| Libertarian Party of Ohio |
| Limited Government & Taxation Fiscal Responsibility |
| Champion of Small Business Personal Choice AND Responsibility |
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LP Presidential Candidates
Mike Gravel
Daniel Imperato
Bob Jackson - Withdrew from presidential race
Michael Jingozian
George Phillies
Wayne Allen Root
Mary Ruwart
Daniel Williams - Withdrew from presidential race
Note: All information provided below comes from each candidates campaign, and is not to be taken as an endoresement for or against any specific campaign. Candidates are listed alphabetically by last name.
Mike Gravel - Gravel2008.us
Daniel Imperato - Imperato2008.com
Bob Jackson - BobJackson.org
Michael Jingozian - ResetAmerica.com
George Phillies - Phillies2008.org
Wayne Allen Root - RootForAmerica.com
Mary Ruwart - VoteMary2008.com
Daniel Williams - TheNewLibertarian.org
There are other candidates running for the LP nomination. Those listed here attended the LPO annual convention in April 2008. The final nominee will be decided by the LNC Convention at Denver in May 2008.
Mike Gravel was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, to French Canadian immigrants. He attended French-speaking Catholic schools and as a teenager, when he wasn’t working with his father and brothers in the house painting and construction business, volunteered in local Springfield politics, developing an avid interest in government
Senator Gravel enlisted in the U.S. Army (1951-54) and served as special adjutant in the Communication Intelligence Services and as a Special Agent in the Counter Intelligence Corps. He received a B.S. in Economics from Columbia University, New York City, and holds four honorary degrees in law and public affairs.
Mike Gravel served in the Alaska House of Representatives from 1963-66, and as Speaker from 1965-66. He then represented Alaska in the U.S. Senate from 1969-81. He served on the Finance, Interior, and Environmental and Public Works committees, chairing the Energy, Water Resources, Buildings and Grounds, and Environmental Pollution subcommittees.
In 1971, he waged a successful one-man filibuster for five months that forced the Nixon administration to cut a deal, effectively ending the draft in the United States. He is most prominently known for his release of the Pentagon Papers, the secret official study that revealed the lies and manipulations of successive U.S. administrations that misled the country into the Vietnam War. After the New York Times published portions of the leaked study, the Nixon administration moved to block any further publication of information and to punish any newspaper publisher who revealed the contents.
From the floor of the senate, Gravel (a junior senator at the time) insisted that his constituents had a right to know the truth behind the war and proceeded to read 4,100 pages of the 7,000 page document into the senate record. The Supreme Court ultimately ruled that Senator Gravel did not have the right and responsibility to share official documents with his constituents.
He then published The Senator Gravel Edition, The Pentagon Papers, Beacon Press (1971). This publication resulted in litigation, Gravel v. U.S., resulting in a landmark Supreme Court decision (No. 71-1017-1026) relative to the Speech and Debate Clause (Article 1, Section 6) of the United States Constitution.
He has worked as a cab driver in New York City, a clerk on Wall Street and as a brakeman on the Alaska Railroad. He founded and served as president of The Democracy Foundation, Philadelphia II, and Direct Democracy, nonprofit corporations dedicated to the establishment of direct democracy in the United States through the enactment of the National Initiative for Democracy by American voters.
Books authored by Senator Gravel are Jobs and More Jobs, and Citizen Power. He lectures and writes about governance, foreign affairs, economics, Social Security, tax reform, energy, environmental issues and democracy.
Senator Gravel is married to Whitney Stewart Gravel and has two grown children: Martin Gravel living in Colorado and Lynne Gravel Mosier, living in California. The Gravels have four grandchildren: Renee, Alex, Madison and Mackenzie.
I stand for liberty freedom and justice for all. I stand for honor integrity and trust. I stand for shrinking government and lowering taxes. I stand for solving problems with sound plans and LP principles. As a man of principle I waould not have become a life time member of the LP and put my reputation on the line as a presidential candidate if I was not committed to win in 08 and bring the LP victory that it deserves.as stated I am for a 50 state ballot accsess and I am committed to achieve once nominated as the independent candidate with LP priniples and the desire to defend our forefathers wriitten documents starting with Washington. I am committed to deploy a mutual beneficial respect for our country our citizens and our neighbors around the world. Imperato for president combines true independence of the 2 party system and supports the LP to become the 3rd party of independence and freedom protecting our constitution with Libertarian Party principles.
