Libertarian Party of Ohio Joins Over 200 Groups in Multi-Partisan Alliance Against HJR1/SJR2

Franklin County Libertarians join the Libertarian Party of Ohio in opposing this effort to increase the burden on all Ohioans to affect change through public legislation.

Since 2013, Ohio Libertarians Have Known All Too Well About Republicans “Changing the Rules in the Middle of the Ballgame”

– FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –

COLUMBUS, OHIO –– May 2, 2023 –– The Libertarian Party of Ohio (LPO) announced today that it will be joining over 200 other organizations in the multi-partisan alliance against HJR1 and SJR2, the resolutions being advanced by Republicans in the Statehouse that could potentially usurp Ohioans’ right to amend the state constitution via a simple majority vote at the ballot box.

In 2013, when the LPO was gaining electoral traction with conservatives, independents and moderates alike, the Ohio Republican Party passed new ballot access laws to derail minor political parties’ access to the ballot. The law –– called SB 193, but also known as “The John Kasich Re-Election Protection Act” –– was signed by then-Governor Kasich almost immediately.

Consequently, the LPO and all minor political parties in Ohio found themselves under new restrictive ballot access laws and were unable to grow or compete in the state’s elections, paving the way for further Republican dominance. Now, Ohio Republicans are shamelessly trying to apply their “win-by-rule-changing” strategy to limit Ohioans’ ability to amend the constitution.

“Ohio Republicans are once again changing the rules in the middle of the ballgame because they know their ideas are going to lose,” said LPO Communications Director and former Libertarian candidate for governor in 2018 Travis Irvine. “Libertarians have known all too well that when the Ohio GOP’s power brokers get nervous about someone else taking power, they cheat to win.”

More info about the LPO can be found on their website, or follow them on Twitter or Facebook.

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Statement on Columbus Ordinance 0680-2023

The Franklin County Libertarian Party believes that local governments should exist to protect individual rights, not turn those rights into a punishable crime.

Columbus City Council and Mayor Ginther recently passed ordinance 0680-2023 that would ban the sale and possession of firearm magazines with a capacity of 30 rounds or more within the city limits starting on July 1. With this piece of legislation, city leaders sought to “effectuate common sense gun reform”. City Attorney Zach Klein said that the ordinance “gives the individuals who currently own high-capacity clips a grace period to turn in those high-capacity clips […] to police.” When asked why the city chose 30 rounds as the legal cutoff point, Klein said, “Looking at what the size of clips could be, and looking at previous case law around the United States, we felt comfortable with 30.”

Mr. Klein’s repeated failure to understand basic terminology around firearms demonstrated by his use of the word ‘clip’ instead of ‘magazine’ should bar him from making a legal judgment of any kind on this issue. To be clear, this legislation will have no effect on the rising gun violence in Columbus. The city does not face a growing threat of homicides and assaults being performed by people carrying AR-style rifles or handguns with a drum magazine. Columbus city leaders are unwilling to address the sources and conditions that lead to violent crime. Their only interest appears to be virtual signaling to their voting base while simultaneously ignoring the rights of law-abiding residents.

What the legislation will do is create criminals out of otherwise peaceful citizens who own a completely innocuous piece of plastic. The ordinance does threaten those people who keep a standard-capacity magazine in their home with a mandatory minimum of 180 days in jail with no opportunity to continue working. In addition to jail time, these completely non-violent residents will be guilty of a misdemeanor and will be forced to pay a $1500 fine.

The Franklin County Libertarian Party believes that local governments should exist to protect individual rights, not turn those rights into a punishable crime. We affirm the individual right recognized by the Second Amendment to keep and bear arms, and oppose the prosecution of individuals for exercising their rights of self-defense. Private property owners should be free to establish their own conditions regarding the presence of personal defense weapons on their own property. We oppose all laws at any level of government restricting, registering, or monitoring the ownership, manufacture, or transfer of firearms, ammunition, or firearm accessories.

Sources:
    •    https://columbus.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6041026&GUID=100A3DBD-91F5-4BC9-BE2D-148BC5BB7CEA&Options=&Search=&FullText=1

    •    https://www.10tv.com/article/news/local/columbus-gun-owners-have-until-july-1-get-rid-of-high-capacity-magazines/530-51c6811f-60a5-4c1d-b567-f3e553da77fb

    •    https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/columbus/columbus-city-council-passes-new-gun-restrictions-banning-large-gun-magazines/

    •    https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2023/02/28/owners-of-large-gun-magazines-in-columbus-have-until-july-to-dump-them/69950080007/

Regional Development Meeting – Pickaway

Wed, July 27 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Learn about ballot access, running for local office, state and local issues, and developing a county party to support local candidates and issues.

