CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - Some members of the Wyoming Libertarian Party said they plan to step up and run for leadership roles so the third-party group will not be disbanded because of lack of interest.
Richard Brubaker, the party’s current chairman, issued a warning that he would consider a motion to dissolve the group if there isn’t enough interest to keep it operating.
Brubaker, who is stepping down as chairman, said he was struggling to find others who would commit to taking leadership roles and keeping the party going when he leaves.
“I’ve been feeling like it has been a one-man party lately,” he said. “Everyone is supportive of what we are doing, but no one wants to put in the time.”
Only 939 Wyoming voters are registered as Libertarians, according to the Secretary of State’s Office, compared with nearly 196,400 registered voters in the state, the Wyoming Tribune Eagle reported (https://tinyurl.com/n836wjj).
The party, which generally advocates for less government intrusion, has not seen much success at the ballot box during recent years.
However, the Wyoming Libertarian Party, along with the Wyoming Constitution Party, won “major party” status in the state following the 2014 election, because their candidates secured at least 10 percent of the vote in the secretary of state’s race.
That means the two parties can nominate their candidates through the primary election process, instead of naming their nominees at party conventions.
Several party members said they hope to keep the party going.
“If push came to shove, I would take the role of chairman or another role,” said Dee Cozzens, a Worland resident who took in 2 percent of the vote in his attempt to unseat Gov. Matt Mead in the gubernatorial race last year. “I’m very positive the party will keep going … and we need a third party to at least give people a choice.”
Howard Carson, who was the Libertarian Party’s unsuccessful candidate in last year’s secretary of state race, said he also wants to make sure it continues to be a viable party.
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Information from: Wyoming Tribune Eagle, https://www.wyomingnews.com
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