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Homeschooling: Great Option for Many Families

Northwest Michigan Libertarians Posted on by

As published in the Northern Express on November 9, 2019

When the time came to send our children to school in the Metro Detroit suburbs 20+ years ago, my husband and I were excited to try the sparkling new public school a mile away. It had all the shiny bells and whistles, and it was located in a highly rated district. We were confident that both of our kids would fit in and do well.

For many reasons, the experience did not go as planned. Instead, over the years, our children ended up trying a combination of public schools, private schools, and best of all, home school.

Home-schooling might not be for everyone, but it is an excellent option for many children and families. Teaching our kids at home was a great experience for us and really fit our Libertarian lifestyle and philosophy.    

In 2016, 2.3 million children were home-schooled in the United States. This number is growing at about 5 percent per year. About 50,000 children are home-schooled in Michigan.

And according to the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI), the choice is often a beneficial one: “The home-educated are typically above average, on measures of social, emotional, and psychological development.”

Academically, NHERI finds that home-school students consistently score 15 to 30 points above public school students on standardized academic achievement tests, regardless of their parents’ formal education or income.

While some might argue that the home-schooling community “skims from the top,” that is absolutely not true. In fact, those with children who have trouble learning in the public schools are the most attracted to homeschooling.

Well-meaning family and friends of home-schoolers often worry about “how the kids will be socialized.”  Yet research shows “home-schoolers do very well with peer interaction, self-concept, leadership skills, family cohesion, participation in community service, and self-esteem.”

The flexible nature of home-schooling allows children more time to develop both hobbies and relationships. Downstate, we belonged to a home-school group at our church, in addition to several groups for sports, music, and much more.

There are also many home-school church and social based groups throughout northern Michigan.
Friends of ours who run Flynn’s Orchard and Farm to Door Market in Mancelona find that home-schooling suits their family quite well. In addition to home school, their young children learn and apply real world skills helping their parents run their farmers market booth.

The family belongs to Purity Ring Family Theatre, which meets in Petoskey. The kids just tried out for Little House on the Prairie, to be performed in mid-April.

The flexibility that the Flynn family enjoys was a benefit for us, too. My children were motivated to finish their home-school work by lunch each day so that they could play outside, work on puzzles, music, or more. There were also many more opportunities for educational family trips and day outings.

Why did my family end up home-schooling when we initially intended to take the traditional public school route?

There were many reasons. At age 6, my normally well-behaved son was constantly getting into trouble for disrupting the class. He finished his work quickly but, like many six-year-olds, he felt the need to talk to others when he was bored. For this, the school wanted me to pursue having him labeled as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), but we thought he was just a typical boy and didn’t want to put him on medication.

At the same time, several girls in my daughter’s second grade class were sexually abused by an older student on the playground. The administrators denied it, and they tried to make the parents of these girls look like lunatics.

At the time, I was on the PTO board and also a journalist. During my own investigation, I found out that the boy was found guilty of the sexual assault in criminal court, and that the school district had settled out of court for lots of money.

I was angry and appalled, so I helped write a front-page newspaper story calling on the school district to answer the questions that many parents were asking. Over the holiday break, reality set in. We realized that we could not send our children to a school where second graders were abused, and officials were dishonest about our kids’ safety.

We also realized that the public-school district administrators are accountable to no one. Of course, we had a school board, but members were encouraged to keep quiet at meetings until they attended school board classes and gained experience on the board.

Our family’s experience with the local public school was painful, but it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to us. Our daughter home-schooled for three years before attending a local Catholic school. Our son, on the other hand, home-schooled at least part time from third grade through high school. Both of them ended up with fully paid four-year college scholarships. More importantly, both of them are happy and thriving adults.

In summary, home-schooling was a great experience for our family, and more and more families are trying it all the time.

If you or your children are not happy with your local public or private school, why not home school?

Governor’s Shelter-in-Place Order: NW MI Libertarian Statement

Northwest Michigan Libertarians Posted on by

The following resolution was approved unanimously by the Executive Committee of the Northwest Michigan Party of Michigan. This resolution was written by Ben Carr of the Libertarian Party of Michigan.