Jackie Ray’s Grill 20 Cromley St 
Ashville, OH 43103 United States

Get directions and learn more: https://www.fclpo.org/event/regional-development-meeting-pickaway/

FCLP at the Stonewall Pride March and Festival

Thanks to everyone who volunteered and donated for our successful float and booth at the Stonewall Pride March and Festival!

Kudos to Drake and Cooper Lundstrom for their patience and charm, spell binding the crowd with balloon twisting artistry!

Your support makes events like this possible! Please donate, volunteer or get involved!

Donate today to support Irvine for Ohio and our Libertarian candidates across the state!
Donate today to support Franklin County Libertarian candidates and issues!

FCLP Committee Updates

During the 5/17/2022 business meeting for the Franklin County Libertarian Party of Ohio Central Committee the following actions were taken.

The following individuals were elected to the following roles:

Central Committee

  • Chair – Michael Sweeney
  • Vice-Chair – John Stewart
  • Treasurer – Chris Gill 
  • Secretary – Ken Holpp

Executive Committee

  • Chair – Michael Sweeney
  • Vice-Chair – Drake Lundstrom
  • Treasurer – Pat Hoffman
  • Secretary – Ken Holpp
  • At Large – Jordan Bertke
  • At Large – John Stewart
  • At Large – Chris Gill

After the elections we discussed and voted on the following changes to the FCLPO By-Laws:

Bylaw D – Central Committee, Section 2.

In the event the Secretary of State denies ballot access as a recognized party, Central Committee shall dissolve at the end of their term. After dissolution a new Executive Committee will be chosen by direct election and assume the duties of this committee not already conferred.

FCLP Bylaws. https://www.fclpo.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/FranklinCountyBylaws_rev2022.pdf

These changes were adopted by unanimous vote and should be considered applied to the current Central and Executive Committee. 

Thanks to everyone for your patience and generous assistance.

Michael Sweeney

Chair, Franklin County Libertarians

2022 FCLP Central Committee Election Closed

The following individuals have been elected to the Franklin County Libertarian Party of Ohio Central Committee.

  • John S. Stewart – Gahanna Ward 04
  • Patrick J Hoffman – Madison Township
  • Kenneth D. Holpp – Worthington Ward 01
  • Michael Sweeney – Gahanna Ward 03
  • Jordan T Bertke – Hilliard Ward 04
  • David Nadolny – Worthington Ward 02

The meeting of the full committee, election for Central Committee officers and Executive Committee officers, will occur  at the next regular county party business meeting on May 17th, 2022.

2022 1st Ohio Primary Election Instructions

TOMORROW, MAY 3RD is the first Ohio Primary Election for 2022.

tl;dr If you are a Libertarian in Ohio, be certain to pull an “issues only” ballot for the Ohio Primary Election.


If you intend to join or remain a member of the Libertarian Party of Ohio, and also intend to vote in the Ohio Primary, you must remember to request an “issues only” ballot from your poll workers.Be sure to verify that you were issued an “issues only” ballot and do not have primary candidates for the Republican or Democratic parties.If you do participate in either major party primary you will not be eligible for elected, and in some cases appointed, roles in the state and county Libertarian Parties in Ohio.Be kind and considerate, most poll workers are volunteers and received an hour of rushed training.

FCLPO Central Committee Elections 2022

Please consider this the announcement for the 2022 Franklin County Libertarian Party of Ohio Central Committee election.

In the event the Secretary of State denies ballot access as a recognized party, Central Committee elections shall take place at a central location, at a time and place agreed upon by the outgoing Central Committee.
Elections shall be held in even-numbered years in the same month as the official state primary election.”

The LPO Office will be open to the public for voting in the Central Committee Election from 9am to 6pm, May 3rd, 2022.

After 6pm the votes will be tallied and the new Central Committee will be announced.
At the discretion of the new Central Committee a meeting may be held immediately to elect Central Committee officers, a new Executive Committee, and conduct other party business.
If no meeting is held the election for Central Committee officers and Executive Committee will be scheduled for the next regular ExCom meeting on May 17th, 2022.The following current Central Committee members are running for election. (If you would like to be added for election, please reply to this announcement before April 2nd, and include reliable contact information; contact name, phone and email, so we can be in touch.)

  • John S. Stewart – Gahanna Ward 04
  • Drake Lundstrom – Gahanna Ward 04
  • Patrick J Hoffman – Madison Township
  • Kenneth D. Holpp – Worthington Ward 01
  • Michael Sweeney – Gahanna Ward 03
  • Jordan T Bertke – Hilliard Ward 04
  • David Nadolny – Worthington Ward 02

Franklin County Libertarian Party
c/o Ohio Libertarian Party
6230 Busch Blvd, Suite 102
Columbus, Ohio 43229


Michael Sweeney
Secretary, Central Committee, Franklin County Libertarians