Shane Cory

Party Platform 101: Libertarian leaders discuss writing a state platform with party founder David Nolan (near left) and Colorado chair Travis Nicks (near right).Henderson- The Libertarian Party, one of the United States’ longest-enduring and most pervasive third parties, held its annual leadership conference in Henderson this weekend at the Sunset Station Hotel & Casino.  The event drew party leaders and activists from around the country and featured training workshops on topics like filing with the Federal Elections Commission, planning a state convention and communicating with the media.

“It’s an opportunity to learn more about the trade, about raising money, about campaigning,” said Shane Cory, executive director of the national Libertarian Party, “the nuts and bolts of running a political party.”

With so many of the Libertarian faithful on hand, it was also an opportunity for Libertarian presidential candidate hopefuls to woo potential delegates to the party’s national convention in May.  Seven of the party’s fourteen announced candidates attended the conference and were scheduled to debate Saturday evening including Las Vegan Wayne Allyn Root, winner of the Missouri Libertarian straw poll, and George Phillies, winner of the unofficial Arizona Libertarian primary.