The LNC will be meeting to discuss issues relating to the proper leadership of the Libertarian Party of Massachusetts. The substantive wording (there is a pending amendment to bring up to the state of current events) of the resolution to be considered is as follows:
Whereas, on December 19, 2021, LAMA membership submitted a petition for a special convention to conduct a recall election of the LAMA State Committee;
Whereas, the petition contained greater than the 10% of valid member signatures required for a special convention in accordance with Article 2 Section 5 of the LAMA Constitution;
“If 10% or 500 (whichever is less) of the current dues-paying membership signs a petition requesting a special state convention, and mails or presents the petition papers to the state committee, the state committee must organize a state convention to be held between 30 and 60 days of the date of delivery of the petition to the state committee.”
Whereas, the petition was submitted with an agenda, as required by the following Constitutional provision;
“The petition shall specify the agenda of the special state convention, and the state committee may, by majority vote, append items to the end of that agenda, but may not otherwise change the agenda.”
Whereas, on January 10, 2022, the response from the State Committee to the properly constituted petition was to expel en masse all petition signatories, in violation of basic member rights, due process, and Article 1 Section 3 of the LAMA bylaws, which allow for expulsion of “a person from membership” (not mass expulsions).
“The State Committee may for cause by 2/3 secret ballot vote of the entire State Committee expel a person from membership in the Libertarian Association of Massachusetts; an expelled person must receive a 2/3 secret ballot favorable vote from the State Committee to rejoin.”
Whereas, the vote to expel LAMA members was taken during a supposed State Committee meeting that had no agenda, thus denying targeted members notice of any proposed action against them and an opportunity to defend themselves, and the meeting was called to order in closed session, against longstanding custom (their parliamentary authority does not address the topic at all), and contrary to the public notice given;
Whereas, among the wrongfully expelled were two State Committee members who were denied any access to due process, in violation of Article 4 Section 10 of the LAMA Constitution;
“The State Committee may by two-thirds vote of its entire membership expel a person from the State Committee, for cause, after affording the accused reasonable access to due process.”
Whereas, a member of that State Committee who has not been a resident of Massachusetts for close to a year, cast their vote for the expulsion, in violation of Article 4 Section 8 and Article 1 Section 1 of the LAMA Constitution;
“To be elected or serve as a member or officer of the State Committee, a person must be a Member of the Organization whose dues are current.”
“Members are all dues-paying members in Massachusetts, and all other persons who may so qualify under uniform rules of non-dues paying membership for which the State Committee may provide in its Bylaws.”
Whereas, two duly elected members of the 2021 LAMA State Committee did organize and conduct the special convention as is required by Article 2 Section 5 of the LAMA Constitution and provided notice to the extent possible given deliberate obstructive actions and omissions by former State Committee members;
Whereas, a new State Committee was elected at that special convention on February 26, 2022, in accordance with the LAMA Bylaws Article 2 and the LAMA Constitution Article 2 and as specified on the submitted agenda, with the positions now filled as follows;
- Andrew Cordio, Chair
- Charlie Larkin, Treasurer & Archivist
- Scott Gray, Recording Secretary
- Jason Brand, Membership Director
- Janel Holmes, Political Director
- David Burnham, Operations Director
- Thomas Eddlem, Communications Director
- Brodi Elwood, Technology Director
- Daniel Garrity, Fundraising Director
Whereas, the newly elected State Committee has set and noticed their annual convention for April 24, 2022, at which time the State Committee for the next term, and national convention delegates, will be elected;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Libertarian National Committee recognizes the results of the election at the special convention and the State Committee elected therein.
Following is the Zoom invite. This meeting requires registration including by LNC members.
TOPIC: MASSACHUSETTS (substantial wording of resolution and supporting documents to be sent in reply emails)
When: Jun 5, 2022 05:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUudu6grjorHN2ruqKm–JoP3QsxqKk7DAD
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
You can find supporting documentation for this meeting at this link (this will be continually supplemented as information comes in): https://tinyurl.com/June2022LNC
If you have any questions or need further information please contact the LNC Secretary Caryn Ann Harlos at 561-523-2250.