RESOLUTION:

“The Northwest Michigan Party of Michigan wishes to proclaim its strong condemnation of the recent actions of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer in response to the spread of COVID-19, also called Coronavirus.

“Governor Whitmer’s actions are a violation of the natural human rights of free movement and interaction. The recent restrictions on local businesses and public meetings will do irreparable harm to the economy of the state of Michigan, at both the personal and public level, which will be felt in the form of lost jobs, homes, and small businesses. Her abuse of state executive authority will only continue to create panic and needlessly isolate thousands of citizens who require personal and economic interactions to survive.

“While we recognize the severity of Coronavirus, we do not believe such conditions grant the state additional powers. We instead advocate that the most effective method of protecting lives is reasonable restraint and self-isolation practiced by informed individuals.

“The lifting of these government restraints will allow not only for the movement of needed goods and supplies—especially to the most vulnerable during such a time—but will also allow for the charitable aid and spread of needed developments for testing and medical technologies that the existing system will not be able to meet. The current measures are both oppressive and incapable of dealing with the crisis without the inclusion of aid on the part of private citizens.

“We therefore call on Governor Whitmer to lift the authoritarian restrictions in place and restore the human rights of movement and interaction to the citizens of Michigan, as well as guarantee their rights to both property and bodily autonomy. We also call upon the public servants of Michigan to resist these orders and act to protect the rights of their constituents. Most importantly, we implore the citizens of Michigan to speak out against these egregious violations of human rights and demand a return to sanity and freedom.”

 

 

Calling All NW Michigan Candidates for County Commissioner

Northwest Michigan Libertarians Posted on by

While we are all quarantined, why not consider making a life change? Perhaps you always wanted to take a leap into local politics!  This fall, most of the local positions are on the ballot, including county, village and township officials.

This article will focus on County Commissioner positions in Northwest Michigan. These are very important part time positions. The Commissioners manage all the county business related to the jails, airports, animal control, parks, senior services, emergency services, veteran’s affairs, and much more.

How to File to Run for Local Positions
The regular election for all local positions is November 3rd, when the top contenders from each party will face off.  

Libertarian candidates for all local positions will be selected at the June 17th convention at 6:30 at Incredible Mo’s in Grawn, Michigan. Interested Libertarian candidates can email nwmichiganlibertarians@gmail.com or call 231-350-8507.

The primary election for Democrats and Republicans is August 4th. The deadline for this primary is April 21st. Anyone who wants to file as a Democrat or Republican should contact their County Clerk. Email addresses for each county are below. The clerks are currently working by appointment only during the corona virus restrictions.

County Commissioner Position
While there are many township and village positions on the ballot, this article will focus on the County Commissioner positions. There is no formal education or experience required to be a County Commissioner. It’s up to the voters to decide if you are qualified. College is a bonus, as the Commissioners discuss a lot of complicated issues. However, the current boards are comprised of people from all walks.

Commissioners need to be reliable and show up to meetings to fight for their district. They need to communicate to the board and to constituents, both verbally and in writing. The good Commissioners are active in their community, and attend village and township meetings regularly.

Most of the county boards meet twice per month on top of attending many committee and local meetings to keep connected. They do get paid per board meeting. For most counties, this pay adds up to a nominal amount of a couple thousand dollars per year.

The counties are broken up into districts. Each district elects their own County Commissioner to represent their district. To give you an example of districts, Antrim County’s districts are outlined in the picture that accompanies this story. 

Email addresses for County Clerks in Northwest Michigan are below:

clerk@antrimcounty.org
slutz@grandtraverse.org
dghill@kalkaskacourt.org
clerk@charlevoixcounty.org
clerk@manisteecountymi.gov
clerk@wexfordcounty.org
mcrocker@co.leelanau.mi.us
dolney@benzieco.net
clerk@missaukee.org

Please call 231-350-8507 or email nwmichiganlibertarians@gmail.org if you are interested in running as a Libertarian candidate.

Does Zoning Hinder Affordable Housing?