Withdrew April 7
I believe that the strength of this country is based on the maximum freedom of the citizens who are responsible for their actions. This is guaranteed by the constitution and made possible by the rule of law and limited government. The government must be returned to the people and to the authority granted in the constitution. I truly believe that, with the help of the people, I have the background and ability to guide a transition to return the federal government back to the Constitution. My plan is being developed and described in the web page www.bobjackson.org.
Michael Jingozian was born on April 30, 1961 in Watertown, Massachusetts. He is the founder of RESET America and is the founder & CEO of AngelVision Technologies, Inc.
Michael Jingozian is a man of many pursuits. He is an entrepreneur, an employer, and a father – but most of all he is a concerned citizen. He believes that when you let go of the past, opportunities emerge that would normally not be possible.
As early as 17, Michael showed his political gall by initiating a bill that would put a student representative on every local school board and testifying before the Massachusetts State Legislature. His early exposure to the American political system resulted in total disillusionment and he decided that to be a transformative voice in politics, he would first need to achieve success in academia and business.
To that end, Michael received his BS in Economics from New York University. He graduated with a 4.0 in his major and received the Best University Thesis Award (not awarded every year). He subsequently earned a MBA from Bentley College and a CAS from Harvard University.
In 2001, Michael founded AngelVision Technologies, Inc. Each year since it was established, AngelVision has increased revenues 170 to 350 percent making it the 120th Fastest Growing Company in the United States as ranked by Inc. Magazine. AngelVision is recognized as one of the nation’s best run companies and has won over 35 regional and national awards.
In addition to developing their revolutionary “Impact Movie” technology, Michael pioneered a holistic management philosophy that has allowed AngelVision to experience unprecedented growth. His management style led AngelVision to be voted the “15th Best Small Company to Work for in Oregon,” and the company with the 3rd Best Benefits Package in the state: all this in an industry where most of AngelVision’s competitors send their production oversees. In 2006, Michael was the recipient of the Pinnacle Award for Outstanding Mentoring of Fellow Professionals.
Michael’s academic, business, and personal experiences have shaped his beliefs in human nature and organizational dynamics. According to Michael, “Our current 2-party system is destroying our freedoms, sovereignty and our children’s future.” Because of his deep concern for our nation, he founded RESET America to educate citizens about the urgent need to transform our government. RESET America is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and employs three full-time “political misfits.”
You can read more about Michael Jingozian, RESET America, and AngelVision at: www.ResetAmerica.com and www.AngelVisionTech.com. Michael welcomes all ideas and thoughts regarding liberty, freedom and responsible government.
George Phillies was born July 23, 1947 in Buffalo, New York and grew up in Kenmore and Williamsville, New York. He finished as salutatorian at the Williamsville Central High School [now Williamsville North], and attended M.I.T. in Cambridge, Massachusetts. While at MIT, Phillies earned degrees of Bachelors-. Masters- and Doctor of Science degrees in physics. He then joined the Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology program as a researcher.
In the 1970s, Phillies worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the U.C.L.A. Chemistry department and later as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of Michigan. In 1985, Phillies moved to the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he rose to the rank of Professor of Physics. Phillies has attained international recognition for his scientific studies of light scattering, soaps, and polymer solutions.
Dr. Phillies has repeatedly been elected to the most important WPI committees. Some years ago, at a meeting of the WPI Faculty, WPI Provost Diran Apelian opened his remarks "George, you are the conscience of the WPI Faculty."
In 1971, Phillies joined the United States Army Reserves, eventually rising to the rank of Specialist, 5th Class, a rank that no longer exists, in a Boston unit, the 338th Medical Detachment. He received an honorable discharge in 1977.
