Take a look at this recent interview on C-SPAN and imagine what it would be like to have this man in the Oval Office, then forward it to your friends.

We have a great presidential candidate in Gov. Gary Johnson, and, with Judge Jim Gray on the ticket, a team that is vastly more qualified than any other that will be on the ballot in November. (I wonder if the media will pick up on that?)

When you also consider the all-time highs of voter mistrust and dissatisfaction with government, 2012 is the year we can win more hearts and minds—and votes—than ever before.

To quote an old phrase: now is the time for all good men (and women) to come to the aid of the party.

The LPO needs you—old members and new friends, whether you voted Republican to support Ron Paul or not—to step up with your time and talent to get the word out about Gary Johnson and the LPO.

Gov. Johnson is currently polling at a little more than five percent in national polls against Obama and Romney. If he should gain that mark in November, the Libertarian Party presidential candidate in 2016 would be eligible for $90 million in matching campaign funds.

If Gov. Johnson reaches 15 percent in the polls by the time of the debates, he is supposed to be included in them. (We'll see if the big boys stick to that custom when the times comes, but with enough pressure from us, it could happen.)

The better the Libertarian Party ticket does in Ohio, the harder it will be for Republicans and Democrats in Columbus to try to shove us off the ballot in the future.

We all have a little extra time, and we all have a couple of things we're good at, so let me challenge you to volunteer with one of the LPO divisions now as we coordinate with the Johnson/Gray team to win Ohio.

If you're already plugged in with a county group, see your leadership there and tell them what you can do to help. If not, please email info@lpo.org or reach me personally and let us know who you are and we will find some work for you.

This is a critical time for our country and our party. Years from now, you'll want to tell your grandkids what you did to protect their birthright of freedom. This is your chance to have something to say.

Yours for Freedom,

Aaron

Aaron Keith Harris
Communications Director
Libertarian Party of Ohio
aaron.harris@lpo.org
937-825-0204

The former two-term Governor of New Mexico, Gary Johnson, has won the Presidential nomination of the Libertarian Party on the first ballot. Facing three opponents in Lee Wrights, Carl Person, and Jim Burns, Johnson needed a majority vote on the first ballot in order to win.

Toni Nathan announced that Gary Johnson had won the Presidential nomination on the first ballot. Although not all of the votes are quite clear yet, Johnson won the nomination with over 70% of the vote on the first ballot. Governor Johnson thanked his son for taking two years off of work to help him campaign and then told a story about his daughter, who called and said that he’d gotten his ass handed to him in the C-SPAN-broadcast debate last night. He invited Lee Wrights up on stage to thank him for being a gentleman. They briefly embraced and Lee Wrights told the audience to help Johnson get elected.

Johnson told the convention that, “This is about winning”. He then did a brief stump for his Vice Presidential running-mate hopeful, Judge Jim Gray of California, “Please consider Jim Gray as my running mate. I believe that Jim Gray affords the best opportunity to winning. I want you to know that we interviewed a lot of candidates as potential vice presidential candidates.”

The forum, which featured rapid-fire questioning from a panel of nationwide Libertarian experts about each candidates' campaign strategy and viability, revealed Ehrbar as the most polished candidate in a strong slate of candidates for federal and state office.

"I am honored to have simply been on the stage with a group of extremely qualified Libertarian candidates from around the state of Ohio," Ehrbar said. "I am also very humbled by the fact that I was the unanimous victor chosen by such a distinguished panel. With last week's developments and this weekend's victory and fundraising successes, we have planted yet a few more very critical seeds of liberty for our campaign and the voters in the 3rd district. They deserve a candidate who truly advocates for peace and liberty, and that's what we represent."

The last few weeks have been busy ones for the Ehrbar for Congress campaign, with Ehrbar being featured in numerous local and national news media, winning the endorsement of the Libertarian Party of Ohio, and hiring Jennifer Smith as campaign manager and launching a new website.

Contact information:

E-mail: ehrbarforcongress@gmail.com

Media inquiries and interviews (for immediate response): 419-806-6120

On the web: http://ehrbar2012.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RichardCEhrbarIIIfor2012U.S.Congress

COLUMBUS—Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson won the Libertarian Party of Ohio’s presidential straw poll on Sunday, April 1.