Northwest Michigan Libertarians Posted on by

As published in the Northern Express on February 8, 2020

For many reasons, lack of affordable housing has long been a big issue in Traverse City. The problem has now spread to the surrounding areas, such as my town of Mancelona. As a real estate broker who works with housing issues daily, I do not see this housing shortage improving soon. 

Lack of affordable housing obviously impacts families and their quality of life. In addition, many businesses are having a hard time hiring quality employees, partly because there is no place for their workers to live.

Our local leaders are attempting to solve this problem by creating more government regulations, such as restricting property rights for those who own vacation rental homes.

However, I strongly believe that the problem of affordable housing could be solved with FEWER regulations, particularly in relation to zoning and building restrictions. Many communities across the country are easing these restrictions or even eliminating them. Traverse City and surrounding communities should do the same, as studies show that these regulations artificially inflate the price of housing and therefore price many people out of the market.

“The cost of the regulations reduces the supply of homes, driving up the cost of existing homes that are on the market,” according to economists Edward L. Glaeser and Joseph Gyourko, who wrote a paper titled “The Impact of Zoning on Housing Affordability.”

“Those who can afford to buy will pay a higher cost. Others who can’t will do without and continue to rent or even become homeless,” agreed UCLA economist Matthew Kahn.

Unfortunately, current homeowners have an incentive to keep the system in place, because it benefits them as their own home values rise, said Kahn.

“If developers build too many homes, prices fall, and housing is many families’ main asset,” he said.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, housing consumes 30% of most Americans’ income. However, those in the lowest 20% income bracket are paying almost 40% of their income for housing.

Zoning regulations and urban renewal have greatly reduced low-cost opportunities for these people. These lost opportunities include boarding houses and residential hotels, where 30% or more of the urban population once found shelter.

In my town of Mancelona, investors are eager to renovate historic downtown buildings into active storefronts and return the upper floors of these same buildings into much-needed housing. They are also snatching up older homes in need of repair and improving them for rent or resale.

However, every attempt to renovate these buildings has required time, money and navigating a frustrating bureaucracy. Even after jumping through all the government hoops, an investor for bigger projects won’t know if he/she will be approved until after submitting expensive architectural plans.

In fact, one of my investor clients recently told me that he is giving up on future projects because of the frustrating red tape.

It is the frustration factor that causes zoning and building restrictions to benefit politically well-connected developers, who are often the only ones to get construction permits in such an environment.

Ironically, despite the harm these regulations inflict on the poor and disadvantaged, the nation’s most liberal cities tend to have the most restrictive zoning laws, according to Derek Thompson of The Atlantic, who wrote “Why Middle-Class Americans Can Not Afford to Live in Liberal Cities.”

Fortunately, these same communities across the country are now realizing the connection between zoning and lack of housing. Many laws have been enacted recently across the country to limit or eliminate zoning restrictions.

In 2018, Minneapolis became the first major U.S. city to eliminate single-family zoning in an effort to increase housing supply and density, reduce housing costs and create more racially and economically integrated neighborhoods, according to Solomon Greene and Jorge González of the Urban Institute, who wrote a paper entitled “How Communities Are Rethinking Zoning to Improve Housing Affordability and Access to Opportunity.”

Other communities, such as Washington, D.C. are allowing homeowners to add secondary housing, or in-law units, on their properties. Seattle recently rezoned several single-family neighborhoods to allow smaller, denser multi-family housing that provides more affordable options.

Communities such as Pinellas County, Florida and Austin, Texas have expedited their review processes for building projects and will waive fees if the project involves dedicated affordable housing.

The history of the original regulations is complex. Some laws are national, such as the American Disabilities Act. Building codes are not only statewide, but also subject to local interpretation.

The idea behind zoning laws, which are usually local, is to restrict certain activity to specific locations so as not to interfere with other forms of activity. For example, areas of manufacturing are zoned industrial, which separate residential units from factories, because they do not mix well.

Regardless of where these regulations originated, or what the original intent was, most people in the real estate and building industries agree that there is now an overreach in many areas. Many zoning and building rules and regulations have done more harm than good.

