INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Given the morning of February 17, 2009, Columbia Club.
TIM MAGUIRE, Chairman of the Libertarian Party of Marion County
Good Morning. I am honored to stand here today, and announce what we believe represents a changing tide in politics and a historic event in Indianapolis.
My colleagues and I are joined by City County Councilor At-Large Ed Coleman to announce that he is the first elected official in Indianapolis to publicly identify with and join the Libertarian Party.
Ed and I were both candidates in 2007, campaigning for an At-Large seat on the City-County Council. While we may have been members of different parties at the time, I came to find that we were in agreement on matters of public policy more often than not. In 2007, riding the wave of outrage over arrogant politicians and out-of-control government spending, Ed was successful in his bid.
As a former candidate, and as the current county party chairman, I have spoken to many individuals from both the right and left who have come to understand that the libertarian philosophy is our society’s best hope for success. Democrats, Republicans, Independents – both voters and politicians alike are expressing disappointment with the old two parties, and voicing their support for libertarian solutions.
My friend Ed Angleton, who is now Vice-Chairman of our party, just two short years ago, considered himself to be a life-long Democrat. After watching his old party increase the property tax burden again and again, he felt compelled to stand up and support our campaign in 2007 and even ran for office last year as a Libertarian.
Very few politicians, however, have had the courage to stand up to the old ways, mostly fearing retaliation for daring to speak out against the elite and entrenched Republican and Democratic Party leaders. Ed Coleman had the courage to speak up and do what is right. I predict that his courage, vision and leadership will allow others to find their voice as well; and help others oppose failed status quo politics and find their way to the Libertarian Party.
So, on behalf of the Libertarian Party of Marion County, and in conjunction with the Libertarian Party of Indiana, it is my great honor to introduce to you Indianapolis’ first Libertarian City-County Councilman, Ed Coleman.
ED COLEMAN, Libertarian Indianapolis-Marion County City-County Councilman
As an At-Large member of the Indianapolis-Marion County City-County Council, I am announcing today that I have joined the Libertarian Party.
This is not a decision I take lightly, nor did I come to it without deep reflection. I have found that the direction of the Republican Party has changed, and it is not the same party I joined many years ago. Nor do I believe its current leaders truly represent the ideals that the party markets and advertises to voters.
Both of the old two parties have forgotten their ties to the common man, and instead focus on power and control as elitists. I am a common man, I campaigned for the common people, and I still represent the common people; the voters and taxpayers.
I have come to find that my politics are actually more aligned with the Libertarian Party than any other; a party that still allows free thought, a party where dissent is not necessarily a dirty word.
Both of the old parties endeavor to silence dissent. During the Council’s previous period of Democrat control, the majority’s powers were used to silence Republicans. Now, under Republican control, the Council majority abuses their power to weaken Democrat influence. Over the past year I have been criticized for votes I made in response to the concerns I heard from my constituents. As a leader I have spoken out again the secretive and expensive affairs of the Capital Improvement Board; but the old two parties want obedient followers, not leaders.
As I stated during my campaign, I support good, transparent, fiscally responsible proposals whether they originate from Republicans, Democrats or Libertarians. I will continue to work with representatives from the other two parties and hope they will feel free to approach me for support of anything that makes our city safer, more livable and prosperous. I am not beholden to any special interest, I am beholden only to the wonderful citizens of Marion County.
Like a surprising number of other libertarians, I am personally still a social conservative. I am proud of the Christian values that I hold but oppose using government to force my religious values on others or assume authority over things that should be the domain of the church. I am still the same person today as I was when I campaigned for office. The letter after my name may be changing, but if you wanted an advocate for the common person, an independent voice to challenge the status quo, then I am still your man.
I would also ask my fellow elected officials and anyone else that feels as I do, that the two-party system is broken, that maybe your party has left you or government’s focus is on the wrong things; to consider taking a stand and joining me.