Since 1994, when the Libertarian Party gained major-party status in Massachusetts. Phillies has participated actively in Libertarian Party organizing efforts in Central and Western Massachusetts. In 1996, he was elected Executive Director of the Massachusetts Libertarian Association, and was the party nominee for United States Senator from Massachusetts. In 1998, he ran for Congress as a Libertarian against Democratic Party incumbent Jim McGovern and Republican Matt Amorello. In 2004, Phillies was elected as one of the two Regular members of the Libertarian Party of Massachusetts State Committee. In 2006, Phillies was re-elected to the LPMA State Committee, where he was elected to be Vice Chair of the State Party and now serves as Chair.
In 2004, Dr. Phillies was national volunteer coordinator ('National Mobilization Facilitator') for the Badnarik and Russo Libertarian Presidential Campaigns. He helped found the Pioneer Valley Libertarian Association, Massachusetts' oldest and largest libertarian volunteer group. He is Political Facilitator, a statewide office, for Liberty for Massachusetts, Massachusetts' functional statewide libertarian activist group.
He serves as chair of the Worcester County Chapter, ACLU of Massachusetts and endorse their message 'Domestic Spying, Rendition, Torture, Secret Prisons - Is This Your America?' I've served as campaign treasurer for a half dozen libertarian campaigns. In 2003 I organized Freedom Ballot Access to raise money for ballot access efforts. He also publishes Let Freedom Ring and Libertarian Strategy Gazette, read nationally by thousands of libertarians, available free at http://cmlc.org/headerpublications.htm.
Friends and voters ask me all the time why I chose to leave the GOP. The answer was that I finally came to realize that the 2-party system is not about the American people anymore. The people have been forgotten. The 2-party system is only about politicians acquiring power. The American people don't matter anymore (to the politicians). The constitution doesn't matter (to the politicians). Both Republicans and Democrats want only one thing: the power to control your life! My goal is very different- I don't want the power. I want to be elected as President of the United States to return the power back to you- the American people.
Over recent years, it dawned on me that there is very little difference between the politicians and elected officials of the 2 major parties. They are willing to do anything, say anything, bribe anyone, condemn and prosecute anyone- even innocent people or victimless crimes- to achieve their power. The best example of this in recent times has to be New York Governor Eliot Spitzer. Spitzer is one of those power-hungry, moral-crusading, hypocritical politicians willing to prosecute anyone, humiliate anyone, or destroy anyone to garner headlines, boost his ego and fulfill his grand ambitions. Like most politicians, he relishes power and the opportunity to prove that he has it- and the rest of us don't. And because he has that power, he thinks he can play by a different set of rules than you or me.
Wayne Allyn Root (WAR) is quite simply the most recognized sports oddsmaker and prognosticator in the world. The American media has dubbed him "The King of Vegas," "America's Oddsmaker," and "The Face of Las Vegas Gaming." His rags to riches story is truly remarkable. Born a S.O.B. (son of a butcher), Wayne has morphed into high profile CEO and entrepreneur, self-made millionaire, best-selling author, TV celebrity, Libertarian Presidential candidate, and a Libertarian version of Rush Limbaugh/Bill O'Reilly/Sean Hannity/Michael Savage. WAR is dynamic, charismatic, telegenic, SUPER high-energy, opinionated, controversial and OUTSPOKEN. He lives to debate and infuriate!
He is now the candidate for the Libertarian Party Presidential nomination in 2008. Ladbrokes of England, the largest legal oddsmaker in the world, has declared Wayne the frontrunner for the nomination and made him the prohibitive favorite to attract the most votes in Libertarian Party history. Wayne is already attracting high-profile national media interviews- appearing on hundreds of shows recently- including The Michael Medved Show airing to 3.5 million listeners on 200+ radio stations.
Dr. Mary J. Ruwart received her B.S. in biochemistry in 1970 and her Ph.D. in Biophysics in 1974 (both from Michigan State University). She then joined the Department of Surgery at St. Louis University where she became an Assistant Professor. Dr. Ruwart came to The Upjohn Company of Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1976 as a Senior Research Scientist involved in developing new therapies for a variety of diseases, including AIDS.
Dr. Ruwart left Upjohn in 1995 to devote her time to consulting and writing. With her husband, Raymond R. Carr, R.Ph., Dr. Ruwart designed and delivered a communications course for scientists, covering written, oral, and poster presentations. She also provides consulting services for nutraceutical companies, CROs, and IRBs.
