My sources in the Watergate Building indicate another reason that might have motivated some people to want to dispense with the monthly filings. In the first two months of 2001, the National Party spent $80,000 more than it took in. LNC, Inc. then made accounting changes which yielded a one-time income stream that cancelled some of these losses. As Dasbach correctly noted, critics of the group running the Party had taken to examining FEC reports for interesting information. Plunging the Party into debt, so that at one point Party primary vendor Brick Mill went unpaid for more than 90 days, certainly qualified as an ‘interesting’ finding. The changes in filing frequency hid from critics of the Lark-Dasbach administration how Lark and Dasbach were running the Party.
In April 2001, National Party Treasurer Mark Tuniewicz announced that he would resign as Treasurer at 8 AM, April 21, the start of the next National Committee meeting. Tuniewicz announced that on that date he would also revoke his membership certification (“the pledge”) and cancel his life membership in the National Party. Tuniewicz had previously announced his resignation from the Massachusetts Libertarian Party state board. He had been a member of the National Party for 21 years, including six years as a member of the National Committee. Now he would be gone.
As of this writing, little of Tuniewicz’s promised explanation of his resignation has appeared. In the April 2002 Let Freedom Ring!, Tuniewicz discussed certain cultural issues within the Party as a difficulty.
Tuniewicz promised that he would not join another major party. In this, he differed from his 2000 opponent for National Treasurer. His opponent had been Nevada Libertarian Terry Savage. After the November 2000 general election, Savage defected to the Republicans. Savage was believe by many Tuniewicz supporters to be the de facto candidate of the Libertarian Party establishment—perhaps not with Savage’s knowledge or consent—because for reasons that remain unclear the establishment wanted to replace Tuniewicz.
So why did Tuniewicz resign? As Editor of Let Freedom Ring! I obtained from confidential sources a statement from Tuniewicz to the National Committee outlining several issues related to his resignation. I have confirmed with Mark Tuniewicz that the following is indeed what he said to the National Committee. Mark asked me not to quote one number until it could be verified exactly, and I have deleted that sentence from the following.
Addressing the National Director, Tuniewicz wrote the National Committee in April 2001:
“At the Executive Committee teleconference held in February of 2001, I let you know at the end of your Director’s report that I hadn’t been receiving my normal weekly financial information for at least the 3 weeks prior. You said you would check with Nick Dunbar as to the status and that you’d take care of it.
At March’s EC teleconference, I again pointed out that I STILL had yet to receive this reporting, now about 8 weeks behind. I expressed this in the context of our discussion regarding the new monthly reporting package that the EC was in the process of developing. You again cited the need to speak with Mr. Dunbar, and had no other explanation.
Steve, it’s April [2001], and I STILL haven’t received these simple, system-generated reports. In my opinion, there is just no excuse for this…It is simply outrageous! I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t attempt to pass off responsibility for this to others. You are responsible for insuring that this information is provided on a timely basis.
While I recently announced my resignation effective later this month, all of these events took place prior to that announcement. I plan on continuing my oversight responsibilities up until then, which obviously include review of financial information. You should also be aware that my inability to carry out my responsibilities as Treasurer due to this situation was one key factor in my recent decision to resign. I can’t do my job when you can’t (or won’t) provide me with the information I specifically and repeatedly request to do so.
For the Committee’s information, there have been MANY instances during my tenure as Treasurer when my weekly reporting has been 1, 2, or even 3 weeks late. This was repeatedly discussed by members of the executive committee under Mr. Bergland’s administration. [A sentence stating the large exact number of events is here snipped until its numbers have been verified. GP] There have also been repeated instances of our monthly financial information being provided very late to the LNC, and periods of many months on end when regular providing of monthly revenue and expense information to state chairs did not take place. This is a longstanding problem that Mr. Dasbach has been made aware of previously.
Steve, I’ve attempted to be understanding about those situations, which I consider to be sloppy and unprofessional at best, and incompetent at worst. I’ve been hesitant to raise this issue strongly in the past because of our friendship and close working relationship.
But this most recent string of events is, in my view, serious enough to easily be considered just cause for termination because of the clear inattention to an important job responsibility after repeated notifications to correct same.
I urge you to reconsider your position as National Director. LNC members, state chairs, and members are concerned, as am I.
Mark Tuniewicz
Treasurer
Libertarian National Committee, Inc.”
Be First to Comment