Libertarian Party nominates candidates at Pennsylvania state convention

Pennsylania Libertarians energized by successful convention

Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania

3915 Union Deposit Road #223
Harrisburg, PA 17109
www.lppa.org

For Immediate Release: March 25, 2008

Contact: Doug Leard (Media Relations) or
Michael Robertson (Chair) at 1-800-R-RIGHTS / chair@lppa.org

Malvern, Pa. – The Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania (LPPa) and the New Jersey Libertarian Party held an action-packed joint convention March 14-16 in Malvern, PA.

Nine LP Presidential candidates attended the convention, presented their views on the issues to more than 100 attendees and took part in a lively debate.

Attendees also participated in a series of workshops. The workshop on ballot access was particularly important as Pennsylvania has very restrictive ballot access regulations. Despite requiring 24,666 valid signatures to be on the ballot, the LPPa is determined to provide Pennsylvanians with the choice to vote for a Libertarian for President in November.

Delegates nominated two statewide candidates: Betsy Summers for Auditor General and Berlie Etzel for State Treasurer.

Betsy Summers is a graduate of Centenary College in Hackettstown, NJ, and has 25 years of business sales experience. She has volunteered with numerous organizations, and served for two years as an elected member of the Luzerne County Home Rule Study Commission. She also served as President of her local chapter of the American Business Women’s Association. Ms. Summers was the LPPa candidate for U.S. Senate in 2004.

Berlie Etzel is a retired math and science teacher. He graduated from Clarion State College and served as a Lieutenant in the US Navy. He has been active in politics for 45 years, and a member of the Libertarian Party for almost 30 years. He served as LP of Delaware State Chair for several years before moving to Clarion County. He served as Ashland’s Township Auditor and is currently the township’s Constable. Mr. Etzel is the Western Vice-Chair of the LPPa and a delegate to the LP National Convention. He and his wife, Rochelle, have three children and six grandchildren.

LPPa Chair Mik Robertson commented, “This year our convention demonstrated that the Libertarian Party has numerous Presidential candidates every bit as capable and competent as those in the old entrenched parties if not more so. I am confident all of our nominees will present the best choices for the voters to promote individual liberty, personal responsibility, and a return to the ideals upon which American government was founded.”

The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in Pennsylvania and the United States. More than 200,000 people across the country are registered Libertarians, and Libertarians serve in hundreds of elected offices. Please visit www.LP.org or www.LPPA.org for more information.

Additional Information – link to the LP Presidential debate - http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/qdrxk6ydCBbCkEaDJQ82Qw