Florida Liberty! Florida Libertarian & Party Reports

Kennon Gilson, 17, here in county board chambers, is on several appointive boards, where he successfully proposes Libertarian tools--and says  you can get involved.

Editorial by Ralph Swanson.

Gangly, Jimmy Stewart-like Kennon Gilson is so interested in Libertarianism and non-partisan political action he's on not one, not two, but five appointive public and quasi-public boards.

His main current goal is to encourage other Libertarians interested in local affairs to "get started" by seeking office in non-partisan local appointive boards or other positions, he says, which "is easier than people realize if you show up, know the materials and have a courteous, consensus attitude."

GET INVOLVED

His father, Michael Gilson, known as MG, is facilitator for the Libertarian International Organization, developer of many Libertarian platforms and materials, and was one of the first Libertarians in office (in 2002 the LP Political Director, Ron Crickenberger, wrote he thought MG was the first), as an early movement founder. Kennon unsurprisingly grew up attending events, meeting movement figures such as Murray Rothbard, Vince Miller, Dr. Jim Lark III and Harry Browne when they came to visit his father, and got appointed to his first board several years ago at 14. Yet it was a local official of the Democratic Party who first suggested he get involved, he says, "My parents thought I already had a lot to do. I basically sold it to them as a Home School project."

He now serves among others on 2 teen Library boards and was appointed by the County Commissioners to his latest post on the County Youth Advisory Committee. His current interests are low-tax and privately funded alternatives in parks and trails, and encouraging other people "whatever their party" to get involved. He's a "model Libertarian in public office" say fans, which include a growing number of public officials from all parties, Libertarians in public office, and academics at his website.

HOME SCHOOLED TEEN IS BUSY

Kennon works on other Libertarian projects such as developing the local LIO Pinellas project, the medical marihuana petition, a coalition on election reform, and a journal for Libertarians in public office. He has been invited to speak to local groups on teen perspectives such as public safety. He's co-overseeing a project to hand out 22,000 pieces of Advocates' materials locally.

His younger sister Kira is also on several boards.

Ironically, says Kennon, he gets more flack from "some right-wing so-called Libertarians" upset over his "Youth and strict Libertarianism" than people of other parties intrigued by his proposals. He emphasizes he's still "learning a lot" about Libertarianism, and recently started reading Ayn Rand, a friend of his father's,  and Harvard Professor's Jeffrey Miron's "Libertarianism A to Z,"  saying: "If you're interested in being in office you need to read. You have to put in effort. If you think Libertarianism is just about smaller government  I think the trend too much is being done for that to fly as Libertarian. Many feel it's Kindergarten Libertarianism. You have people saying private roads or parks are a far-off idea and lets be gradual without realizing it's going on, for example. They get in the way of people like me who're working on just those issues. So I try and set an example and study something every day that I can." 

In addition he has gotten praise from movement figures from the current USLP Chair, Mark Hinkle to publicist and author Wayne Root. "He's a chip off the block, " agrees Ron Cadby, a former Vice Mayor who follows Kennon's activities.

Kennon says he will cut back on his activities next year as he prepares for college. Will he run soon for elected office?

"No. My plan is to encourage others to go from non-partisan appointive to elected office as part of caring about their communities," he says. "The movement will change as more people like me pop up who reject compromised or a vague Libertarianism and know that people are interested in voluntary tools and solutions, but also know how to work with others without going into attack mode. People need to read and look into local opportunities. The age of the 'less-government' Libertarian is drawing to a close as more people want voluntary government solutions, in my opinion. They don't want prospective Libertarians in public office who can't even spell the term or don't know what's being done. "

He summarizes with a quote attributed to Carnegie: "We've at last 7 people who understand what they're doing. Victory is ours," adding "If I help people get inspired, I've done my job."

Several fans at his website have done just that, saying they're inspired to new efforts and now looking into local office.