Johnson received 85 percent of the vote, with Bill Still getting nine percent and R. Lee Wrights getting six percent. “None of the above” was also on the ballot, but no one chose it.

Johnson and Still each addressed the convention for 15 minutes on Saturday night, and Johnson debated Wrights on Sunday morning before the straw poll. Still was invited to the debate, but declined to appear.

“I think that the wide margin of this vote signals that Ohio libertarians know that Gov. Johnson is perhaps the best and most highly qualified presidential candidate in the LP’s history,” said Aaron Keith Harris, chairman of the LPO central committee. “The governor presents the case for liberty in a clear, compelling manner and he has a chance to really shake up the election this November.”

The LPO state convention, dubbed Occupy Liberty!, also featured a keynote speech by Indiana gubernatorial candidate and television star Rupert Boneham.

With more than 100 attendees, numerous presenters and a full vendor hall, the convention as widely acclaimed as the biggest and best in LPO history.

From Friday, March 30 to Sunday, April 1, the LPO, its members, supporters and fellow friends of liberty from across the country will gather at the Holiday Inn in Worthington, Ohio, near Columbus for a weekend of activism, inspiration and education.

"I'm very pleased to be co-chairing the 2012 LPO Convention with my colleague [Political Director] Bob Bridges,” said LPO Finance Director Jillian Mack. “We have an exciting lineup of speakers, VIPs, and events throughout the weekend, which should make for one of our most popular and well-attended conventions in years. I hope people register early because the low, early bird pricing won't last long and space is limited!"

Among the convention’s guests will be:

• Rupert Boneham, star of the TV show Survivor and current LP candidate for governor of Indiana
• VIP Convention Sponsor and LP presidential candidate Gov. Gary Johnson, along with a debate among other LP presidential candidates who also meet the required POTUS debate standards set by the LPO
• Jim Babka of Downsize DC
• Robert Wagner of the documentary The Changing Climate of Global Warming
• Nick Gillespie and Matt Welch of Reason, promoting their latest book The Declaration of Independents: How Libertarian Politics Can Fix What’s Wrong with America

To lock in discounted rates now and for more information, go here, or email convention@lpo.org

Media inquiries:

Aaron Keith Harris
LPO Communications Director
937-453-1776
aaron.harris@lpo.org

The following are Primary candidates that have filed to run as a Libertarian in 2012.

This is not nor should it be considered an endorsement.

