Author: Michael Sweeney
Why does every government solution require people to become more helpless and more dependent?
#ThinkLibertarian
We advocate for strict enforcement of property rights against polluters and environmental offenders, ensuring that those who harm others’ property or natural resources are held accountable.
We believe in the power of technological innovation to address environmental challenges, supporting research and development in clean technologies and sustainable practices.
We promote voluntary efforts and initiatives to protect the environment, encouraging individuals, businesses, and communities to engage in conservation practices without government coercion.
We prefer decentralized approaches to environmental issues, empowering local communities and private initiatives to address conservation and sustainability based on local needs and preferences.
We support market mechanisms such as pollution pricing and tradable permits, encouraging innovation and efficiency in environmental conservation without government mandates.
Franklin County Libertarian Party of Ohio Calls on Governor DeWine to Respect Voter Choice and Appoint Don Kissick to U.S. Senate Seat
This decision would not only respect Ohio’s democratic process but would also strengthen the foundation of a government that truly serves its people.
NOV 07, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Franklin County Libertarian Party of Ohio Calls on Governor DeWine to Respect Voter Choice and Appoint Don Kissick to U.S. Senate Seat
Columbus, Ohio – The Franklin County Libertarian Party of Ohio is urging Governor Mike DeWine to uphold the integrity of Ohio’s democratic process by appointing Don Kissick to the vacant U.S. Senate seat. With Ohioans increasingly frustrated by political maneuvering and a lack of representation for genuine voter preferences, this appointment would honor the choice of Ohio voters and demonstrate true commitment to fair governance.
Don Kissick, a steadfast advocate for individual rights, fiscal responsibility, and smaller government, embodies the principles Ohio voters value. His dedication to liberty and his unwavering respect for the Constitution align with the priorities of many Ohioans who seek real, accountable representation. By appointing Kissick, Governor DeWine has a unique opportunity to show bipartisan respect for all Ohio constituents, including the growing number of voters who identify with neither major party but who are increasingly turning to Libertarian solutions.
While Ohio’s political landscape often feels dominated by two parties, Ohio voters have shown strong support for third-party voices, which add important perspectives to government decisions. Kissick’s appointment would serve as a meaningful gesture to restore trust in state leadership by validating the choices Ohioans make at the polls. The Franklin County Libertarian Party stands firm in its belief that true representation in government should reflect the diversity of voter perspectives, especially those who feel unheard in the current system.
The Franklin County Libertarian Party encourages Governor DeWine to act fairly and rationally by acknowledging the value of all Ohio voters and appointing Don Kissick. This decision would not only respect Ohio’s democratic process but would also strengthen the foundation of a government that truly serves its people.
Contact:
Franklin County Libertarian Party of Ohio
Email: info@fclpo.org
Website: www.fclpo.org
###
Run for Local Office!
Have you considered running for public office, but find yourself intimidated by all the rules and process?
We can help! We have experienced past candidates, and current elected officials, that can train, explain and help you through every step in the process!
If you ran for office before, consider running again, your odds actually go up on the second try!
2025 Primary Election Schedule
Primary Election Day ………………………………………………………………….. May 6, 2025
Filing Deadline (90 days)…………………………………………………. 4:00 p.m., February 5, 2025
Filing Deadline for Write-In Candidates (72 days)* ………….. 4:00 p.m., February 24, 2025
Registration Closes (30 days)* ………………………………………………. 9:00 p.m., April 7, 2025
Absentee Opens …………………………………………………………………………………. April 8, 2025
Independent Filing Deadline (Hilliard and Reynoldsburg) …………. 4:00 p.m., May 5, 2025
* In some instances, the statutory deadline falls on a day when the offices of the Secretary of State and boards of elections are closed. In those instances, the deadlines are extended, pursuant to R.C. 1.14, to the next succeeding day when the appropriate office is open for regular business hours. The preceding dates reflect the extended deadline.
FRANKLIN COUNTY MUNICIPAL COURT
Handouts: Acknowledgement of Notice of Judicial FDS, Notice of Judicial Candidate Seminars,
Acknowledgement of Notice of ORC, Receipt
Petition: Special Form 3-I (Franklin County)
Signature Requirement…………………………………………………………………Min. 50 – Max. 150
Filing Deadline……………………………………………………………….. 4:00 p.m., February 5, 2025 Filing Fee (cash or check) ………………….. $80.00 ($50.00 petition fee and $30.00 OEC fee) Offices to be elected:
Judge, full term commencing 1-1-2026 …………………………………………………… Jodi Thomas
Judge, full term commencing 1-2-2026 ……………………………………………… Jessica D’Varga
Judge, full term commencing 1-3-2026 ………………………………………………..James E. Green
Nominated by petition – these offices do not appear on the primary ballot.
