Mark Hinkle

	Mark Hinkle
	;
	Chair; Libertarian National Committee
	2010—2012
Predecessor:	Bill Redpath
Successor:	Geoff Neale
	Personal Details
Party:	Libertarian Party
	view image gallery

Mark W.A. Hinkle is a former national Chair of the Libertarian Party (and of the Libertarian National Committee). He has served in various positions in the national Libertarian Party, the Libertarian Party of California, and his county party.

Personal

Mark Hinkle currently lives in Morgan Hill, California with his wife Linda and his son Logan. He runs a small business in the San Francisco South Bay Area that focuses on child safety and drowning prevention.

Entry To The Libertarian Party

Hinkle was one of the small group of people to vote for John Hospers in 1972. In 1974, Mark Hinkle became a member of the Libertarian Party and has remained a life member since then, a total of 48+ years.

Libertarian Party of California

Not long after the formation of the national Libertarian Party, the California party was organized. After the LP of California gained ballot access, Mark Hinkle served as the campaign manager in the first partisan election in the state in which a candidate appeared as a Libertarian on the ballot. The campaign (Bill White for State Senate in 1980) received 13% of the vote. Hinkle went on to serve as the Fund-Raising Chair, Newsletter Chair, Northern Vice-Chair, and Chairman of the Libertarian Party of California for a total of 6 years. He served more than 25 years on the California Executive Committee. From 2008 - 2010, he also served as the Judicial Committee Chair.

Chairman of California Affiliate

During his 6-year tenure as Chairman of the Libertarian Party of California, Hinkle greatly increased the size and influence of the state party. The membership tripled and revenue (donations) also tripled. The party's influence in state politics increased and it began to field more candidates across the state. As a result, a record number of Libertarians were elected to office in California via Operation Breakthrough. In addition, a party office was opened and an executive director was hired.

National Libertarian Party

Mark Hinkle has done many volunteer jobs for the national Party and went on to become a member of the Executive Committee. Hinkle served 10 years as either an LNC Regional Representative or alternate. He also served on the national Platform Committee and in 2010 was elected Chairman of the national Libertarian Party.

He was a delegate seated with the delegation of the Libertarian Party of California at the 2022 National Convention.

Chairman of the Libertarian Party

At the 2010 National Convention in St. Louis, Mark Hinkle was elected national Chairman of the Libertarian Party. As Chairman, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of the national Libertarian Party and was chair of the Libertarian National Committee (LNC).

Libertarian Party of Santa Clara County

Hinkle has held many positions in the county LP organization for Santa Clara County, where he resides.

Chair (1980-1983)
Vice-Chair (2014-present)
Fundraising Chair (1984-1986, 1992-1994)
Newsletter Chair (2004-2008)
representative to the LPC Executive Committee
Judicial Committee (1995-1997)

Electoral History

Mark Hinkle has run for public office a total of 9 times. He was a candidate for State Assembly 7 times, for State Senate once, and for non-partisan office. His best result was in 2008 when he received 9% of the total vote.

Awards

Mark Hinkle has won the Sons of Liberty Award twice for running the most principled partisan race.

At the 2022 National Convention in Reno, NV, Mark Hinkle was awarded the Thomas Jefferson Leadership Award.

Preceded by:
Bill Redpath

Libertarian Party National Chair
2010-2012

Succeeded by:
Geoff Neale