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"
