Friday, September 25, 2020

Theresa A. Reed

 






Theresa A. Reed

VP candidate for America's Sexual Freedom Party (aka Sexual Freedom Party) (2008)

Running mate with nominee: Desmond Ravenstone (b. 1963)

Popular vote: ? (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Desmond Ravenstone of Massachusetts, self-described as a "kinky, polyamorous and philosophically-inclined writer and educator" was the Presidential nominee of America's Sexual Freedom Party. His running-mate was Theresa "Darklady" Reed. It would be fair to describe the Party as Left-leaning libertarian.
    
Reed was based in (PNW trivia alert!!!) Portland, Oregon. During the era of the 2008 campaign she was described as an "editor at YNOT, a regular contributor to Adult Video News, erotic event impresario for Darklady Productions, Inc., and has nearly two decades of experience covering the adult entertainment industry, free speech, internet technology, and alternative sexuality beats online, in print, and via traditional and web radio."

The Ravenstone/Reed ticket did not receive much press from the conventional media outlets. Their main campaign website seems to have been a Myspace webpage, the tattered remnants of which don't really leave us with a lot of data regarding the electioneering.

Reed ran for for the Oregon State House in 2002 and State Senate in 2004, both times as a member of the Libertarian Party. In the 2004 Oregon voter's pamphlet, Reed outlined her core political beliefs--

Theresa believes that:

    Discrimination has no place in Oregon's Constitution.
    Women and men have the right to choose.
    Education alternatives enrich and empower.
    Oregonians need more job alternatives, not fewer.
    Dissent is patriotic.
    Social services should serve, not threaten, families and children.
    The USA PATRIOT Act puts Americans at risk.
    Tax fairness includes the poor and middle class, not just the rich.
    Children learn from what they see. Bring the troops home and teach peace.
    Salmon and scenery are better than strip-malls and high density.
    Mass transit is a great idea poorly executed at taxpayer expense.
    Expensive, knee-jerk reservoir policies do not serve communities.
    The War on Drugs is a terrorist attack against Americans.
    Mandatory minimum sentencing requirements hamstring justice.
    Where there is life, there is hope.
    Individuals matter and can make a difference.


The Ravenstone/Reed ticket did not appear to be registered as write-ins in any state.

Election history:
2002 - Oregon House of Representatives (Libertarian Party) - defeated
2004 - Oregon State Senate (Libertarian Party) - defeated

Other occupations: Libertarian Party of Oregon board member, Vice-Chair of the Libertarian Party of Multnomah County, writer, lecturer, journalist, editor, event organizer, free speech activist

Notes:
Elected Miss Oregon Leather 2004.
Winner of the 2004 election was Kate Brown.