It is time for the leaders of northern Michigan communities to seriously consider modifying their zoning regulations and building restrictions in order to facilitate more affordable housing options.

Should Amash Run for President as a Libertarian?

Northwest Michigan Libertarians Posted on by

As published in the Northern Express on July 6, 2019

Many Libertarians and others are buzzing about the possibility of Michigan’s own U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, a Republican representing the state’s 3rddistrict, from running for president on the Libertarian ticket. While Amash has not announced his candidacy, he has indicated, and acted as if, it’s a real possibility.

Having Amash run for president as a Libertarian would be one of the best things that could happen to our country. Libertarians and all freedom-loving Americans should support and advocate for his presidency. 

A Libertarian candidate like Amash would give Americans a real choice beyond the two dysfunctional parties. The young but seasoned and principled congressman, who has represented the Grand Rapids and Battle Creek areas since 2011, is widely regarded as the most financially conservative member of Congress.

Regardless of pressure from peers on both sides of the aisle, Amash consistently votes for freedom, liberty, and lower government spending. He is exactly the type of president that our country needs to combat the current divisiveness, bloated government, and ever-rising national debt.

According to a 2018 Gallup poll, 57% of Americans believe there is a need for a third major political party. Yet the system continues to be rigged against any party trying to compete. Therefore, many of us continue to feel that we are forced to choose between “the lesser of two evils.”

An experienced and qualified candidate such as Amash has the best chance of helping a third party gain traction.

The Libertarian party, the largest and most viable third party in the country, will select our presidential candidate next May in Austin, Texas, at the 2020 Libertarian convention. Many of us from the Northwest Michigan Libertarian Party (NWMLP) will have the opportunity to travel to Austin to help select this person.

As always, this Libertarian convention promises to be controversial. If Amash declares himself to be a candidate, there will be division over whether Libertarians should support someone who has defected from another party. There are also the “anarchists” in our party, who want to elect radical candidates in order to dismantle government.

Despite differences among our party delegates, Libertarians should come together and support Amash as the most experienced and viable presidential candidate. He has always been Libertarian and is one of the few politicians to openly refer to himself as such.

In fact, his staunchly Libertarian and sometimes contrarian views have resultedin Amash being mocked or criticized by his GOP peers when he votes for liberty and conservative spending. This is one of the reasons he recently broke away from the House Freedom Caucus he helped found.

In May, Amash took a beating from fellow Republicans when he held a widely publicized townhall meeting In Grand Rapids regarding the Mueller report. During this meeting, he stated that Trump “has engaged in impeachable conduct” based on the obstruction of justice finding.

Shortly after these comments on impeachment, Amash received a standing ovation from the majority of the audience. Of course, there were Trump-supporting members in the audience who did not agree, and they attacked Amash personally. When the audience booed these people, Amash urged them to show respect and gave his opposers respectful answers despite their personal attacks.

Amash proved at the townhall meeting that he can more than handle himself in a contentious debate setting. Despite constant attempts to rattle him and bring him down, he is always respectful, which is a refreshing change.

Amash’s voting record is even more impressive than his respectful demeanor. As he told The New York Times, “When voting, I follow a set of principles. I follow the Constitution. And that’s what I base my votes on. Limited government, economic freedom, and individual liberty.”

For example, Amash supports decreasing U.S. military spending and believes there is significant waste in the U.S. Department of Defense. He was one of eight House Republicans to vote against a bill that included $5.7 billion in border-wall funding. “This massive, wasteful spending bill was stuffed with unrelated items … . It’s amazing how some wall funding causes my fellow Republicans to embrace big government,” he stated.

Amash has fought against civil asset forfeiture, believing that the practice allows for “innocent people to have their property taken without sufficient due process.” In fact, he helped introduce a bill to block the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) from financing its Cannabis Eradication Program through civil asset forfeitures.

Amash also holds Libertarian views on social issuesand believes that the government should let people live their lives how they see fit. For example, he supported a repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, saying that the “real threat” to traditional marriage and religious liberty is government, not gay couples. He has also been a frequent critic of the National Security Agency’s anti-terrorism surveillance programs; he voted against the reauthorization of the Patriot Act.

