Apocalypse 2001 — The LNC Passes Motions.

Several minor amendments were then accepted as friendly amendments or passed: Dixon moved to add “or any business controlled or owned by him” after ‘Perry Willis’ in the fifth paragraph. Dixon then moved to amend the fifth paragraph, increasing the specified time period from two years to five years, thereby extending the ban to include a Presidential election cycle. The amendment passed on a voice vote. Givot provided an amendment, accepted as friendly, to remove “on April 21, 2001”. He noted that he was not aware of Famularo’s document until after the April meeting ended.

Gaztanaga said he agreed with Dehn, and moved to strike the third paragraph. Scherrey seconded. After a debate that largely does not appear to speak to the question of whether or not additional information had been presented, the amendment passed. Dehn, who originally objected to the paragraph in question, abstained. The debate did establish that most LNC members had reviewed in detail the timeline presented at the lp2000 web site by John Famularo.

Dixon then offered an amended motion, replacing the two paragraph series opening ‘We also resolve that…’ with two new paragraphs reading:

“We also resolve that neither the Libertarian National Committee nor the National Director shall engage Perry Willis or any business owned or controlled by him (collectively “Willis organizations”) directly as either an employee or a contractor for a minimum period of five (5) years. Willis organizations may not directly advertise in LP News and/or rent the Libertarian national mailing list during such time period.

“We further resolve that organizations (other than Willis organizations) with which Willis organizations may be affiliated or act as campaign manager may only purchase advertising in LP News and/or rent the Libertarian national mailing list subject to the terms and conditions required in the LNC policy manual for external customers.”

On being questioned, Dixon specified that the LNC would decide which organizations were ‘Willis Organizations’, but that Presidential Campaigns run by Willis would be treated as ‘Willis Organizations’. Dixon’s amendment passed on a voice vote, Dehn again specifying that he was abstaining.

The Committee then took a recess. Following the recess, Scherrey moved a substitute resolution:

“Whereas, Perry Willis had agreed, as part of his continued employment consideration as National Director and, in accordance with LNC policy, to no longer work on behalf of individual pre-nomination candidates for public office;

“Whereas, Mr. Willis has for several years thereafter denied, and knowingly allowed others to deny on his behalf, performing such prohibited work;

“Whereas, upon confrontation with evidence presented by John Famularo, Mr. Willis has since admitted to having continued to perform such prohibited work which he has hereunto been denied; and

“Resolved, that said actions and allowance of actions have caused great damage to the integrity and credibility of the Libertarian Party, and the Libertarian National Committee, and those individuals who, upon his bad faith assurance, made honest efforts to defend his person against such accusations;

“Resolved, that said actions are just grounds for termination for cause, and are a violation of the LP prohibition of initiation of use of force through fraud which Mr. Willis has affirmed as part of his membership in the LP;

“Order, that Perry Willis is hereby CENSURED by this Libertarian National Committee for said violations and betrayals; and

Order, that the Libertarian Party immediately cease, and further prohibit entering into relationships with, the utilization of Libertarian Party assets for, and further associations or transactions with Mr. Willis, and organizations where Mr. Willis has significant governance of and/or financial interest.”

Givot seconded.

The Committee then discusses the merits of the substitute motion. According to the Minutes, “Scherrey said that he believes that the sense of the body is that the motion currently on the floor is inadequate and that subsequent attempts to amend it fall short of what is needed.” Israel opposed the motion on the grounds that it went ‘far in excess of the precedents set in the Cisewski matter.’ He urged that ‘the LNC should use the Cisewski matter as a precedent’. Givot disagreed, saying that ‘Willis was in the highest position of trust’, that Willis ‘abused that position of trust’ and that he ‘permitted others to defend him when he knew he was, in fact, guilty.’ Gaztanaga is cited in the minutes as saying that ‘from what he has observed, there seem to be one or two individuals in the party who seem to have a “birthright” to earn a living from the party.’ Gaztanaga felt that Scherrey’s substitute motion addressed the issue, which does not refer to current LP employees.

Don Gorman, present as a candidate for election to the LNC, warned that ‘there are people leaving the party because of this matter.’ He proposed a panel of inquiry be established, to consist of one pro-Willis person, one anti-Willis person, and a hired outside professional mediator or arbitrator. The panel was to review facts and recommend actions.

The motion failed 8-8, with Dehn, Gaztanaga, Givot, Hoch, Kaneshiki, Milsted, Scherrey, and Turney in favor, and Bisson, Dixon, Israel, Karlan, Lieberman, Martin, Nelson, and Rutherford against. Lark abstained. Under Roberts’ Rules of Order, Lark’s abstention was equivalent to a “No” because it caused the motion to be defeated.

More motions were forthcoming.