By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice
COLORADO SPRINGS — The relevancy of the Colorado Libertarian Party has advanced in the past year in several measurable ways, State Chairwoman Hannah Goodman said as she opened the party’s annual state convention here Saturday.
One of those measurements have been increased media exposure, she said, including on local TV programming.
“We have had more press exposure than in a long time,” she said. “There’s no secret we have all been held hostage by the Democratic majority. What we sought to do is pressure both [major] parties to run solid liberty candidates.”
The intent, Goodman says, is to be a disruptor and run stonger candidates which could pull greater percentages of votes in general elections.
“We have become incredibly relevant,” Goodman said. “I’m really proud to try and disrupt things.”
Vice President Eliseo Conzalez was absent during the early business session of the convention, instead attending the Arapahoe County caucus related to his campaign for commissioner.
Campaigns Director Jacob Luria indicated the Libertarian Party has developed important relationships in the past year, and his hope to increase the number of candidates the party can field in state legislative races.
“We’ve worked on making some political allies and connecting with other parties,” he said. “We do need more candidates running statewide. We will have candidates in seven of eight Congressional District races, which we are excited about. We do have some state Senate and state Rep[resentative] races where we’re looking for [candidates].”
Luria indicated one-party management of the state by the Democratic Party is not in the best interests of Coloradans.
“We need to be on the ballot,” he said. “We need candidates to show [voters] how much better their life will be with Libertarians.”
Legislative Director Michael Vance reported on an assault weapons bill Libertarians believed they had defeated a year ago.
Democratic Rep. Elisabeth Epps was a prime sponsor of House Bill 23-1230 which narrowly failed last session. She returned this year with HB 24-1292 and a new co-prime sponsor, a bill some lawmakers have said is essentially the same bill as in 2023. It passed out of committee this week by a 7-3 party line vote of the House Judicial Committee, with Republicans opposing the measure, along with hundreds testifying in the majority against the bill. The bill does not have Senate sponsorship.
“The big success [in 2023] was we were able to defeat the assault weapon ban,” Vance said. “As of right now, the bill is not on the [House] calendar. We need to watch for it.”
During the morning session of the convention, delegates voted a roster of party leadership including the following: Outreach Director Kirsten Steinke; Secretary Ashley Buss; Legislative Director Michael Vance; Treasurer Allison Spink; Membership Director James Williams; and Campaigns Director Jacob Luria. Directors for fundraising and affiliates were not chosen. Williams had served in an interim capacity as treasurer during the past six months.
Delegates were also asked to consider 33 members of the Colorado Libertarian Party as national party delegates with tabulation of voting expected in the afternoon convention business session. Goodman announced there were 41 delegates in attendance at the morning session.