Libertarian Party of Indiana
The Libertarian Party of Indiana is the Indiana affiliate of the Libertarian Party.
History and operations
The founding meeting of the Libertarian Party of Indiana was held on July 14, 1974 at the Holiday Inn at Weir Cook Airport. Approximately 20-25 people attended including Paul Hyatt, Tom Duncan, Marvin Lazaro, Brian Bernstein, Dick Smith, Steve Butterbaugh, and Charlie Reisert. Reisert made the motion to start the Libertarian Party of Indiana. The first headquarters was located at 1430 N. Capitol Avenue in Indianapolis. The LPIN became a minor political party in 1994 after achieving ballot access when Steve Dillon received more than 2% of the vote running for Secretary of State.In 2008, the Libertarian presidential ticket of Bob Barr and Wayne Allyn Root had their strongest showing in Indiana, receiving 1.1% of the vote. On February 17, 2009, Indianapolis city council member Edward Coleman publicly announced that he had left the Republican Party and joined the Libertarian Party The party's best finish in a statewide race came in 2006 when US Senate candidate Steve Osborn received about 13% of the vote. Osborn had the best result for a third party candidate running for the Senate in the 2006 elections.
The Libertarian Party of Indiana is the only party other than the Democrats and Republicans with ballot access in Indiana. Hoosier Libertarians have consistently earned ballot access since 1994. Hoosier Libertarians advocate smaller government while defending civil liberties. In the last decade, they have come to the defense of eminent domain victims, marched in opposition to property tax laws, fought for reduced small business licensing, and pursued fairness and transparency in our elections. Indiana Libertarians lobbied dozens of city and town councils across Indiana to allow property owners to make the decision on smoking on their property.
Officials and staff
State Central Committee
National Committee Representative
Current elected officeholders
, there are eight Libertarian members who hold elected office in Indiana.1. Susan Bell -- Town Judge, Hagerstown
2. Cheryl Heacox -- Advisory Board, Clay Township
3. Dennis Denney -- Town Council, Shirley, North Ward
4. Larry Walker -- Town Council, Dublin
5. Elizabeth Brewer -- Clerk-Treasurer, Claypool
6. Joel Samuelson -- Town Council, Culver
7. Jessica Whitfield -- Town Council, Larwill
8. Renee Sweeney -- Town Council, Ossian
Appointed officeholders
Several Libertarians have been appointed to offices in Indiana:- Scott Baker -- Elkhart County Convention & Visitors Commission
- Rex Bell -- Hagerstown Board of Zoning Appeals; Hagerstown Plan Commission, Chairman
- Al Cox -- Brown County Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals
- Michael Dowden -- Town of Brownsburg Economic Development Commission ; Town of Brownsburg Improvement Committee ; Town of Brownsburg Redevelopment Authority
- Brad Klopfenstein -- Indianapolis Metropolitan Board of Zoning Appeals II
- Mark W. Rutherford -- Chairman, Indiana Public Defender Commission
- Mark Smith -- Centerville Plan Commission; Wayne County Economic Development Commission.
- Chris Spangle -- Vote Indiana Team/Indiana HAVA Commission
- Margaret Fette -- Secretary, Bloomington Urban Enterprise Area Board
Past state chairs
| Year Start | Year End | Name |
| 1974 | 1976 | Paul Hyatt |
| 1976 | 1979 | Sally Callin |
| 1979 | 1980 | Joseph Hauptmann |
| 1981 | N/A | Joe Bryan |
| 1981 | 1982 | Kevin Grant |
| 1983 | N/A | Mike Fallahay |
| 1984 | 1985 | Steve Dasbach |
| 1985 | 1986 | Jim Reidenauer |
| 1986 | 1987 | Dr. Walter Weeks |
| 1987 | 1988 | Roger Strater |
| 1988 | N/A | Bonnie Flemmonds |
| 1988 | 1989 | Steve Dasbach |
| 1989 | 1996 | Dr. Barbara Bourland |
| 1996 | 1998 | Rob Shuford |
| 1998 | 2000 | Joseph Hauptmann |
| 2000 | 2007 | Mark Rutherford |
| 2007 | 2009 | Todd Singer |
| 2009 | 2013 | Sam Goldstein |
| 2013 | 2015 | Dan Drexler |
| 2015 | 2017 | Joseph Hauptmann |
| 2017 | present | Timothy Maguire |
Past candidates
- Steve Osborn is an American politician. He was the 2006 Libertarian Party nominee for US Senate from Indiana. He lost to incumbent Republican Senator Dick Lugar in the 2006 United States Senate election in Indiana. He was Lugar's only opponent on the ballot in that election, as the Democratic Party did not field a candidate. Osborn received about 13% of the vote, the best result for a Libertarian in the 2006 U.S. national-level elections. His previous political experience includes attempted bids for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Representative in his home district in 2000 and 2002. Steve Osborn is from La Porte, Indiana.
