I had to work to track down the Libertarian Party shortly after I arrived in the Boise area. It was a handful of guys who spent $6,000 Idaho state income tax checkoff money every year on burgers, brews, pizzas and inconsequential travel.
Over the next two years I wrested control from them, gambled my savings on an outstanding state convention that came within a few dollars of repaying my loan. The Libertarian Party of Idaho quickly grew to 85 people with a lot of visible activity.
Now I am the interim chair of the Ravalli County Libertarian Party. Neither I nor the chairman who handed me the baton have come up with invigorating ideas or activities, but I do not want to be that guy who holds the office in hiding.
If there is a man, woman or group in The Bitterroot who has the motivation and energy to bring the beauty of Libertarian principles and solutions into public view, I want to help you take over the reins. Contact me.
What is a Libertarian?
I ran for Idaho governor in 2006. I thought, “If only the non-voting majority can see an opportunity to throttle back the growth of big government, they’d jump on it … or, more realistically, that the public forum and publicity would help others wanting to reverse freedom’s erosion feel more hopeful and get involved in some way”.
The gubernatorial debates that Idaho public TV and the League of Women Voters put on in 2006 were first class. The two candidates who qualified and chose to debate on Idaho-wide live television put on a show that the studio crew LOVED.
I post them here that you may see Ted Dunlap debating the issues, speaking from the heart… and note the consistency: Liberty is not a costume I put on, but a driving force that resides deep in my soul. That’s my liberty and yours. I cannot be free unless everyone is.
I watched the gubernatorial debate of ’06 recently for the first time in many years. I got so much right, and now with a more dispassionate view realize I did even better than I remembered. If you removed party labels and were left with one of those two choices to be Idaho governor, I won.
Pretty dang good for my first television appearance. Of course that guy in 2006 is quite different from this guy who is 13 years older. I could not nor would I want to do that over again… but I did what very few do, and did it well.
I award that younger Ted *ONE ATTABOY*.
Elizabeth Hodge interviewed me when I was running for Ada County sheriff. I just tripped over it today. The interview explains the concept as well as I have seen it done. It is still valid, and incredibly valuable to those USofA counties who have elected constitutional sheriffs.
Coming out of nowhere without significant support, I shocked the 20-year incumbent by garnering 40,943 votes. We were all startled. He had not been in any contest that close, and sure as heck didn’t expect it from my campaign.
Unfortunately, it was only 26% of the votes. I suspect $10,000 in campaign finances could have won it for us. I’m happy nobody did that to me. I like where I am today.
Score another *ATTABOY* for Ted.
Three more and I get a cup of coffee.
One final video to further explain what the heck a Libertarian is and what they want to do is the national party State Of The Union response here.
I have books, books, and more books on the subject, have studied, written, blogged, traveled coast-to-coast, rubbed elbows with Libertarian movers-and-shakers, and have championed this cause for over twenty years.
I would LOVE to mentor and assist anyone inspired by the potential.
– Ted
