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Algernon D'Ammassa, Headlight Staff 11:51 a.m. MT May 11, 2017

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DEMING I am not here to talk anyone into being a libertarian. That would not be very libertarian of me.

This was how Elizabeth Hanes, Chair of the Libertarian Party of New Mexico, greeted visitors at an open house introducing the partys new Luna County chapter. The event was open to the public and held Saturday evening at the St. Clair Winery, 1325 DeBaca Road.

Founded in 1971 in Colorado, the Libertarian Party promotes individual liberty, liberal capitalism, small government, and non-interventionist foreign policy. In the 2016 federal election, the party secured ballot status in all 50 states for candidate Gary Johnson, who was Governor of New Mexico from 1995 to 2003. The campaign won more than 3 percent of the popular vote, falling short of the 5 percent threshold that would qualify the party for federal funds as an official minor party under Federal Election Commission rules. Nonetheless, Hanes cited the popularity of the Johnson campaign as an opportunity to grow the party.

Having supported Johnson in the 2016 election, Rebecca Lescombes of Deming initiated the formal organization of a county Libertarian chapter to compete with the Democratic and Republican parties. I came as a disgruntled Republican, she said at the open house. Ive been Republican since I was able to vote, but Ive watched years of Republican shenanigans and getting nothing done, and the Republicans and the Democrats becoming the same beast.

Her initial goals are formulating a party organization and recruiting members, but a second priority will be to recruit candidates for local office. Lescombes even indicated she was considering a run herself, though she did not disclose which office she might seek.

A handful of citizens from Deming came to the open house to read literature, meet the state and county chairs, and engage in wide-ranging conversation about politics. Participants ranged from the just curious to a man who described himself as a small-L libertarian, not big-L. An hour into the event, he indicated he would join the party.

The social policies of the Libertarian Party appeal to me, said Lescombes. Everyone has a right to do what they want. You want to marry a guy, you can marry a guy. Do what you want to do as long as you dont hurt anybody else.

There is a lot of disappointment in Trump, said Hanes, a nurse and writer based in Albuquerque, referring to President Donald Trump. Republicans have told me, I thought Trump was going to do what he said but now its just more of the same. However, the chairwoman argued that the Libertarian party is not only a haven for disaffected Republicans, but also for Democrats and progressives concerned about state power and large national debt. Were fiscally responsible and socially we dont have a damn what you do, she said. Democrats are already with us on half of that. I think eventually theyll come around on the financial side.

Algernon D'Ammassa can be reached at 575-546-2611 (ext. 2608) or adammassa@demingheadlight.com.

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Libertarians organize in Luna County - Deming Headlight