- Paul Hager ran for the U.S. Representative in Indiana’s 8th district in 1994, 1996, and 1998. Also, he ran for US Senate in 2000. In 2002, he ran for Indiana Secretary of State on the issue of voting reform.
Awards
;Dr. Barbara Bourland Light of Liberty Award
| Year Awarded | Recipient | County |
| 2016 | Karl Tatgenhorst | Porter |
| 2015 | Greg Hertzsch | Clark |
| 2014 | Beth Duensing | Lake |
| 2013 | Chris Spangle | Johnson |
| 2012 | Evan McMahon | Marion |
| 2011 | Joyce Morrell | Rush |
| 2011 | Paul Morrell | Rush |
| 2010 | Allison Maguire | Marion |
| 2009 | Dan Drexler | LaPorte |
| 2008 | Timothy Maguire | Marion |
| 2007 | Mike Kole | Hamilton |
| 2006 | Greg Kelver | LaPorte |
| 2005 | Rex Bell | Wayne |
| 2004 | Phil Miller | Hancock |
| 2003 | Rebecca Sink-Burris | Monroe |
| 2002 | Sam Goldstein | Marion |
| 2001 | Mark Rutherford | Marion |
| 2001 | Andy Horning | Marion |
| 2000 | Kurt St. Angelo | Marion |
| 1999 | Steve Dillon | Marion |
;Susan Bell Officeholder of the Year Award
| Year Awarded | Recipient | County |
| 2016 | Chris Mayo | Marion |
| 2015 | Steve Coffman | Henry |
| 2014 | Brad Klopfenstein | Marion |
| 2013 | Al Cox | Brown |
| 2012 | Mark Rutherford | Marion |
| 2011 | Edward Coleman | Marion |
| 2010 | Edward Coleman | Marion |
| 2009 | Susan Bell | Wayne |
| 2006 | Ed Dilts | Johnson |
;Ken Bisson Outreach Award
| Year Awarded | Recipient | County |
| 2016 | Rodney Benker | Johnson |
| 2015 | Donna Dunn | Lake |
| 2014 | Andrew Horning | Owen |
| 2013 | Chris Spangle | Johnson |
| 2012 | Rupert Boneham | Marion |
| 2011 | Rex Bell | Wayne |
| 2010 | Jerry Titus | Howard |
| 2010 | Paul Morrell | Rush |
| 2009 | Doug Horner | Allen |
| 2006 | Mike Sylvester | Allen |
;Joe Hauptmann Campaign Leadership Award:
| Year Awarded | Recipient | County |
| 2016 | Angela Fisher | Marion |
| 2015 | Michael Sandridge | Lake |
| 2013 | Miah Akston | Johnson |
| 2012 | Allison Maguire | Marion |
| 2012 | Evan McMahon | Marion |
| 2012 | Chris Gault | Marion |
| 2011 | Dan Drexler | LaPorte |
| 2010 | Paul Morrell | Rush |
| 2010 | Jerry Titus | Howard |
| 2009 | Melanie Hughes | Floyd |
| 2009 | Allison Maguire | Marion |
| 2009 | Tim Maguire | Marion |
| 2005 | Sheri Conover Sharlow | Grant |
;Phil Miller Candidate of the Year:
| Year Awarded | Recipient | County |
| 2016 | MiKe Gunyon | Marion |
| 2015 | Chris Mayo | Marion |
| 2013 | Rupert Boneham | Marion |
| 2012 | Phil Miller | Hancock |
| 2011 | Rebecca Sink-Burris | Monroe |
| 2009 | Eric Schansberg | Clark |
| 2009 | Rex Bell | Wayne |
| 2005 | Kenn Gividen | Bartholomew |
;Steve Dasbach Chairman's Award for Extraordinary Service:
| Year Awarded | Recipient | County |
| 2016 | Steve Dillon | Monroe |
| 2015 | John Schick | Porter |
| 2014 | Beth Duensing | Lake |
| 2014 | Greg Kelver | LaPorte |
| 2014 | Michael Schultheiss | Marion |
| 2013 | Dale Wedel | Hendricks |
| 2012 | Mark Burris | N/A |
| 2012 | Rebecca Sink-Burris | Monroe |
| 2011 | Greg Hertzsch | N/A |
| 2010 | Todd Singer | Hendricks |
| 2010 | Dale Wedel | Hendricks |
| 2010 | Dan Drexler | LaPorte |
| 2009 | Andrew Horning | Owen |
| 2007 | Mark Rutherford | Marion |
| 2007 | Mike Runnebohm | Shelby |
| 2006 | Brad Klopfenstein | Marion |
| 2006 | Cindy Kirkpatrick | Marion |
| 2006 | Kenn Gividen | Bartholomew |