Several individuals have announced their campaigns for the Libertarian Party’s 2016 nominee for President of the United States. The nominee will be elected by delegates to the national convention in May 2016. The Iowa delegation is seeking input from Libertarians in the state as to who should be the nominee. Comments may be submitted to this post or sent to keith@lpia.org. Below is a summary of the declared candidates.
AUSTIN PETERSEN
Residence: Missouri
Born: Independence, Missouri, February 19, 1981 (34 years old)
Profession: owner of Stonegait LLC, a consulting firm; television producer
Prior Campaigns: None identified
2016 Campaign Themes: 10-plank platform is on his website, including reducing barriers to marketplace entry, balancing national security with greater weight for due process and individual rights, allow young people to opt out of Social Security
Campaign Strategy: No specific strategy identified
Other: Took a job with the national Libertarian Party in 2008
Website/Social Media: austinpetersen2016.com; www.facebook.com/producerpetersen; www.twitter.com/ap4lp
JOHN McAFEE
Residence: Lexington, Tennessee
Born: September 18, 1945 (70 years old)
Profession: self-described eccentric millionaire, former computer developer, columnist
Prior Campaigns: None identified
2016 Campaign Themes: cyber warfare (international), privacy (personal), government surveillance (domestic), pardon marijuana users in prison, U.S. is not world’s policeman
Campaign Strategy: utilize social media, run an electronic campaign instead of one on the campaign trail, including webcam chats
Other: originally ran under Cyber Party; in 1974 sold McAfee Associates anti-virus software company he started
Website/Social Media: mcafee16.com
DERRICK MICHAEL REID
Residence: Laguna Beach, California
Born: Cleveland, Ohio, June 30, 1954 (61 years old)
Profession: retired engineer, patent lawyer, and, per his website, analyst in various areas
Prior Campaigns: None identified
2016 Campaign Themes: Restoring Americana Greatness and a premise that taxation and separation from decision-making creates a totalitarian democracy
Campaign Strategy: His website has no information for contributions; instead there are numerous lists, icons, and positions that are generally very general concepts
Other: He has his birth and baptism certificates on his website.
Website/Social Media: totalitariandemocracy.com; www.facebook.com/derrickmichael.reid; www.twitter.com/derrickmreid
