Resignation from the Libertarian Party
July 13, 2008 (My 63rd Birthday)

I have been a libertarian from birth and a knowingly dedicated freedom fighter since 1967. I became associated with the Libertarian Party in March 1974 through Reason Magazine. I fought the transportation deregulation battle alone from 1967 to 1978 (except for the help of the Reason Foundation). We won in 1980 with the help of many.

I spoke with David Bergland on his swing through Florida in 1976.  He was the first Libertarian Candidate to do a local radio interview in the Orlando Florida area. The Program was a Sunday evening show “Around the town with Bill Berry” on WDBO radio 580 AM.

I helped collect signatures for McBride and Bergland that year in their unsuccessful effort to get on Florida’s ballot. I helped in many other ballot access drives.

In 1980 I formally joined the National LP with a registration number of 009961. Over the years I served on the Florida Libertarian Party’s executive committee for 21 years. In 1985 I helped to reform the LP in Florida after it lost its certification. I named the current edition of the Florida Party.

I have been a Libertarian or NPA candidate in 10 different elections.

I was the first Libertarian to pay a filing fee to be listed on a Florida state ballot in a regularly scheduled election as a Libertarian. (Florida State House 42 in 2000). I was the first Libertarian to run for a statewide state level office in Florida. (Governor 2002 as a write in and 2006 as an NPA).

When the Fedex plane crashed in Tallahassee in 2002. I drove over 1000 miles to collect up candidate’s papers to get them to Tallahassee before the deadline. Of our 72 candidates I delivered 14 of them just 2 hours from the deadline.

While I have always believed in keeping my activities within Florida, I did consent to serve on the 2004 National Platform Committee. I again served that committee in 2008.

In 2003 I found that the Florida and National Libertarian Parties were leaving me behind. They were abandoning their principles and purpose. They were becoming domesticated pets.

With incompetent leadership and specific attempts to change the libertarian party into a mainstream party, people like Mike Barr, Jack Tanner, and Roderick T. Beaman intentionally neutered the Libertarians of Florida.

The so called Reform Caucus effectively neutered the national Libertarian Party and chose a candidate who will be going back to the Republican Party in June 2009 to begin a Republican run for President in 2012.

While I may return to the Libertarian Party at some time in the future, I am now forced to remove myself from the Libertarian Party because it has been domesticated and neutered, with no principles or backbone.

I will become the chairman of the Florida Boston Tea Party and its Florida Favorite son Vice Presidential Candidate.

John Wayne Smith
203 W. Magnolia St.
Leesburg Florida 34748