Conan William Salada

 

Conan William Salada, January 19, 1979 -

VP candidate for New Hampshire Liberty Party (aka Libertarian Party aka Non Affiliated) (2016)

Running mate with nominee: Darryl W. Perry (b. 1978)
Popular vote: 3 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

Hailing from the hardcore Puritan wing of the Libertarian Party, Alabama-raised Darryl Perry relocated to Keene, N.H. possibly due to the lure of the Free State Project, a long-term plan to populate the small jurisdiction with enough libertarian-minded voters to create a significant impact in municipal and state government.

In addition to being active with the Libertarian Party, Perry had also been involved with the ill-fated Boston Tea Party and was a co-founder in 2012 of the New Hampshire Liberty Party, described by some sources as a secessionist group.

In 2016 Perry was one of the contenders for the Libertarian Party nomination for President. Expressing disappointment with the eventual winners, he announced on Sept. 16, 2016 that he was running on his own--

Darryl W. Perry Announces Limited Presidential Write-In Campaign

Keene, NH – Libertarian Party Presidential Candidate, Darryl W. Perry, announced today his intention to launch a limited write-in campaign for the 2016 US Presidential Race.

When radio personality, libertarian activist, and CEO of Liberty Lobby LLC, Darryl W. Perry, embarked on his Presidential Campaign, he did so with three goals in mind: 1) to run the most libertarian presidential campaign in history; 2) to proclaim the ideas of liberty as boldly and as often as possible; and 3) to give as many people as possible the opportunity to vote for an actual libertarian in November.

After the 2016 Libertarian Party National Convention in Orlando, Florida, Perry issued a statement saying he had “accomplished two-thirds of the goals I set for my campaign. I ran the most consistent libertarian campaign to date, and I took every opportunity, including my well-received Concession Speech, to promote the ideas of liberty.”

Perry, who was officially endorsed by the NH Liberty Party at their convention in February, added, “While my original intention was to either continue my campaign through the November election or support an LP ticket with actual philosophical libertarians, the Libertarian National Convention left me emotionally drained. I will not be continuing my campaign through November.”

Since then, numerous people have asked for a way to give people the ability to vote for a philosophical libertarian for President. Due to the numerous instances of the Libertarian Party Presidential ticket running in opposition to the LP Platform, including supporting limitations of the 2nd Amendment rights of people on secret lists, new forms of taxation, and statements against freedom of association, Perry decided to file declarations of intent to be a write-in candidate in a handful of states where a slate of electors is not required. The laws in another eight states claim all write-in votes are valid. Meaning that on November 8, 2016, voters in 17 states (AL, AK, DE, IA, ID, KS, MT, NE, NH, NJ, OR, PA, RI, VT, WA, WV, WY) plus DC, will have the ability to cast a vote – albeit a write-in – for an actual libertarian, Darryl W. Perry. This means Perry potentially has access to 114 Electoral College votes.

Between now and election day, Darryl’s focus will remain at the state and local level where more opportunities exist to affect positive change. In addition, the Darryl W. Perry Presidential Campaign does not intend to raise any funds or have any expenditures towards this limited write-in campaign. Perry says, “I do not make this decision lightly, however I have the ability to not let another election cycle go by without a philosophical libertarian candidate in the general election. Finally, I encourage everyone, including members of the Libertarian Party, to follow their conscience when they cast their ballot in the Presidential election.”

Perry's platform was classic Libertarian except perhaps that instead of limiting the federal government he called for it to be "abolished." His platform introductory summary as presented on his campaign website--

I believe…
…that all coercive forms of taxation should be eliminated, and government programs should be funded voluntarily.
…that people should be allowed to travel freely without government interference; this includes the right of individuals to choose where they decide to live.
…in the right of self-determination; that is the right of “determination by the people of a territorial unit of their own future political status.”
…that every person and/or group of people should be allowed to decide for themselves if and/or how they will be governed.
…that men do not need leaders, we are all capable of leading ourselves. Governments only get in the way of allowing this to happen.
…that the United States government, as it exists today, should be abolished!

On the last point the actual platform elaborated--

 Governments should be transparent and free of corruption. I believe the Downsize DC Agenda is one methods for bringing about this reform.
 Further, all individuals have the god-given right to life, liberty & pursuit of happiness, whenever governments become destructive of these rights, the people have the right to alter or abolish it. The federal government has been destroying rights since 1791, therefore I believe that the federal government should be abolished!

...  I fully support the right of self-determination; that is the right of “determination by the people of a territorial unit of their own future political status.” Though there are no established guidelines regarding how a group of people exercise their right of self-determination. During the 1860’s several States attempted to leave the United States of America, several counties in these States took secession one step further and seceded from their seceding State. It was this act of self-determination that allowed West Virginia to become a State, it also led to several “Free State’s” throughout the Confederacy.

 The United States of America was founded on the principles of self-determination. Not only has the U.S. government violated the self-determination rights of the Native Americans, but also the people of Hawai’i, Guam, Puerto Rico and many other people who have become dependent on the U.S. government. I believe that every person and/or group of people should be allowed to decide for themselves if and/or how they will be governed.

