Florida Liberty!

Libertarian award-winning architect Bill Sachs, left, who serves on a local Cable TV board and helped design the State Capitol building, pledges to hand out  items.

Pinellas Libertarians, working though the Libertarian Citizen Club (http://www.PinellasLib.uni.cc) and the local LP, have put Libertarianism on the map with what local Libertarians say is a record education outreach effort in the county of 1 million with:

• Distribution of 50,000 pieces of literature
• Regular intake meetings
• An Adopt A Road program in 5 areas whose signs were seen by an estimated 10,000 people daily (the program will end in January)
• An aggressive press mention campaign
• A daily radio show and a 1 year cable TV show
• Distribution of promo videos (above) to address books
• Committment by 50 people to place bumperstickers on their cars, seen by an estimated 50,000 people potentially daily .

The effort was separate from normal campaign publicity.

"This is the best outreach in years, and it cost little, relying on volunteer work, " said Bill Van Allen, who is a key activist in neighboring Sarasota, which has begun a similar Adopt A Road program.

A spokeswoman for The Advocates for Self-Government also praised the campaign, saying they were as extensive as any they've seen for some time.

The effort was funded from proceeds from a Libertarian conference, and with other contributions cost $5,000. Pinellas Libertarians are now seeking volunteers to develop a 20,000 person d-base via petition drives, saturate districts precincts systematically with literature asnd create neighborhood action groups, and place county wide ads. The effort is slated to take another 10 years.

One effect is that Libertarians now  occupy 15 public offices, thought to be the highest concentration in the US, including both the youngest and oldest Libertarians in office. Educational efforts spilled over into neighboring Pasco, helping get a Libertarian mayor elected, say organizers. In addition, Libertarians were invited to participate in a variety of initiatives and coalitions and have been having an effect there, they say.

One evidence of the effect is that Libertarian Bumperstickers reported that most of its requests were coming from the Pinellas and Tampa area; another is that they are running out of trained Libertarians to fill the offices available, though several are in training.

"Something like this done nationally would result in 20% of the voters getting something in their hands and  4500 Libertarians in public office, of whom 450 would be elected," said Ralph swanson, who is monitoring the project.

Literature used included low-cost Libertarian Viewpoints and Advocates tabloids, but mostly simple penny cards inserted under windshield wipers or left door to door that urged people to check out local websites and CATO at C-Span. There they were directed to philosophical and get-acquainted workshops or phone numbers, got free e-books, and urged to write letters or send a video to their addrerss book by e-mail, consider getting involved in appointive public office, or to dowload free windshield or penny cards to continue to spread the word in a "point of sale" domino effect. The project is being monitored by the Libertarian International Organization and replicates successful efforts in Costa Rica by Libertarians there (www.libertario.org).

Groups that wish to duplicate the effort should contact the club at its website.