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Libertarian Party of Connecticut

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Libertarian Party of Connecticut
ChairpersonSteve Dincher[1]
Senate leaderNone
House leaderNone
Founded1971
IdeologyLibertarianism
National affiliationLibertarian Party (United States)
Colorsa shade of Blue; Yellow1
Connecticut Senate
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Connecticut House of Representatives
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U.S. Senate (Connecticut)
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U.S. House of Representatives (Connecticut)
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Other elected officials0 (June 2024)[2]
Website
www.lpct.org

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.[3] 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.[4][5]

Sub-affiliates

[edit]
  • The Libertarian Party of New Haven County
  • The Libertarian Party of Fairfield County
  • The Libertarian Party of Hartford County

Registration and Membership

[edit]

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 5, 2018, it was the state's fourth largest party, trailing the Democratic, Republican, and Independent parties.

Year Registered
Voters
2019 3116
2018 2,980 [7]
2017
2016 2,561 [8]
2015
2014 1,780 [9]
2013 1,684 [10]
2012 1,603 [11]
2011
2010 1,295 [12]
2009 1,278 [13]
2008 987 [14]
2007 1,042 [15]
2006 840 [16]
2005 1,033 [17]
2004 789 [18]
2003 643 [19]
2002 741 [20]
2001 704 [21]
2000 653 [22]
1999
1998 149 [23]
1997
1996 70 [24]
1995
1994
1993
1992 29 [25]

Voters may also register with the state party itself as either an associate member or a full member.[26] 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."[27]

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

[edit]

Gordon Haave was the first Libertarian elected to public office in the state of Connecticut. He was elected in a non-partisan election as a Greenwich Representative Town Meeting member in November, 1995.[28] There have been several people who affiliate with the Libertarian Party elected to local offices on other party ballot lines.[29] Most recently, in November, 2013 Joshua Katz was elected on the Republican line to the Westbrook Planning Commission,[30] and Sean Foley was elected on the Democratic line to the Burlington Board of Finance.[31] There have also been several people affiliated with the Libertarian Party who have served in appointed office. Most recently, Robin Lasky was appointed in June, 2016 to the Branford Solid Waste Management Commission, and Matthew Radant was appointed in November, 2017 to the Plainfield Board of Education.[32]

2018 Candidates

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The following candidates were on the ballot:[33]

US Senate: Richard Lion

US House 2: Daniel Reale

Governor: Rod Hanscomb

Lieutenant Governor: Jeffrey Thibeault

Comptroller: Paul Passarelli

Secretary of State: Heather Gwynn

Treasurer: Jesse Brohinsky

General Assembly 9: Anthony Armetta

General Assembly 65: Kent Johnson

General Assembly 83: Roger Misbach

General Assembly 91: Gary Walsh

Election results

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An asterisk in the percentage column indicates a multi-winner district, rather than a single winner district.

2019

[edit]

Aaron Lewis was on the ballot as a petitioning candidate, but changed his voter registration from Democrat to Libertarian shortly before the election.

Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage
Cromwell – Board of Assessment Appeals Matthew Joseph Long 729 * 11.1
Hartford – Mayor Aaron Lewis 59 0.6
Meriden – Mayor Roger Misbach 539 7.4
Meriden – City Council District 1 Richard Cordero 140 14.0
Meriden – City Council District 4 Ellen Misbach 45 1.9
Norwich – City Council William Russell 442 * 1.8
Plainfield – First Selectman Daniel Reale 113 4.1
Plainfield – Board of Finance Scott Charlwood 843 * 18.2
Plainfield – Board of Education Matthew Radant 956 * 20.8
Trumbull – Councilman District 3 Brandon Cousins 519 * 4.2

2018

[edit]
Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage
US Senate Richard Lion 8,838 0.6
US House 2 Daniel Reale 3,305 1.1
Governor Rod Hanscomb 6,086 0.4
Lieutenant Governor Jeffrey Thibeault 6,086 0.4
Comptroller Paul Passarelli 13,165 1.0
Secretary of State Heather Gwynn 10,361 0.8
Treasurer Jesse Brohinski 15,514 1.1
G.A. 9 Anthony Armetta 821 12.0
G.A. 65 Kent Johnson 85 1.2
G.A. 83 Roger Misbach 117 1.3
G.A. 91 Gary Walsh 669 7.9

2017

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The candidates for Norwich city council received a cumulative 10.2% of the vote (2,786 votes for Libertarian candidates out of a total of 27,352 votes cast for the office.)

Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage
Darien – Representative Town Meeting Member 2 Vincent Arguimbau 251 * 9.4
New Milford – Town Council Michael Sennello 1,502 * 3.1
Norwich – Mayor William (Bill) Russell 338 6.5
Norwich – City Council Richard Bright 504 * 1.8
Norwich – City Council Nicholas Casiano 397 * 1.5
Norwich – City Council Stacylynn Cottle 462 * 1.7
Norwich – City Council James Fear Sr 598 * 2.2
Norwich – City Council Janice Loomis 464 * 1.7
Norwich – City Council Justin Massaro 361 * 1.3
Plainfield – First Selectman Daniel Reale 211 7.7
Plainfield – Board of Education Matthew Radant 620 * 12.7

2016

[edit]
Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage
President Gary Johnson 48,676 3.0
US Senate Richard Lion 18,190 1.1
US House 2 Daniel Reale 4,949 1.5
G.A. 9 Richard Lion 1,070 12.9
G.A. 35 Austin Coco 195 1.5

2015

[edit]
Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage
Manchester – Board of Directors Richard Lion 392 * 0.9

2014

[edit]
Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage
US House 2 Daniel Reale 2,602 1.1
G.A. 9 Richard Lion 830 14.1

2013

[edit]

The candidates for Norwich city council received a cumulative 14.0 of the vote (2,868 votes for Libertarian candidates out of a total of 20,442 votes cast for the office.)[34]

Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage
Manchester – Board of Directors Richard Lion 465 * 1.0
Norwich – Mayor William Russell 386 8.5
Norwich – City Council Julia Anne Gorham 669 * 3.3
Norwich – City Council Axel Rodriguez 614 * 3.0
Norwich – City Council Cyndia Shook 603 * 3.0
Norwich – City Council Michael Holman 537 * 2.6
Norwich – City Council Chandler Alfred Jr. 445 * 2.2

2012

[edit]
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.[35] [citation needed] 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 0.8
US Senate Paul Passarelli 25,045 1.7
US House 2 Daniel Reale 3,511 1.2
State Senate 20 Marc Guttman 665 1.7

2010

[edit]

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 0.8
Comptroller Joshua Katz 10,328 1.0
State Senate 20 Marc Guttman 699 2.2
G.A. 100 John Szewczyk 100 1.0

2008

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Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage
US House 4 Michael Carrano 2,049 0.7
State Senate 20 Marc Guttman 700 1.6

2006

[edit]
Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage
US House 4 Philip Maymin 3,058 1.5
Secretary of the State Ken Mosher 13,043 1.3
Treasurer Steve Edelman 15,354 1.5
Comptroller Richard Connelly 23,688 2.3
G.A. 5 Richard Lion 77 3.8
G.A. 82 Arline Dunlop 492 7.4

2005

[edit]
Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage
Meriden – Mayor Arline Dunlop 1,732 17.3

2004

[edit]
Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage
President Michael Badnarik 3,367 0.2
US Senate Leonard Rasch 9,188 0.6
State Senate 24 John McGowan 297 0.6
G.A. 5 Richard Lion 95 2.6
G.A. 33 Vincent Marotta 152 1.8
G.A. 78 Linda Rasch 315 4.6
G.A. 82 Arline Dunlop 456 6.8

2003

[edit]
Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage
Hartford – Mayor Richard Lion 564 5.6
Meriden – Mayor Arline Dunlop 421 3.4
Windham – Mayor Lori Jeffers 219 6.1

2002

[edit]
Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage
US House 5 Walter Gengarelly 1,503 0.7
Secretary of the State Darlene Nicholas 13,922 1.5
Treasurer Ken Mosher 12,449 1.3
Comptroller Leonard Rasch 12,651 1.4
G.A. 33 Vincent Marotta 125 2.2
G.A. 82 Arline Dunlop 158 2.4