In the course of the campaign Perry was elected to the position of chair of the New Hampshire Libertarian Party, which put the New Hampshire Liberty Party on the back burner-- not exactly inactive and waiting to be fully revived depending on the political winds.

Perry's running-mate and fellow activist Conan Salada, also seems to have moved to Keene from the South as part of the Free State Project, which conjures an image of carpetbaggers in reverse. Salada wasted no time in running for public office, oddly under the banner of the Democratic Party for the Legislature. He addressed the party affiliation on July 29, 2016--

I’m pleased to announce that I am running for NH State Rep, Cheshire county district 7, Keene ward 4. Some of you may be wondering why I am running as a Democrat as opposed to a party more aligned with my ideology. This is because of the difficulty getting 3rd party candidates on the ballot. No, I’m not trying to hijack the Democratic Party. Perhaps one year I’ll find the extra time to collect 150 signatures and run on a liberty party ticket, or maybe, if elected, I’ll have the much needed opportunity to tweak NH’s ballot access laws which currently favors the monopoly held by the D’s and the R’s.

Perry/Salada were registered write-ins in at least 8 states but not all of these report their write-in vote tallies in detail. In the event of their victory there would have existed a potential problem regarding the Constitution since both candidates were residents of the same state.

On a Feb. 8, 2018 Facebook post, the New Hampshire Liberty Party stated--

We're still in hibernation - watching the LP of NH's potential board changes at this upcoming convention of theirs.  If things make a turn for the worse there, look for us to come back.  Meanwhile, the LP of NH has been doing great, so hopefully that will continue.

Election history:
2013 - Keene (N.H.) City Council (Nonpartisan) - defeated
2014 - New Hampshire House of Representatives (Democratic) - primary - defeated
2015 - Keene (N.H.) City Council (Nonpartisan) - primary - defeated
2016 - New Hampshire House of Representatives (Democratic) - primary - defeated
2017 - Keene (N.H.) City Council (Nonpartisan) - defeated
2019 - Keene (N.H.) City Council (Nonpartisan) - primary - defeated

Other occupations: US postal carrier, online reseller, inventory stocking, artist, secretary of Cheshire TV Board of Directors, co-host at Free Talk Live

Notes:
Surname is pronounced "Soll-a-day"

Christopher Bennett

 

Christopher Bennett, August 30, 1972 (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) -

VP candidate for Libertarian Party of New Hampshire (aka Libertarian Party aka Boston Tea Party) (2008)

Running mate with nominee: George David Joseph Phillies (b. 1947)
Popular vote: 531 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538

The campaign:

George Phillies of Massachusetts is a physics professor noted for his studies of light scattering, soaps, and polymer solutions. He is also an author of science fiction stories and is interested in game theory. In 1988 he left the Republican Party, "I am not a social conservative. When George Bush attached himself to the 'Christian Right' he took the Republican Party his way and I went my way." Phillies found a home with the Libertarian Party and by 2000 had already served as the State Director and ran for the US Senate and House as the LP nominee.

By the 2008 election season Phillies, after making several unsuccessful attempts to attain the office of the LP National Chair, shifted his efforts to winning the nomination for President. In the LP selecting the position of Vice-President is more autonomous than in the major parties which results in interesting potential alliances and proposed tickets being formed long before the convention. Such was the case when Phillies announced his VP choice was Karen Kwiatkowski. But that declaration was short-lived as Kwiatkowski reconsidered the situation and kept her options open.

Meanwhile, third parties are forced to file "stand-in" candidates for President in some states before the official party nominations in order to meet bureaucratic deadlines and get around laws that were designed to discourage those who do not adhere to the two-party system. Usually the "stand-in" will step aside after the party qualifies for the ballot and the official nominee is selected but in some cases the hosting state will not allow that change. Massachusetts and New Hampshire selected Phillies as their choice in the course of their LP primaries and his was naturally the name they filed. His running mate was Chris Bennett of Illinois, who was also the VP for stand-in Debra Aaron in his home state.

About two weeks prior to the LP convention, former Rep. Bob Barr announced he was running for the nomination. Barr had previously served as a Republican from Georgia in the US House and had joined the LP in 2006. His conservative voting credentials included a very un-Libertarian track record especially in regard to supporting the War on Drugs, he authored the anti-Gay Defense of Marriage Act, he voted for the Patriot Act, voted for the Iraq Resolution, and once attempted to ban Wiccans from the military. Although the candidate had claimed to have changed his stripes, many Libertarians were not convinced, considered him a carpetbagger, and decided to walk away after Barr obtained the nomination.

Phillies was out after the third ballot (and declined to endorse anyone), Barr was in after the sixth ballot. Some of the more purist LP refugees migrated to the newly formed Boston Tea Party, which in turn endorsed Phillies in New Hampshire where he already was grandfathered on the ballot as a "stand-in."

There are mixed messages in the news sources of the time about Phillies' attitude. The Aug. 9, 2008 Worcester Telegram & Gazette reported in part--

    George D. J. Phillies is a reluctant candidate. Actually, he says he's not a candidate at all.