Since 1982, Dr. Ruwart has been a libertarian activist. In 1983, she was a member of the Libertarian Party’s platform committee. She came to the national convention as a delegate in that same year and became an overnight sensation by running for President of the United States, coming in third in a field of seven. Dr. Ruwart continued her activities as Chair of Internal Education (1988-89); runner-up for Kalamazoo City Commission (1983); Chair, Kalamazoo County Libertarian Party (1985); Libertarian candidate for County Commission (1982,1987); and Libertarian candidate for State Representative (1986). She was also a Libertarian candidate for State Board of Education and was endorsed for that office by The Detroit News in 1990 for her unwavering support of educational choice. Her vote total in that year kept the Libertarian Party on the ballot in Michigan for 1992, when she ran again for State Board. She was an LNC At-Large representative 2000-2002.
After relocating to Kentucky in 1996, Dr. Ruwart served as campaign manager for a local Libertarian candidate for sheriff. After moving to Texas, she challenged Kay Bailey Hutchinson for her Senate seat in 2002. In 2008, Dr. Ruwart and her husband became active in the Ron Paul for President Campaign.
During her time in Kalamazoo, Dr. Ruwart was a regular guest lecturer in local high school and university political science classes, where she shared the libertarian message. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the International Society for Individual Liberty, and has served in a similar capacity for Heartland (Michigan Chapter) and the Fully Informed Jury Amendment Association (FIJA). Her Internet column, “Short Answers to the Tough Questions” is a popular feature of the Advocates for Self-Government web page (www.TheAdvocates.org).
Dr. Ruwart has worked extensively with the poor through her decade-long efforts to rehabilitate low-income housing in the Kalamazoo area. She was also an active member of the Kalamazoo Rainforest Action Committee and has been profiled in American Men and Women of Science, Who's Who in Science and Technology, World Who's Who of Women, International Leaders of Achievement, Who's Who of American Women, Community Leaders of North America and several other prestigious biographical works.
Dr. Ruwart may be best known for her book about political freedom of choice, currently in its third edition (Healing Our World). A review in Visions Magazine claimed that Healing might be "the most important book of the decade." Healing has been translated into Russian, Serbian, Croatian, Lithuanian, and Romanian.
The original (1992) edition of Healing Our World benefited greatly from Dr. Ruwart’s sister, Martie, who provided extensive editorial critique. In 1993, Martie was diagnosed with terminal cancer and became one of Dr. Kevorkian's patients. In memory of her sister, Dr. Ruwart shares her story with those interested in right to die issues.
Withdrew April 7
Daniel Williams was born June 23, 1950 and raised in the small Ohio town of Fairborn. He attended Catholic school through the 8th grade and graduated from Fairborn High School in 1968. He enrolled in Ohio State University with the sole purpose of becoming an Air Force fighter pilot. While he qualified for and was accepted into the Air Force pilot program, a drug arrest during his senior year made that goal unattainable. However, he enlisted in the Army in 1974 and was awarded the American Spirit Honor Medal for leadership. Upon receiving an honorable discharge, he entered the consumer electronics business where he excelled in management. In 1987 he moved to Florida and joined two other men in a start-up to build, own and operate cellular telephone companies. Together they built two regional operations: one in Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Kentucky, the other in Florida. Daniel retired when the first company sold, and the combined total for both was just under one billion dollars.
Retirement enabled Mr. Williams to focus on writing, producing two books. One was published - The Naked Truth About Drugs - and is considered the best and most analytical work on the issue of drug prohibition, which Daniel advocates repealing. He was interviewed in The Hague before giving a lecture in Amsterdam on global drug prohibition, and has travelled extensively promoting his book. He has spoken on a number of college campuses, as well as before numerous drug policy conventions. As a long-time observer of people and politics, Daniel believes the Libertarian Party now has the best opportunity to grow and prosper and become the most viable third party in America. Daniel currently resides in Bonita Springs, Florida with his wife of over 20 years, Melissa, and their chocolate Lab Bahama.