March 1998
David Bergland launches campaign National Chair's position
David Bergland, the LP's 1984 presidential candidate, has announced that he will seek the Chairmanship of the Libertarian Party -- and said his goal is to "continue the professionalization efforts" of the party.
"The Libertarian Party is in a critical transition period due to its recent dramatic growth, and much of that growth is due to the excellent job that Steve Dasbach has done as Chair. But he's stepping down," said Bergland.
"I feel that I have a great deal to offer the party because of my background and experience, and so I've decided to seek the Chairmanship to help the party during this critical phase," he said.
Bergland made his announcement on February 14th during the LP of California's state convention in Los Angeles.
Bergland boosters at the convention wore "Bergland for Chair" campaign buttons and distributed brochures which outlined his goals and listed his campaign organizing committee.
In his announcement, Bergland stressed the need to expand the LP's base of support by accelerating the party's membership growth and electing more Libertarians to public office.
"Dramatic membership growth is the key to building a political party that can compete with the Democrats and Republicans," he said. "With more members, we can run more candidates, recruit more volunteers, raise more money, and get more Libertarians elected."
Bergland also announced his intention to appoint Steve Dasbach as the party's Executive Director.
"Get the job done"
"We're proposing to achieve some pretty ambitious membership goals over the next two to four years," he said. "We need a full-time CEO to make it happen, and Steve has already demonstrated that he can get the job done. In addition, this will allow [current National Director and former Political Director] Ron Crickenberger to devote more of his time to getting Libertarians elected."Also at the California LP convention, Dasbach confirmed that he had decided not to seek re-election to a third term as National Chair.
"The party has grown into a multi-million-dollar-a-year business," he said. "We have grown beyond the point where the party can be effectively managed by a part-time, volunteer CEO. We've reached a point where the National Chair needs to focus his energy on guiding the LNC as a policy-making board of directors.
"I can think of no one better prepared [for] this role than David Bergland," he added.
As National LP Chairman, Bergland said he would work to make sure the LP is run more like a professional business.
"The LNC must begin acting more like a policy-setting board of directors," he said. "It must hire staff who have the ability and experience to achieve the goals set by the board, and then let them do the job."
"I feel confident that I can build a team that will keep the LP moving forward."
The National LP Chairman will be selected by delegates at the party's national convention over the July 4th weekend.
Co-Chairs of the Bergland for Chair Committee are 1996 LP presidential candidate Harry Browne of Tennessee and Libertarian campaign consultant Barbara Goushaw of Michigan.
Browne and Goushaw
Besides his presidential candidacy in 1984, Bergland is perhaps best known for his book Libertarianism in One Lesson, which Laissez Faire Books calls the "best brief introduction to libertarianism available today." It has sold over 50,000 copies.Bergland has previously served two terms as Chair of the Libertarian National Committee from 1977 to 1981. He has served a total of 10 years on the LNC.
Bergland is a business attorney in private practice. He lives in Costa Mesa, California, with his wife, Sharon Ayres.
For more information about the Bergland campaign, write: 1773 Bahama Place, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Call: (714) 966-1211. E-mail: dpbergland@earthlink.net.