CITY OF COLUMBUS
Handouts: Acknowledgement of Notice of FDS, Acknowledgement of Notice of ORC, Receipt Petition: Special Columbus – Single; Columbus City Council
Signature Requirement (City Attorney, City Auditor) ……………….. Min. 1,000 – No Max.c
Signature Requirement (City Council) ……………………………………….. Min. 250 – No Max.c
Filing Deadline……………………………………………………………….. 4:00 p.m., February 5, 2025
Filing Fee (cash or check) ………………….. $45.00 ($20.00 petition fee and $25.00 OEC fee)
Offices ……………………………………………………………………………………. City Attorney (Klein)
…………………………………………………………………………………………….. City Auditor (Kilgore)
………………………………………………………………………………………. Council District 1 (Wyche)
………………………………………………………………………………………. Council District 3 (Dorans)
………………………………………………………………………………………… Council District 4 (Remy)
………………………………………………………………………………………… Council District 7 (Favor)
Non-Partisan ballot. If no more than two candidates are certified for a contest, then no primary election will be held.
Additional Requirements:
Petitions shall contain the names and addresses of five registered electors of the City of Columbus designated in advance by the candidate as a nominating committee (committee members may reside anywhere in the city). Signers of city council petitions must be registered in the district.
BOARD OF EDUCATION – COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Handouts: Acknowledgement of Notice of FDS, Acknowledgement of Notice of ORC, Receipt
Petition: Form 2-V- Board of Education Primary (single candidate)
Petition: Board of Education Special (several candidates)
Signature Requirement……………………………………………………………….Min. 300 – Max. 900
Filing Deadline……………………………………………………………….. 4:00 p.m., February 5, 2025
Filing Fee (cash or check) ………………….. $30.00 ($10.00 petition fee and $20.00 OEC fee)
Board Member …………………………. Three Seats (six to be nominated) (Cole, Reyes, Vera)
Non-Partisan Primary Election only if there are more than twice the number of candidates as open seats. Columbus City School District candidates are required to file a financial disclosure statement.
CITY OF HILLIARD
Handouts: Acknowledgement of Notice of FDS, Acknowledgement of Notice of ORC, Receipt Petition: Form 2-I
Signature Requirement
Major Party ……………………………………………………………………..Min. 50 – Max. 150
Minor Party ……………………………………………………………………….Min. 25 – Max. 75
Filing Deadline……………………………………………………………….. 4:00 p.m., February 5, 2025
Filing Fee (cash or check) ………………….. $45.00 ($20.00 petition fee and $25.00 OEC fee)
Offices ……………………………………………………………………………………….. Four Council Seats (Carrier, Cottone, Hale, Teater)
Partisan Primary – In the event the number of candidates from a political party is less than or equal to the number of positions to be filled in the next General Election, then no primary election need be held.
City of Hilliard – INDEPENDENTS:
Petition: Form 3-N
Signature Requirement …………………………………………………………… Min. 156 – Max. 468*
Filing Deadline……………………………………………………………………… 4:00 p.m., May 5, 2025
Filing Fee (cash or check) ………………….. $45.00 ($20.00 petition fee and $25.00 OEC fee) Additional requirements per charter – No group petitions and signers of petitions are restricted to the number of offices to be voted on. Nominating Committee not required.
CITY OF REYNOLDSBURG
Handouts: Acknowledgement of Notice of FDS, Acknowledgement of Notice of ORC, Receipt Petition: Form 2-I
Signature Requirement
Major Party …………………. Min. 50 – Max. 150 (Ward Council Min. 25 – Max. 75)
Minor Party …………………… Min. 25 – Max. 75 (Ward Council Min. 13 – Max. 39)
Filing Deadline……………………………………………………………….. 4:00 p.m., February 5, 2025
Filing Fee (cash or check) ………………….. $45.00 ($20.00 petition fee and $25.00 OEC fee)
Offices …………………………………………………………………………………….. City Auditor (Cicak)
……………………………………………………………………………………. Three Council-at-Large seats (Baker, Cotner, Johnson)
Partisan Primary – If the number of candidates from a political party is less than or equal to the number of positions to be filled in the next General Election, then no primary election need be held.
City of Reynoldsburg – INDEPENDENTS:
Petition: Form 3-N
Signature Requirement…………… (City Attorney, Council-at-Large) Min. 127 – Max. 381*
Filing Deadline……………………………………………………………………… 4:00 p.m., May 5, 2025
Filing Fee (cash or check) ………………….. $45.00 ($20.00 petition fee and $25.00 OEC fee)
* Signatures required for independent candidates in the Hilliard and Reynoldsburg municipal elections are based on 1% of the total votes for governor at the 2022 General Election.
CITY OF WHITEHALL
Handouts: Acknowledgement of Notice of FDS, Acknowledgement of Notice of ORC, Receipt
Petition: “Special – Whitehall”
Signature Requirement………………………………………………………………… Min. 30 – No Maxc
…………………………………………………………………… Ward Council Seats: Min. 15 – No Maxc
Filing Deadline……………………………………………………………….. 4:00 p.m., February 5, 2025
Filing Fee (cash or check) ………………….. $45.00 ($20.00 petition fee and $25.00 OEC fee)
Offices ………………………………………………………………………………….. City Auditor (Quincel) ………………………………………………………………………………………….. City Council Ward Seats
(Ward 1-Dixon, Ward 2-Heck, Ward 3-Smith, Ward 4-Brown)
Non-Partisan Primary – If the number of persons filing such declaration does not exceed twice the number of offices available for nomination, then no primary election shall be held for such office. Nominating Committee not required.