In summary, Amash would make a reasonable, ethical, principled president and should run for the Libertarian nomination; his beliefs line up with the Libertarian philosophy of personal freedom, small government, and lower taxes.

The Libertarian party is rising quickly and should embrace, support, and advocate for an Amash candidacy. He is a person who can help leadour party to the next level.

List of Citizen Questions Regarding Upcoming Antrim County Jail Presentation

Northwest Michigan Libertarians Posted on by

Citizens Who Want to Vote on the Antrim County Jail have been preparing a list of questions which we hope will be addressed by either the Commissioners or Consultants at the March 19th meeting to be held at the at Kearney Township Hall, 4820 Aero Park Drive in Bellaire. The Board of Commissioners’ regular meeting is from 5:00 to 7:00. At 7:00, there will be a presentation from Byce and Associates.

It is important that citizens attend this meeting if at all possible. The consultants will explain the various options being considered for the Antrim County facilities, including the jail. These plans will cost Antrim County taxpayers between $40 to $76 million. 

Below is a list of our questions, which are regarding: 1. the decision making process; 2. the building process; 3. bed space; 4. budget.

We will be modifying this story after input from all citizens, and emailing the Commissioners and Consultants this link. 

DECISION MAKING PROCESS
How many public hearings do you anticipate will follow this informational meeting before a decision is made?

Will the public get the chance to vote on this project? 

Were all the criminal justice stakeholders (judges, prosecutor, law enforcement, probation and parole officers, defense attorneys, etc.) convened and interviewed as part of the jail planning process?

Were Community Mental Health experts interviewed as part of the jail projection planning process?

Was the Department of Corrections Jail Division included in the planning process?

Was the Jail and Pre-Trial Diversion Joint Task Force consulted?

Was the National Institute of Corrections Jail Division or Community Corrections Division consulted?

What jail inmate classification related data was accessed?

BUILDING PROCESS
Why is the new campus being proposed in an area where other buildings are known to have water issues? 

Are there records anywhere confirming that a second story can not be added to the current jail? If so, where are these records? If not, can a structural engineer be hired?

Have there been any builder estimates to renovate the current jail?

BED SPACE
Can you please provide a list of all the data used to project the need for a 75 bed jail?

Given the fact that (historically) the current jail houses a bare minimum number of juvenile and female inmates, how were the number of jail bed spaces determined to be needed arrived at?

Minimum security jail space is different than maximum security space. What percentage and number of your 75-bed proposed jail are minimum security vs maximum security?

What type of space would be used for pre-trial detainees and what percentage of the total 75 bed projected jail would be dedicated that type of space?

Was the use of diversion programs calculated in order to arrive at the 75-bed projection?

BUDGET
Has there been an analysis of funding sources? 

Has there been any analysis of how much the operating costs of the new jail will increase?

Will the Sheriff commit to reducing his operating expenses due to efficiencies supposedly built into the new jail? Other communities have reduced it by 35%.

Will there be any money set aside so that all of these facilities are properly maintained in the future?

When comparing various options, has there been any analysis on current and future property taxes collected by the county for the various properties they might sell?

Has there been any analysis on the impact this project will have on county taxpayers now and in the future? How much of the project is the County allowed to do without voter approval?

Have any business owners approached the Commissioners about buying the current buildings? If so, how will the value be determined?

Click here for information about the March 19th meeting. 

Click here to see the group “Citizens Who Want a Vote on the Antrim County Jail.” 

Antrim Commissioners Discuss Citizens’ Right to Vote on Jail

Northwest Michigan Libertarians Posted on by

Several residents were in attendance at the March 5th Antrim County Board of Commissioner’s meeting to hear what the Commissioners had to say about the citizens’ right to vote on the jail and facilities plans. Chair Ed Boettcher and Commissioner Christian Marcus were not in attendance. 

The Commissioners started out by voting unanimously to move their March 19th meeting to Kearney Township Hall. The presentation will be at 7:00 pm to allow citizens to attend, while the regular board meeting will be held at 5:00 pm.

