South Carolina Libertarian Party

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South Carolina Libertarian Party
SCLP Logo.png
General Information
Chartered: 28 September 1975
Region: 6
Officers
Chair: Kasie Whitener
Vice-Chair: Justico Mitchell
Secretary: Jeff Laitinen
Treasurer: Jeff Dimit
Melissa Couture (assistant)
Contact
Phone: 803-788-2226
Address: 10120 Two Notch Road, Suite 2-324
Columbia, South Carolina, 29223, US
Website: Website
Social Media
Facebook: Facebook
Twitter: Twitter
Instagram: Instagram
Meetup: Meetup

The South Carolina Libertarian Party is the South Carolina affiliate of the Libertarian Party. It was founded on 28 September 1975 at 3:00PM at the Carolina Inn in Columbia, SC,[1] by a meeting of 45 people[2]. After failed attempts to gain ballot access for the 1976 and 1978 elections, the SCLP was certified as an official political party by the South Carolina State Election Commission in January of 1979, giving it permanent ballot access provided that it reorganizes properly every election cycle.

Governing Documents

Platform

For historical platforms see Index of South Carolina State Party Platforms

Bylaws

For historical bylaws see Index of South Carolina State Party Bylaws

Elections

See: South Carolina Libertarian Party Historical Election Results

Publications

The South Carolina Libertarian Party and its members have produced a number of publications throughout its existence, the most notable being its official newsletter, the South Carolina Libertarian, published off and on since September of 1981. Other publications include Free State News, Palmetto Libertarian Forum, Sandhills Libertarian Gazette and Southern Libertarian Messenger.

Ballot Access

After its founding in September of 1975, the SCLP attempted to gain ballot access for the elections in 1976. Although volunteers collected 10,400 signatures, the South Carolina Election Commission declared most of them invalid, leaving the party with only about 4,000 out of the required 10,000 signatures required.[3] The SCLP tried again for the elections in 1978 with a significantly higher goal for number of signatures in order to account for those that would be stricken. Volunteers were able to collect about 15,000 signatures, but they were not able to submit them in time to be counted before the deadline to certify candidates for that election.[4] The Election Commission ultimately did accept enough of the 15,000 signatures and certified the SCLP as an official political party in January of 1979, giving it ballot access for the 1980 elections.[5]

The official status of the SCLP entitles it to the same permanent ballot access as any other officially recognized party in the state. Such parties are not required to submit petitions each election cycle but rather have only to fulfill a handful of requirements in order to maintain their ballot access.[6] Those requirements are as follows:

  • Organization - Hold county and state conventions every two years, following the processes laid out in state law
  • Nomination - Nominate and properly certify candidates at any level at least once every four years, following the processes in state law

Former Officers

The following is a list of all known past officers of the SCLP back to its founding in 1975.

Term Chair Vice-Chair Second Vice-Chair Treasurer1 Secretary1 Asst. Treasurer5
2023-2025 Kasie Whitener Justico Mitchell Derek Williams Jeff Dimit Jeff Laitinen Melissa Couture
2021-2023 Casey Crowe Kasie Whitener Jessica Ethridge Jeff Dimit Victor Kocher Melissa Couture
2019-2021 Sean R. Thornton Steven Biggs Matt Hicks Jeff Dimit Victor Kocher
2017-2019 Stewart F. Flood, Jr. Alex Thornton Shane Sweeny Jeff Dimit Sean R. Thornton
2015-2017 Stewart F. Flood, Jr. Travis McCurry /
C. James Brandmair
2 Jeff Dimit Michael R. Carmany /
Victor Kocher
2013-2015 Michael R. Carmany Jeremy Walters /
Stewart F. Flood, Jr.
Jeff Dimit Victor Kocher
2011-2013 Victor Kocher Michael R. Carmany Jeff Dimit Sharon Clark
2010-20113 Michael R. Carmany Victor Kocher Jeff Dimit Sharon Clark
2008-2010 Michael R. Carmany Victor Kocher Jeff Dimit Marge Wakefield
2006-2008 Timothy Moultrie Stewart F. Flood, Jr. Jeff Dimit Elizabeth C. Moultrie
2004-2006 Chris Panos Cheryl Bates /
Lee Ott
Lee Ott Rebekah "Reb" Sutherland
2002-2004 Charles F. "Chuck" Williams Mark Johnson Victor Kocher Marge Wakefield
2000-2002 Charles F. "Chuck" Williams Bea Jones Rodney G. "Rod" Severson Marge Wakefield
1998-2000 Charles F. "Chuck" Williams Bea Jones Dr. David C. Morris Elizabeth Cason
1996-1998 Rodney Travis Tahirih Gelardi /
Charles F. "Chuck" Williams
Dr. David C. Morris Mary Lou Seymour
1994-1996 Steve Vandervelde Rodney Travis Dr. David C. Morris Mary Lou Seymour
1992-1994 Steve Vandervelde Jo Jorgensen Dr. David C. Morris Tim Moultrie
1990-1992 Steve Vandervelde Bill Griffin Dr. David C. Morris Tim Moultrie
1988-1990 John B. Heaton Bill Griffin Dr. David C. Morris Jan C. Morris
1986-1988 John B. Heaton Bill Griffin Dr. David C. Morris Jan Chapman
1984-1986 Dr. Steven Kreisman /
Ron Heaton
Ron Heaton /
Arnold Hite
Dr. David C. Morris John T Harllee
1982-1984 Dr. Steven Kreisman Steve Vandervelde Dr. David C. Morris John T Harllee
1980-19824 Marshall Danenburg /
Lee Bowie /
Tom Waldenfels
Lee Bowie Boyce Lee Muller John T Harllee
1979 Charles T. Blackwell William S. "Bill" Brooks, Jr. Deborah Muller John T Harllee
1978 Boyce Lee Muller William S. "Bill" Brooks, Jr. Deborah Muller John T Harllee
1977 Charles T. Blackwell Boyce Lee Muller Marhsall Danenberg John T Harllee
1976 Charles T. Blackwell Dr. James Rinehart Marhsall Danenberg John T Harllee
1975 Charles T. Blackwell John T Harllee Ben Robinson Dargan Clarkson
1974 Charles T. Blackwell