2001

[edit]
Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage
Hartford – Mayor Richard Lion 260 2.3
Meriden – Mayor Arline Dunlop 240 1.7
Windham – Mayor Lori Jeffers 216 5.8

2000

[edit]

Michael Costanza's 26.1% 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 40.2% 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 0.2
US Senate Wildey Moore 8,773 0.7
US House 4 Daniel Gislao 2,034 1.0
State Senate 22 Carl Vassar 262 0.7
State Senate 25 Joseph Bucciarelli 460 1.4
State Senate 32 Richard Antico 2,291 7.2
G.A. 11 Richard Connelly 89 1.5
G.A. 33 Vincent Marotta 334 5.9
G.A. 39 Donald Nicholas 307 8.7
G.A. 43 Michael Costanza 2,832 26.1
G.A. 44 Sandra Cote 357 6.4
G.A. 46 William Russell 63 0.9
G.A. 49 William Rood 896 15.9
G.A. 66 George Eggert 379 3.4
G.A. 67 Robert Kinney 179 1.9
G.A. 84 Arline Dunlop 91 1.8
G.A. 98 Ned Vare 434 5.0
G.A. 100 James Madison 86 0.8

1999

[edit]
Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage
Bethlehem – Mayor George Eggert 147 10.5
Meriden – Mayor Arline Dunlop 683 6.5
Oxford – Mayor John Joy 180 5.9
Windham – Mayor Ken Mosher 169 5.4

1998

[edit]
Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage
US Senate Wildey Moore 5,196 0.5
US House 4 Marshall Harrison 1,449 1.1
Governor Ned Vare 5,637 0.5
Lieutenant Governor Robert Loomis 5,637 0.5
Attorney General Richard Pober 7,537 0.8
Secretary of the State Ken Mosher 9,920 1.1
Treasurer Louis Garofalo 11,375 1.3
Comptroller Steven Edelman 9,207 1.0
State Senate 22 Carl Vassar 175 0.7
State Senate 25 Joseph Bucciarelli 721 4.9
State Senate 32 Dan Fitzgerald 432 1.4
G.A. 11 Richard Connelly 58 1.3
G.A. 39 Darlene Nicholas 54 1.9
G.A. 66 George Eggert 706 10.3

1996

[edit]
Office Candidate Total Votes Percentage
President Harry Browne 5,788 0.4
US House 4 Edward Tonkin 2,815 1.4
US House 5 Walter Thiessen 1,391 0.7
State Senate 22 Carl Vassar 696 2.1
State Senate 25 Joseph Bucciarelli 705 2.2
State Senate 32 Wildey Moore 724 1.8
G.A. 60 Richard Loomis 359 5.4
G.A. 66 George Eggert 1,332 12.6

Finances

[edit]

The finances of the Libertarian Party of Connecticut State Central Committee are public record.[36] 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 expenses and the purchase of literature and products for election advertising, such as yard signs, handouts, and DVDs. It does not have a regularly paid staff.

