Since 2004, Pat Dixon has demonstrated sound judgement on the LNC:

When I started my term on the LNC in July of 2006, we were well behind in accounts payable and we had a negative cash reserve. This condition was out of compliance with our policy and I made it a priority. I worked with LNC members in formulating goals for our term. I was the champion of putting us in compliance with our reserve policy. Today we have exceeded our reserve goal and are in much better financial condition. Our staff should be commended for this effort.

In the course of 4 years on the LNC there were several votes that required careful analysis and sound judgement. Below are some examples of my record on the LNC:

• I voted against striking public comments from the LNC meeting minutes. I felt that is was appropriate if the secretary wants to record these comments that this be done. I do not feel the secretary is obligated to record every utterance unless a written comment is submitted and the LNC requests it be added. At the time I saw no reason to change current practice. (Aug 19, 2006, Denver)
• I was the maker of the motion that achieving compliance with our reserve policy be the top priority for our 2 year LNC term. The motion did not pass. (Aug 19, 2006, Denver)
• However, the reserve policy goal was established as one of our goals at a subsequent meeting and I was named the champion of that effort (Nov 11, 2006, Alexandria)
• I voted in favor of simplifying the position description for the executive director. I am not a big believer in micro-management. You interview people for a job and pick someone that you can trust to provide benefit to the organization. If the person does not deliver as well for the price as someone else, you replace them. You do not create bureaucratic legislation to prevent them from making decisions. The motion passed. (Nov 11, 2006, Alexandria)
• I voted against considering all LNC emails confidential unless otherwise noted. There are times when a person intends to discuss something confidentially and I respect that. However I find the common way to handle this is to mark a confidential correspondence CONFIDENTIAL. My general rule is that my words are public unless otherwise noted. We should be open generally and closed by exception, not the other way around. This motion did not pass. (March 16, 2007, Orlando)
• Following the Orlando meeting, some members suggested a method for evaluating applicants for the platform committee. This was not a decision enforced by the LNC, but a method that individual LNC members could decide to use and inform applicants of. The method was to request an applicant to submit 3 sample platform planks. This was to demonstrate that they had a serious commitment to doing the work and we capable of drafting good platform language. I did make use of this technique and informed applicants to submit planks to me. Without this I have little basis to judge applicants. I find this to be a reasonable request.
• I voted against removing from the agenda a discussion of the policy for rental of the LP mailing list for presidential candidates. The item was requested to be included on the agenda prior to the meeting and I think as long as we have time on the agenda we should discuss such matters. We travel a long distance to attend these meetings and we do not want to defer business that we are prepared to discuss. The motion to remove this agenda item passed. (July 21, 2007, Pittsburgh)
• I voted in favor of eliminating the Advertising and Publications Review committee. This committee had existed in the past and was reinstated after the "Iraq Exit Strategy" was placed on the LP website. I understand the need for ensuring that our publications are consistent with our principles. However I do not think micro-management guarantees this will not happen, and it hampers the ability for the LP to be responsive when we have an opportunity to promote ourselves. If you hire good people and let them do their job, you do not need to micro-manage. If they publish things that are inconsistent with our principles, you let them know about it, and if they persist you find a replacement. The motion to eliminate the committee passed (Dec 8, 2007, Charleston)
• In perhaps the most controversial decision during this LNC term, I joined my colleagues in approving a resolution to invite Ron Paul to seek the Libertarian nomination, as well as authorizing Ballot Base to be made available to the Ron Paul campaign in New Hampshire. I was not in favor of the original wording of the resolution because I did not feel it respected the other candidates seeking the nomination of the party. I worked with my fellow LNC members to amend the language to include "Whereas the Libertarian National Committee encourages competition for the Libertarian Party's presidential nomination and is appreciative of all candidates who make the commitment to run." On BallotBase, I felt that if we were able to prospect members to the LP by influencing the outcome of a Republican primary, I can support that. I understand the concern of making a resource available to a candidate of another party, but such action would not damage our nomination process. (Dec 8, 2007, Charleston)
• I voted in favor of a resolution to call for an end to the war in Iraq. The original language called for a withdrawal without delay or preconditions. I value to opinion of my fellow LNC members who suggested amending this language. Some members that that such resolutions were not the business of the LNC, but I find it entirely appropriate for the LNC to consider public statements that we can convey through our staff. (Feb 17, 2008, Las Vegas)
• I voted in favor of request a member to resign from the platform committee. There are people that I personally respect on both sides of this issue. The individual was an active member in the administration of the state Republican party in Florida while serving on the platform committee. In the end it seemed that such a situation is a bit over the line, allowing someone to play both sides of the fence. The motion passed. (Feb 17, 2008)
• I worked with Dr Jim Lark to get the LNC to go through a goal setting process so that we focus on achievement. The LNC did not support this effort. This is something you need to address as a delegate to the national convention. (2008-2010 term)
• I worked with Dr Mary Ruwart and others to persuade the LNC to hire Wes Benedict as our executive director (2008-2010 term)

For more details on my record on the LNC, read the meeting minutes on the LP archives pages at www.LP.org/organization/archives.shtml