A discussion followed about the format of the meeting and the citizens’ right to vote on the jail and facilities plan.

Commissioner Dawn LaVanway stated that citizens want to hear specific data, such as the number of beds and occupancy rate. They also wanted to be able to ask questions about the plans.

However, “the presentation is not a question and answer session,” according to Vice-Chairperson Karen Bargy, who was chairing the meeting. “There will be public comment before and after the presentation.”

LaVanway countered that she thought the Board should have the informational meeting in May, when more people are in town. Bargy responded that the date of this meeting was voted on at the last meeting, when LaVanway was on vacation.

“A decision is not being made,” Bargy stated. “The presentation is informational, to be sure Commissioners are on same page. We have no proposal. Once we have proposal, we can bring it to the people.”

“If we as a board decide to move forward, we will have multiple public forums,” she promised.

“Too much money has been spent on consultants, without knowing whether people want the jail,” LaVanway countered.

Commissioner Ricksgers jumped in, “The people have a right to vote, but we need to decide as a board what they will vote on,” she said.

County Administrator Pete Garwood explained his view. “There are so many things to decide before the public has something to look at, between the ‘Stepping Up’ program, crime being down, separation issues, and more. Without more info, they would be voting yes or no on the jail without any information.”

“They will definitely say ‘no’ without a plan,” agreed Ricksgers.

“We have hired experts who understand the laws and the jail,” Bargy stated. “They have done engineering studies, and provided data. They are the experts.”

LaVanway argued, “We need to assure people they have right to vote, and we need to put a deadline as to when we will put this before them….versus going back to consultants and spending more and more money. Any consultant will tell you what you want to hear. Let’s look at other ideas rather than just blindly following these people.”

Commissioner Josh Watrous gave his opinion. “The public wants to see another alternative to building a new jail. We should get bids for remodeling or adding a second story,” he said.

Bargy seemed exasperated. “We have done an engineering study. We have data. We have experts,” she claimed.

Commissioner David Heeres chimed in. “I agree, we need to listen to experts. The public elected us to be the ones to make the decision.”

Commissioner Jason Helwig disagreed. “No matter what we do, citizens deserve a vote. The board is split 5 to 4 or 6 to 3.”

“Even if the board is 9-0, the public should vote,” Ricksgers agreed with Helwig.

Residents Dave Hill and Nanette Compton Mcclellan both made public comments about involving the public and having the informational meeting at night when more people are back in town.

Donna Gundle-Krieg also addressed the Commissioner. She is the founder of the group “Citizens Who Want A Vote on the Antrim County Jail.”

“We have 330 people in our group right now, with varying opinions on the jail, but we all agree that the public deserves a vote on such a big project,” Gundle-Krieg stated. “For the person who thinks that the public is too uninformed to vote, we hope that you will help us change that.”

“Based on the responses so far to my questionnaire, I am really hoping that one of you makes a motion at some point to have the public vote on this project. Thank you all for remaining open to this very important decision. For the sake of the people you represent, you really need to get it right.”

Click here to join the Facebook group called “Citizens Who Want a Vote on the Antrim County Jail.” 

New Officers Elected for the Northwest Michigan Libertarian Party (NWMLP)

Northwest Michigan Libertarians Posted on by

The Northwest Michigan Libertarian Party (NWMLP) elected new officers for 2020 at the February 19th convention. We also voted on revised bylaws. Now that we have been operating for one complete year, we needed some tweeks. The most important change to the bylaws was adding new officer roles!

Donna Gundle-Krieg stepped down as Chair as she is interested in being the Political Director for the 2020 election. We have an excellent chance of being the first affiliate in Michigan to get a local candidate elected, and Donna will be offering guidance and tools for local Libertarian candidates.

Peter Biskupski has stepped up to be the Chair! He is well qualified! Other officers include: Ben Schulz as Vice Chair, Ben Boren as Outreach Director, and Kristen Kuhn as Secretary. Philip Lindsay and Lauren Elizabeth Todd will be “At-Large Officers.”