Year Contributions
from
Individuals
Transfers
from the
National
Committee
Transfers from
Presidential
and other
Committees
Sales of Merchandise,
Convention Tickets,
Advertising,
Bank Interest, etc.
Total Receipts Total Expenses Cash Balance
at Year End
2019 3,985.52 0.00 0.00 321.31 4,306.83 8,456.44 5,060.22
2018 21,147.00 10,000.00 0.00 34,450.00 65,597.00 57,021.54 9,209.83
2017 2,096.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2,096.00 2,665.13 634.37
2016 6,544.00 41,057.59 0.00 70.00 47,671.59 50,885.36 1,203.50
2015 2,951.62 0.00 0.00 0.00 2,951.62 1,529.10 4,417.27
2014 474.00 0.00 0.00 4.00 478.00 531.12 2,994.75
2013 455.00 0.00 0.00 27.00 482.00 238.83 3,047.87
2012 63,283.63 0.00 21,422.44 0.00 84,706.07 83,762.71 2,804.70
2011 770.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 770.00 3,171.31 2,772.13
2010 1,471.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,471.00 3,039.28 4,873.44
2009 4,255.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 4,255.00 5,249.81 6,441.72
2008 3,825.00 0.00 5,000.00 0.00 8,825.00 10,060.05 7,436.53
2007 1,870.00 0.00 0.00 78.00 1,948.00 927.40 8,671.58
2006 1,490.00 1,985.33 0.00 1,195.00 4,670.33 3,364.40 7,650.98
2005 305.00 4,433.00 0.00 289.64 5,027.64 822.00 6,345.05
2004 7,675.51 3,782.00 13,590.00 0.00 25,047.51 25,212.61 2,139.41
2003 1,795.00 3,706.50 0.00 0.52 5,502.02 4,154.72 3,124.51
2002 4,533.00 4,555.50 0.00 682.19 9,770.69 15,466.16 1,777.21
2001 4,121.37 6,672.00 0.00 206.21 10,999.58 5,906.98 7,472.68
2000 8,171.00 7,703.00 25.00 58.12 15,957.12 16,356.43 2,380.08
1999 3,932.00 6,258.00 131.99 563.19 10,885.18 9,309.54 2,694.39
1998 11,512.00 6,602.89 308.27 0.00 18,423.16 20,050.85 1,118.75

Walter Gengarelly Jr. Award

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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."[37] 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.[38]

Year Award Recipient
2013 Jonathan Johnson
2013 Bradley (Chelsea) Manning
2010 Michael Badnarik

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Zdon, Amy (25 April 2022). "State Central Committee Meeting Minutes – 25th April 2022" (PDF). Libertarian Party of Connecticut. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Elected Officials". Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  3. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-11-05. Retrieved 2013-08-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ "Uclick, web content, Syndication Content -- Entertaining Comics, Games and Columns". Archived from the original on 2006-05-08. Retrieved 2006-06-26.
  5. ^ "We're More Ambitious than Republicans Are". Archived from the original on 2018-06-01. Retrieved 2006-06-26.
  6. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-11-01. Retrieved 2013-11-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ^ "Important Election Day Information 2018".
  8. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-05-25. Retrieved 2017-08-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-11-07. Retrieved 2014-11-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-11-05. Retrieved 2013-11-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-11-05. Retrieved 2013-05-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-01-21. Retrieved 2017-08-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). www.sots.ct.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 November 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). www.sots.ct.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 November 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-03-02. Retrieved 2017-08-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). www.sots.ct.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-03-03. Retrieved 2017-08-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-02-16. Retrieved 2017-08-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  19. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2014-11-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  20. ^ "Ballot Access News – December 1, 2002".
  21. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-02-15. Retrieved 2017-08-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-08-24. Retrieved 2017-08-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  23. ^ "Ballot Access News – December 8, 1998".
  24. ^ "Ballot Access News – December 12, 1996".
  25. ^ http://www.ballot-access.org/1993/2-8-93.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  26. ^ "Membership".
  27. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-11-05. Retrieved 2013-11-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  28. ^ "Election Day Victory!". Archived from the original on 1999-01-28. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
  29. ^ "Elected Officials". Archived from the original on 2014-11-23. Retrieved 2014-11-23.
  30. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-11-07. Retrieved 2013-11-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  31. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-02. Retrieved 2013-11-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  32. ^ "Elected Officials | Libertarian Party". www.lp.org. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  33. ^ https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/sots/ElectionServices/lists/November-2018-List-of-candidates-92518.pdf?la=en [bare URL PDF]
  34. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-01-10. Retrieved 2014-01-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  35. ^ "SOTS: General Elections Statement of Vote, 1922 -". Archived from the original on 2013-05-22. Retrieved 2013-05-09.
  36. ^ "eCRIS Document Search". seec.ct.gov.
  37. ^ "Libertarian Party of Connecticut | Minimum Government, Maximum Freedom « Libertarian Party of Connecticut". Archived from the original on 2013-10-20. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  38. ^ "Walter J. Gengarelly Obituary (2010) the News-Times". Legacy.com.
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