |
Total Votes |
Percentage |
| President |
Harry Browne |
5,788 |
0.42% |
| US Congress 4 |
Edward Tonkin |
2,815 |
1.40% |
| US Congress 5 |
Walter Thiessen |
1,391 |
0.65% |
| State Senate 22 |
Carl Vassar |
696 |
2.09% |
| State Senate 25 |
Joseph Bucciarelli |
705 |
2.15% |
| State Senate 32 |
Wildey Moore |
724 |
1.79% |
| G.A. 60 |
Richard Loomis |
359 |
5.40% |
| G.A. 66 |
George Eggert |
1,332 |
12.61% |
|
Finances
The finances of the Libertarian Party of Connecticut State Central Committee are public record.[18] Its primary expenditures involve ballot access for candidates. Its second largest expense is its annual convention. Speakers at past conventions include consumer privacy advocate Katherine Albrecht, taxpayer advocate Carla Howell, former Libertarian Party Presidential candidate Michael Badnarik, investment broker Peter Schiff, and Scott Wilson, President of the gun rights advocacy group Connecticut Citizens Defense League. Other large expenses include fundraising and propaganda, such as yard signs, handouts, and DVDs. It does not have a regularly paid staff.
| Year |
Contributions from Individuals In State |
Contributions from Individuals Out of State |
Contributions from Individuals of Unknown Location |
Transfers from the National Party |
Transfers from Presidential and Other Committees |
Sales of Food, Merchandise, Advertising, Convention Tickets, and Bank Interest |
Refunds |
Total Itemized Revenue |
Total Itemized Expenses |
Balance at Year End |
| 2015 |
2,215.00 |
100.00 |
636.62 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
2,951.62 |
1,529.10 |
4,417.27 |
| 2014 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
474.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
4.00 |
0.00 |
478.00 |
531.12 |
2,994.75 |
| 2013 |
90.00 |
0.00 |
365.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
27.00 |
0.00 |
482.00 |
238.83 |
3,047.87 |
| 2012 |
2,192.00 |
42,206.00 |
18,885.63 |
0.00 |
21,422.44 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
84,706.07 |
83,762.71 |
2,804.70 |
| 2011 |
320.00 |
0.00 |
450.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
770.00 |
3,171.31 |
2,472.13 |
| 2010 |
415.00 |
0.00 |
1,056.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
1,471.00 |
3,039.28 |
4,873.44 |
| 2009 |
1,910.00 |
160.00 |
2,185.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
4,255.00 |
5,249.81 |
6,441.72 |
| 2008 |
1,980.00 |
550.00 |
1,295.00 |
0.00 |
5,000.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
8,825.00 |
10,060.05 |
7,436.53 |
| 2007 |
795.00 |
0.00 |
1,075.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
78.00 |
0.00 |
1,948.00 |
927.40 |
8,671.58 |
| 2006 |
350.00 |
1,000.00 |
140.00 |
1,985.33 |
0.00 |
1,195.00 |
0.00 |
4,670.33 |
3,364.40 |
7,650.98 |
| 2005 |
255.00 |
0.00 |
50.00 |
4,433.00 |
0.00 |
253.00 |
36.64 |
5,027.64 |
822.00 |
6,345.05 |
| 2004 |
6,807.00 |
500.00 |
368.51 |
3,782.00 |
13,590.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
25,047.51 |
25,212.61 |
2,139.41 |
| 2003 |
1,600.00 |
120.00 |
75.00 |
3,706.50 |
0.00 |
0.52 |
0.00 |
5,502.02 |
4,154.72 |
3,124.51 |
| 2002 |
3,915.00 |
250.00 |
368.00 |
4,555.50 |
0.00 |
676.94 |
5.25 |
9,770.69 |
15,466.16 |
1,777.21 |
| 2001 |
2,273.37 |
310.00 |
1,538.00 |
6,672.00 |
0.00 |
28.84 |
177.37 |
10,999.58 |
5,906.98 |
7,472.68 |
| 2000 |
7,836.00 |
0.00 |
335.00 |
7,703.00 |
25.00 |
58.12 |
0.00 |
15,957.12 |
16,356.43 |
2,380.08 |
| 1999 |
3,385.00 |
80.00 |
467.00 |
6,258.00 |
131.99 |
563.19 |
0.00 |
10,885.18 |
9,309.54 |
2,694.39 |
Walter Gengarelly Jr. Award
The Connecticut Libertarian Party State Central Committee issues the Walter Gengarelly Jr. Award at its annual convention to a person who has exhibited a "sustained and selfless effort to support the cause of liberty" at "extreme sacrifice to him or herself."[19] Walter Gengarelly spent nearly three decades in service to the Connecticut Libertarian Party. In 1982 he was the party's first Gubernatorial candidate and he died in 2010 in the midst of a campaign for the 5th Congressional District.[20]
See also
References
External links