Below are more details about the officers, who will be meeting reguarly to move the party towards our goals of electing candidates and conducting educational and outreach activities.

 

Chair: Peter Biskupski 

Pete is an Intern Architect in Traverse City. Although originally intrigued by Ron Paul’s presidential campaigns, it wasn’t until Gary Johnson’s 2016 nomination that he became interested in the Libertarian Party. He enjoys learning from libertarian podcasts such as “Part of the Problem with Dave Smith,” “Ron Paul Liberty Report,” and “Lions of Liberty and Anarchitecture.”  Pete is a firm believer in Matt Kibbe’s slogan “Don’t Hurt People and Don’t Take Their Stuff.”  Email Peter at nwmichiganlibertarians@gmail.com.

 

Vice Chair: Ben Schultz

Reverend Ben is a Spiritual Caregiver for Hospice, and Owner-Operator at Northern Knots  Wedding and Event Service. He was the first regular member of the local party. He has a special interest in the tricky balance required for Christians to be involved in politics, and feels that a third party alternative is necessary for our country to move forward. He lives in Buckley with his wife and three children.

 

 

Secretary: Kristen Kuhn aka “Madame Secretary”  

Madame Secretary has a passion for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—which she finds through travel, being on/near bodies of water and ‘introverting’. Her favorite quote is “The most important kind of freedom is to be what you really are. You trade in your reality for a role. You trade in your sense for an act. You give up your ability to feel, and in exchange, put on a mask.”

 

Political Director: Donna Gundle-Krieg

Donna Gundle-Krieg is a real estate broker in Mancelona and owns her own company, DEK Realty. She is especially passionate about property rights, and in a past life was passionate about growing the home schooling movement. She is currently leading a group called “Citizens Who Want a Vote on the Antrim County Jail.” Donna was involved in the Libertarian party for years in “downstate” Michigan. She lives in Mancelona with her husband and has two adult children. Email Donna at nwmichiganlibertarians@gmail.com.

 

Outreach Director: Ben Boren       

Ben is an Entrepreneur who lives in Traverse CIty after several years living in California and Nevada. Ben has been involved in the Libertarian Party for a decade, and his enthusiasm is contagious. His favorite quote is from Ayn Rand: “He will be an integrated man, that is: a thinker who is a man of action.” 

 

 

At-Large Director: Lauren Elizabeth Todd

Lauren Elizabeth Todd is a former editor and writer who recently stopped working in marketing after having her second baby. Originally from Metro Detroit, she and her husband became permanent residents of Traverse City six years ago and started a family. Lauren has now been involved in libertarian groups for a number of years, devoting time to spreading the word of liberty through social media. She believes that government overreach has gotten out of control and that people have a right to govern themselves, so long as they don’t aggress against others. She is a strong supporter of property rights, voluntaryism over force, and can often be heard speaking out against taxation.

 

At-Large Director: Philip Lindsay  

Philip Lindsay grew up in Traverse City and is a 13-year Army veteran. Having served two deployments under two administrations, he brings objectivity to the war on terrorism from both perspectives. He believes the best way to “support our troops” is to bring them home and end the foreign policy of interventionism. Phil resides in South Boardman with his wife and three kids. He is a Computer Information Technology student currently attend NMC.

 

Minutes February 2020 NWMLP

Northwest Michigan Libertarians Posted on by

Minutes of the Northwest Michigan Libertarian Party (NWMLP) Convention 
Wednesday, February 19, 2020 @ 6:30PM

Incredible Mo’s, Grawn

  1. Call Meeting to Order- Chairperson Gundle-Krieg called the meeting to order at 6:45PM.

2. Roll Call- Chairperson Donna Gundle-Krieg, Vice-Chairperson Ben Boren, Treasurer Kristen Kuhn, Political Director David Holmer, Membership and Outreach Director Ben Schulz, Members Peter Biskupski, Philip Lindsay, Lauren Elizabeth Todd, Justin Todd.

3. Approval of Minutes- Motion to Approve by Ben Schulz, Seconded by Ben Boren, motion passes 9-0.

4. 2020 Calendar: David Holmer moved to approve the proposed 2020 calendar. Ben Boren seconded the motion. Motion passes 9-0.