    The Worcester man, a physics professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, is so unwilling to stand for office in November's election that he is taking part in a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts against Secretary of State William F. Galvin's office seeking to be removed from the ballot as the Libertarian Party's standard-bearer for president.

    Mr. Phillies, 60, says that while his party's state committee chose him as its nominee here, he told state election officials in Mr. Galvin's office last spring that if he did not win the national nomination at the party's convention in Denver last May, he would want the winner to substitute for his place on the state ballot ...

    After the May 25 convention, Mr. Phillies asked the Secretary of State's office if he could substitute the names of Mr. Barr and Mr. Barr's running mate, New York businessman Wayne A. Root, for his name. But in June, election division officials denied the request….

    Mr. Phillies is not a big fan of Mr. Barr, even though he says he plans to vote for him and supports him as his party's nominee ...

But at the same time a Boston Tea Party press release stated--

With the disintegrating Libertarian Party conducting a lackluster campaign on behalf of national nominee Bob Barr, Phillies chose to continue running an active effort of his own.

'Freedom-lovers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire will not be deprived of the opportunity to support a libertarian presidential ticket so long as I have the ability to offer them that opportunity,' says Phillies, 61, of Worcester.

And the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire website merely stated: "There is some confusion regarding the Libertarian Presidential Candidate. George Phillies is the LPNH candidate chosen at convention in November of 2007. Bob Barr is the national LP candidate chosen at convention in May 2008."

Phillies' campaign website continued to represent him as an active candidate up to Election Day where he was identified as "New Hampshire Libertarian Presidential candidate George Phillies." Apparently the national party attempted and failed to remove Phillies from the New Hampshire ballot so the end result was that Granite State voters had two Libertarians to choose from.

In 2008 Chris Bennett, Phillies' VP, graduated as an older student from the University of Illinois Springfield with a BA in Economics and Political Science. In 2007 he expressed a desire to be the LP VP nominee. Bennett stood out in the LP for three distinct reasons: 1. He literally stood out due to his height, 6 ft. 9 in. ; 2. He was pro-life in a pro-choice party ; 3. He was African American in a very white party.

On Oct. 15, 2007 Bennett told the Springfield State Journal-Register how he converted from a Democrat to a Libertarian--

Bennett was soft-spoken as he explained in an interview how he realized, after working on Bill Clinton’s primary campaign in 1992, that he didn’t really believe in Clinton’s platform.

“I just didn’t like how he wanted more government in more stuff,” Bennett said. “I didn’t like government having more control over the health-care situation, as Hillary tried to do and she’s proposing to do now.”

So, Bennett said, “I went soul searching.”

“The Republicans didn’t feel right,” he said. “They never really do reach out to minorities or a lot of women. And the Democrats, it just seems like they were taking the black vote for granted. So I decided ‘I’m going to search for another party.’”

Bennett had seen a Libertarian Party convention on C-SPAN. The convention included an African-American candidate for the presidential nomination, Richard Boddie.

“He was saying stuff that I really agreed with,” said Bennett, who is black.

Bennett now has been a Libertarian activist for more than 15 years, including working as scheduling coordinator during the late Aaron Russo’s 2004 attempt to be the Libertarian nominee for president.  

As a result of the Barr nomination Bennett left the LP. He subsequently made a failed bid for the VP position with the Boston Tea Party. In leaving the LP Bennett included in his statement--

Let's face it, there is a purge going on. Those in control of the LP want the party to be more conservative and less libertarian. You know leaving the party to rot isn't such a bad idea. If you want to run as a real libertarian, do it as an Independent or the Boston Tea Party. I will still support real Libertarian candidates. Stop supporting National! Without your funds they can't survive. If you really feel compelled to stay in the LP, do it within your state and local organizations. Don't let National run your ballot access drives and do not let them contribute a dime to those efforts.

Bennett was considering running for BTP National Chair, but in Oct. 2008 the Party basically imploded over a variety of issues. He released this statement on Oct. 20--

I hereby withdrawal my name from being a candidate for Chair and resign my position on the NAT-COM. I hereby remove any affiliation from the BTP, it's endorsed candidates and any other capacity hereon to this. I feel friendships are more valuable than petty party politics and will do better achieving my goals elsewhere. I also withdrawal my support of the Jay/Knapp ticket. I realized that life was much better beforehand and at 36 I have better things to do than to just bounce from party to party to party searching for the right mix. Thanks for the wonderful roller coaster ride! Can I puke now? [sic]
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/btpnc-talk/message/217

 
The Phillies/Bennett ticket finished with 531 votes in New Hampshire (0.07%) as opposed to the Barr/Root tally of 2,217 votes (0.31%). Ron Paul's write-in votes added up to 1,092 (0.15%) in that state.    

Election history:
2008 - Libertarian Party nomination for Vice-President - defeated
2008 - Boston Tea Party nomination for Vice-President - defeated

Other occupations: cook, campaign consultant

Notes:
Phillies "also has the largest collection of board war games in the world."