US Congress
	Candidate's Name:	Jim Berns
	Residence:	Cincinnati
	County:	Hamilton
	Office Sought:	US Representative - 1st
	Website:
	Phone Number:	513-708-0815
	Email	jaberns@hotmail.com
	Candidate's Name:	Richard Ehrbar
	Residence:	Columbus
	County:	Franklin
	Office Sought:	US Representative - 3rd
	Website:	http://ehrbar2012.com/
	Phone Number:	419-806-6120
	Email	ehrbarforcongress@gmail.com
	Candidate's Name:	Chris Kalla
	Residence:
	County:
	Office Sought:	US Representative - 4th (Write-In)
	Website:
	Phone Number:
	Email	supermrchris@aim.com
	Candidate's Name:	Eric Eberly
	Residence:	Bowling Green
	County:	Wood
	Office Sought:	US Representative - 5th
	Website:
	Phone Number:	419-308-4927
	Email	ericeberly@hotmail.com
	Candidate's Name:	Sean Patrick Stipe
	Residence:	Lorain
	County:	Lorain
	Office Sought:	US Representative - 9th
	Website:	http://SeanStipe.com
	Phone Number:	440-984-1878
	Email	Sean@SeanStipe.com
	Candidate's Name:	David Harlow
	Residence:
	County:
	Office Sought:	US Representative - 10th
	Website:
	Phone Number:
	Email
	Candidate's Name:	Jeffrey Blevins
	Residence:	Wadsworth
	County:	Medina
	Office Sought:	US Representative - 16th
	Website:	http://BlevinsForCongress.com
	Phone Number:	330-631-8416
	Email	BlevinsForCongress@aol.com
Ohio Senate
	Candidate's Name:	Paul D Hinds
	Residence:	Lima
	County:	Allen
	Office Sought:	Ohio Senate - 12th
	Website:	http://www.hindsforohio.com
	Phone Number:	419-230-7648
	Email	paul@hindsforohio.com
Ohio House of Representatives
	Candidate's Name:	Nathan Eberly
	Residence:	Bowling Green
	County:	Wood
	Office Sought:	Ohio House - 3rd
	Website:	http://nathaneberly.org
	Phone Number:	419-464-1519
	Email	Nathan.Eberly@lpo.org
	Candidate's Name:	Bradley Smith
	Residence:
	County:
	Office Sought:	Ohio House - 21st
	Website:
	Phone Number:
	Email
	Candidate's Name:	Robert R Ryan
	Residence:	Blue Ash
	County:	Hamiliton
	Office Sought:	Ohio House - 28th
	Website:	http://www.robryan.org
	Phone Number:	513-207-3964
	Email	rob@robryan.org
	Candidate's Name:	John M Deagan
	Residence:	Jackson Township
	County:	Stark
	Office Sought:	Ohio House - 48th
	Website:
	Phone Number:	330-704-6631
	Email	pbcacoach@gmail.com
	Candidate's Name:	Robert C Coogan
	Residence:	Liberty Township
	County:	Butler
	Office Sought:	Ohio House - 52nd
	Website:	http://www.BobCoogan2012.org
	Phone Number:	513-746-9849
	Email	Bob@BobCoogan2012.org
	Candidate's Name:	Robert F Sherwin
	Residence:	Columbia Station
	County:	Lorain
	Office Sought:	Ohio House - 57th
	Website:	http://www.bobsherwin.org
	Phone Number:	440-236-8949
	Email	sherwinforohio57@yahoo.com
County Offices
	Candidate's Name:	Roger D. Staton
	Residence:	Lebanon
	County:	Warren
	Office Sought:	Warren County Common Pleas
	Website:
	Phone Number:	513-934-0522
	Email	rogerdalestaton@yahoo.com
	Candidate's Name:	Brad Waltz
	Residence:	Grand Rapids
	County:	Wood
	Office Sought:	Wood County Commissioner
	Website:
	Phone Number:
	Email	mauserman1@frontier.com
	Candidate's Name:	Bob Frey
	Residence:	Cincinnati
	County:	Hamilton
	Office Sought:	Hamilton County Commissioner
	Website:
	Phone Number:	513-393-9383
	Email	refrey@gmail.com
	Candidate's Name:	Daryl R Olthaus
	Residence:
	County:	Butler
	Office Sought:	Butler County Commissioner
	Website:
	Phone Number:	513-593-6358
	Email	dolthaus@msn.com
	Candidate's Name:	Don Kissick
	Residence:	Lima
	County:	Allen
	Office Sought:	Allen County Commissioner
	Website:	http://www.donkissick.com
	Phone Number:	419-302-7269
	Email	don@aclpo.org
	Candidate's Name:	James Snedden Jr
	Residence:	St. Louisville
	County:	Licking
	Office Sought:	Licking County Commissioner
	Website:
	Phone Number:
	Email	j4snedd@yahoo.com
	Candidate's Name:	Abe Alassaf
	Residence:
	County:	Athen
	Office Sought:	Athen County Treasurer
	Website:
	Phone Number:	740-590-5352
	Email	ia289007@ohio.edu

COLUMBUS—The Libertarian Party Of Ohio had a very successful year in 2011, and we would like to thank our members and everyone who has supported us for their hard work.

The LPO won its third major court case in six years—this time against Ohio Secretary of State John Husted—guaranteeing ballot access through 2012.

Three of our candidates in this "off-year" election won in November, and we had other candidates make a huge impact on their races, including two city council candidates in Columbus.

What a better way to celebrate the 40th anniversary of America's best and brightest hope for an effective third party that can restore the vision of the Founders?

Read all about these successes and Ann Leech's retrospective of the LPO in the current issue of the Buckeye Libertarian, currently posted at the top of www.lpo.org.