  1. Bylaw Changes: David Holmer moved to split the Vice chair and Outreach Director, have two at-large directors, and require 51% attendance for a quorum. Ben Boren seconded the motion. Motion passes 9-0. David Holmer made a motion to approve the bylaw changes as amended. Phil Lindsay seconded the motion. Motion passes 9-0.
  2. Officer Elections:
    1. Ben Schulz moved for Peter Biskupski to be Chair. Ben Boren seconded the motion. Ben Boren then nominated None of the Above (NOTA). Peter Biskupski is new chair 8-0.
    2. Ben Boren moved for Ben Schulz to be Vice Chair. David Holmer seconded the motion. David Holmer then nominated NOTA. Ben Schulz is new vice-chair 8-0.
    3. Philip Lindsay moved for Ben Boren to be Membership and Outreach Director. David Holmer seconded the motion. David Holmer then nominated NOTA. Ben Boren is new Membership and Outreach Director 8-0.
    4. Ben Boren moved for Kristen Kuhn to be Secretary. David Holmer seconded the motion. David Holmer then nominated NOTA. Kristen Kuhn is new Secretary 8-0.
    5. Kristen Kuhn moved for Donna Gundle-Krieg to be Political Director. Ben Schulz seconded the motion. Ben Schulz then nominated NOTA. Donna Gundle-Krieg is new Political Director, 8-0.
    6. David Holmer moved for Phil Lindsay to be At-Large Officer. Peter Biskupski seconded the motion. Phil Lindsay is At-Large Officer 9-0.
    7. David Holmer moved for Lauren Elizabeth Todd to be At-Large Officer. Ben Boren seconded the motion. Ben Lauren Elizabeth Todd is At-Large Officer 9-0.

      7. Selection of Delegates for March state convention: The following members were nominated to represent Northwest Michigan Libertarians at the March state convention: Donna Gundle-Krieg, Ben Boren, Kristen Kuhn, David Holmer, Peter Biskupski, Philip Lindsay, and Jason Evans. David Holmer moved to approve the list of delegates. Phil Lindsay seconded the motion. Motion passes 9-8. Adjournment- Motion to adjourn by Ben Boren, seconded by David Holmer, Motion passes 9-0 Chairperson Gundle-Krieg adjourned the meeting at 7:25 PM

2020 Michigan Libertarian Party Convention Coming Soon

Northwest Michigan Libertarians Posted on by

Libertarians from across Michigan are welcome to attend the 2020 National Delegate Selection Convention on Saturday, March 14 starting at 9:00 A.M. We will be gathering at the Eberhard Center on the campus of Grand Valley State University, 301 Fulton St W, Grand Rapids, MI 49504. Libertarian Party of Michigan

The convention will feature speakers including several Libertarian presidential candidates. The keynote speaker Is Shikha Dalmia, an award-winning Libertarian writer and senior analyst at Reason Foundation.

Delegates to the state convention will also select delegates to the Libertarian National Convention in Austin, Texas, where the party will select a 2020 Presidential candidate. 

To be considered a voting delegate at the March 14th state convention, those who live in Northwest Michigan will have to be selected by our affiliate members at our February local convention. We will select up to seven delegates to represent Northwest Michigan at the state convention.

All delegates/alternates must be ­dues-paying members of the Libertarian Party of Michigan. People who have never been a Libertarian Party of Michigan member must join the LPM 30 days prior to the convention, by 11:59 pm on February 13, 2020 to be eligible to vote. You can join or renew you membership at michiganlp.org/donate/

The convention business session is free to members of the Libertarian Party of Michigan (LPM). The entire convention package is $100. This includes luncheon as well as the LiberyFest banquet, where Liberty Awards will be presented to our 2020 Spokesperson for Liberty, Promoter of Liberty and Producer of Liberty.

Please note that candidates for public office will not be selected at this state convention. We will be holding a second candidate nominating convention in July.

More details, hotel and registration information can be found at this website.