VILLAGE OF BRICE charter
Handouts: Acknowledgement of Notice of ORC, Receipt
Petition: Form Brice Special
Signature Requirement………………………………………………………………… Min. 10 – Max. 30c
Filing Deadline……………………………………………………………….. 4:00 p.m., February 5, 2025
Filing Fee (cash or check) ………………….. $30.00 ($10.00 petition fee and $20.00 OEC fee)
Offices ……………………………………………………………………………………….. Four Council Seats
Non-Partisan Primary – If the number of persons filing such declaration does not exceed twice the number of offices available for nomination, then no primary election shall be held for such office. Petitions shall contain the names and addresses of five registered electors of the Village of Brice designated in advance by the candidate as a nominating committee.
Franklin County needs energetic people to run for office! Libertarian elected officials get to make policy that reduces the scope of government and increases personal liberty.
We encourage first-timers to run for local offices in odd-numbered years. You must file a declaration of candidacy with the Franklin County Board of Elections, with completed petitions containing the number of signatures required for the office you are seeking.
Local offices include city and village council, township trustees, and school board members. With a term or two of local office, you will have the experience and credibility to run a successful campaign for county, state, or federal office, but if you have the qualifications to run for a different office, we won’t turn you down! Before starting your campaign, take a quick look at our “Candidate Quick Start Guide” video (27 minutes).
Check out Election and Candidate Resources.
We can help you. Please complete this form, and our Political Director will be in contact with you.
Candidate and Campaign Training
Franklin County needs energetic people to run for office! Libertarian elected officials get to make policy that reduces the scope of government and increases personal liberty.
Why run for office? Local elections are important. They affect the community and can bring about real change. Running for local roles, such as city council or school board, is a great starting point. These positions allow individuals to gain experience and learn about the political process. It is possible to build a path to bigger offices, such as state representative, state senator, or even federal positions, by starting small.
At the training, attendees will learn the basics of running for office. Topics will include the process for getting on the ballot, creating a plan for 1 or 2 year campaigns, reaching out to voters and applying Libertarian principles to public policy. Experienced speakers will share their knowledge and answer questions. It is a chance to connect with others who share a passion for making a difference in the community.
Candidate and Campaign Training
Tuesday, November 12, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Franklinton Library Meeting Room
1061 W Town St, Columbus
Local offices include city and village council, township trustees, and school board members. With a term or two of local office, you will have the experience and credibility to run a successful campaign for county, state, or federal office, but if you have the qualifications to run for a different office, we won’t turn you down!
Check out what elected offices are open in Franklin County for 2025.
FRANKLIN COUNTY MUNICIPAL COURT
Judge, full term commencing 1-1-2026 ………………………………… Jodi Thomas
Judge, full term commencing 1-2-2026 ………………………………… Jessica D’Varga
Judge, full term commencing 1-3-2026 …………………………………..James E. Green
CITY OF COLUMBUS
Offices …………………………………………………………………. City Attorney (Klein)
…………………………………………………………………………….. City Auditor (Kilgore)
……………………………………………………………………………. Council District 1 (Wyche)
……………………………………………………………………………. Council District 3 (Dorans)
…………………………………………………………………………… Council District 4 (Remy)
…………………………………………………………………………… Council District 7 (Favor)
BOARD OF EDUCATION – COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Board Member ………………. Three Seats (six to be nominated) (Cole, Reyes, Vera)
CITY OF HILLIARD
Offices …………………………………………………………………………….. Four Council Seats
CITY OF REYNOLDSBURG
Offices …………………………………………………………………………….. City Auditor (Cicak)
…………………………………………………………………………. Three Council-at-Large seats
CITY OF WHITEHALL
Offices ……………………………………………………………………….. City Auditor (Quincel)
….. City Council Ward Seats (Ward 1-Dixon, Ward 2-Heck, Ward 3-Smith, Ward 4-Brown)
VILLAGE OF BRICE charter
Offices ……………………………………………………………………………….. Four Council Seats
Check out Election and Candidate Resources.
Before starting your campaign, take a quick look at our “Candidate Quick Start Guide” video (27 minutes).
Recommended resources:
How to Win a Local Election Paperback
by Lawrence Grey
Politics Is for Power: How to Move Beyond Political Hobbyism, Take Action, and Make Real Change Hardcover
by Eitan Hersh
Guerilla Marketing: Easy and Inexpensive Strategies for Making Big Profits from Your Small Business Paperback
by Jay Conrad Levinson
Candidate and Campaign Training
Tuesday, November 12, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Franklinton Library Meeting Room
1061 W Town St, Columbus