I still believe in many of the things Libertarians believe in; probably about 90% of their party platform.  But those beliefs coincide with about 80% of the Republican platform.  So does that make me a Republican or a Libertarian?  I know it makes me more of a Republican than at least three of our current five county commissioners.

 

This is because many of the things Republicans believe in are the very same things Libertarians believe in, too.

 

Freedom.  Liberty.  Smaller, more efficient government.  Low taxes.

 

Accountability.  Open and honest government.

 

I've always said that if Republican elected officials would simply act like Republicans claim they should, then there wouldn't be much need for a Libertarian Party.

 

But I am nothing if not a realist, too.  If I didn't believe our county desperately needed a commissioner with the attributes I bring to the table, I might have been content to run as a Libertarian, and let the chips fall where they may.  But 2004 was a very important election year, with a Presidential and U.S. Senate campaign in full swing.  People would have been coming out in droves to vote for these national positions, and no matter what people may think about a particular person, many people simply vote for the political party they best associate with.

 

Some people ask me what happened to my principles.  My principles are the same; principles are constant.  I am simply changing party labels.  Which are more important - principles or party?

 

Additionally, I was once a member of the Republican Party, so this is nothing new for me.

 

All that being said, I am proud to be able to represent the Republican Party as a Forsyth County Commissioner.  I know I won't get the quote right, but Thomas Jefferson once claimed he could never conceive of being in a political party where he agreed with their views all the time.  Who am I to disagree with such a great American?

 

Where I do disagree with any party platform, I will not be shy about speaking up about it.  If anyone asks me about where I might part ways with my Republican colleagues, I'll answer them truthfully.  From disagreement comes discussion; from discussion comes ideas; from ideas come solutions to problems.