The LNC met. The treasurer reported on June finances, which were, in what appeared to be his words, catastrophic. Income was $54,000. Outgo was $320,000. The cash balance fell by $266,000.
The LNC voted to increase the legal budget, by $80,000, with $40,000 going to pay past LPNM legal bills and mediation expenses and $40,000 for litigation expenses against the former National Chair.
There was a secret report from the Convention Oversight Committee. Only the LNC has seen it. The convention apparently lost $119,000. COC Chair Pat Ford apologized for the outcome.
LNC Member Bill Redpath called for abolishing midterm conventions. Just think, now you will need to wait four years rather than two to replace unsatisfactory LNC members.
By vote of the LNC, Regional Representative Austin Martin was removed from the meeting for being disruptive.
Wow, the convention lost a huge chunk of the money misappropriated from the HQ donors. How long before the rest is gone? Thinking back to the very successful 1996 convention, also a four day event with the addition of picking a presidential candidate, the contrast is pretty stark. That one was negotiated with a hotel that could fill its entire space with July 4th tourists (it was only four blocks from the Mall festivities) and wasn’t in real need of accommodating the LP attendees. Yet room fees and attendee packages were reasonable in the end. The LNC chose to let private contractors handle the convention (protection from possible losses) after bidding . The lavish 25th Anniversary banquet featured an orchestra and privately labelled wine on all the tables. The LP fundraiser more than covered their share of the convention expenses. And the contractors reported clearing $100,000.
This LPNM case is a waste of time and money that could be used towards ballot access and candidates. LPNM’s offer to rejoin the party was as good at it gets and it’s beyond idiotic that we didn’t take that offer.
If money needs to be saved, instead of abolishing midterm conventions, have the midterm conventions via online videoconference. 4 years in between national conventions would be too long.
This would not be a problem if the party was in better shape.