1. Non-voting positions until 2017
2. The position of Second Vice-Chair was created in 2017
3. Conventions switched to odd years in 2011
4. Officers elected for two-year terms after ballot certification
5. Position created at November, 2021 Convention
At times of high membership participation, other non-voting officer positions were created and filled as follows (approximate dates shown):
Executive Director

  • Robert Clarkson (1976-1977)
  • Geb Sommer (1991-1996)

Membership

  • Lee Bowie (1982)
  • Dr. David C. Morris (1983)
  • Julian Griffith (1996-2000)
  • Victor Kocher (2000-2004)
  • David Herndon (2004-2006)

Media Coordinator

  • Tim Moultrie (1991-1996)

Recording Secretary

  • Mary Lou Seymour (1993-1996)

Communications

  • Charlie Comberrel (1998-2000)

Public Relations

  • Tim Moultrie (1998-2000)
  • John Bates (2001-2002)
  • Joe Clarkson (2003)
  • Bea Jones (2004-2006)

Newsletter Editor

  • Daniel L. O'Neal (1998)
  • Bea Jones (1999-2002)

Webmaster

  • Laura Richardson (2000)
  • Cheryl Bates (2001-2004)
  • Joe Clarkson (2004-2006)

Campus Coordinator

  • Mark Hocamp (2004-2006)

Active County Affiliates

The SCLP currently has 24 out of South Carolina's 46 counties organized, the highest number since its founding. The previous peak of 22 counties, reached in the first few years of the 2000s, was met in April of 2018 and surpassed in October of 2018 with the readdition of Darlington and Kershaw counties.

Map of organized counties, 1984-2018
  • Aiken County
  • Anderson County
  • Beaufort County
  • Berkeley County
  • Calhoun County
  • Charleston County
  • Colleton County
  • Darlington County
  • Dorchester County
  • Florence County
  • Georgetown County
  • Greenville County
  • Greenwood County
  • Horry County
  • Jasper County
  • Kershaw County
  • Laurens County
  • Lee County
  • Lexington County
  • Pickens County
  • Richland County
  • Spartanburg County
  • Sumter County
  • York County

Size and Influence

Year Minimum
Unique
Voters
Minimum
Percent
Of Voters
Signature
Members
(Dec)
Signature
Members
Per
Million
Population
LNC
Total Donors
2004 - Present
Or
Active Members
1972 - 2003

(Dec)
LNC Donors
Per
Million
Population
State Rank
Of Total LNC
Donors
(Of 51)
2018 13,064 0.76% 1,968 387 210 41.31 23
2017 1,915 381 236 46.97 23
2016 49,204 2.32% 2,045 412 314 63.29 23
2015 1,726 353 137 27.98 27
2014 33,839 2.68% 1,686 349 157 32.49 26
2013 1,620 339 174 36.46 26
2012 16,321 0.82% 1,555 329 176 37.27 27
2011 1,458 312 170 36.38 28
2010 35,362 2.59% 1,428 308 183 39.47 27
2009 1,385 302 174 37.91 27
2008 7,283 0.38% 1,343 297 196 43.28 27
2007 1,271 286 277 62.33 20
2006 19,704 1.76% 1,187 272 112 25.70 29
2005 1,071 251 167 39.11 28
2004 10,678 0.66% 237 56.28 27
2003 225 54.21 27
2002 25,128 2.28% 255 62.08 27
2001 313 77.00 27
2000 31,104 2.17% 339 84.24 27
1999 323 83.12 28
1998 16,987 1.55% 313 81.52 28
1997 205 54.09 29
1996 12,988 1.08% 206 55.10 27
1995 139 37.57 27
1994 25,153 2.64% 124 33.82 26
1993 103 28.34 25
1992 25,102 2.03% 105 29.16 29
1991 70 19.67 32
1990 59,558 7.50% 95 27.15 26
1989 71 20.54 29
1988 4,935 0.47% 58 17.00 30
1987
1986 28,115 3.68%
1985
1984 13,333 1.31%
1983
1982 42,097 6.12%
1981
1980 22,354 2.42%
1979
1978 223 0.04%
1977
1976 53 0.01%
1975
1974
1973
1972
Schwarzwald Uhr Kupferstiche cropped.jpg This state party article contains time-sensitive information that may no longer be accurate.

Please contact the State Chair for updates and move out of date information to this article's appropriate historical section.

References

  1. Libertarians To Organize, Florence Morning News, 25 September 1975, p. 13.
  2. Third Party In Sight For South Carolina, Aiken Standard, 8 October 1975, p. 8-A.
  3. S. C. Libertarians Intend To Stay, Aiken Standard, 11 October 1976, p. 11.
  4. Carter's summit talks delay Ravenal barbecue, Greenwood Index-Journal, 14 September 1978, p. 13.
  5. South Carolina Libertarian, September 1981, p. 4.
  6. S.C. Code §7-9-10. https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t07c009.php.


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