Two elected Libertarians may have to file a lawsuit to get their proposed libertarian county charter on the ballot this November

LP News from www.lp.org
http://www.libertarian-party.com/lpn/9811-Loranger.html

Nov. 1998 - Jack and Lori Loranger -- both members of the Skamania County Freeholder board -- have contacted a non-profit legal group after county commissioners voted on September 14 to keep their "home rule" charter off the ballot. 

"We have engaged Northwest Legal Foundation to assist us," said Lori Loranger. "They sent a letter to the [county] auditor and commissioners, which has so far been ignored." 

The county commissioners voted to squash the charter, she speculated, because they didn't like the proposed libertarian-style county government, where citizens could propose laws, where there are no appointed offices, and where an oath of office is enforceable by contract law. 

Under Title 36 of Washington state law, counties are allowed to opt out of the usual state-mandated county government if voters endorse their own "home rule" charter. However, the "old boy" political network usually puts up a fight if citizens try to use this provision, noted Lori Loranger. 

"Nearly 20 years ago, when Clallam County went home rule, their Board of Commissioners tried grasping all kinds of flimsy legal straws to keep their charter off the ballot," she said. "Well, the people prevailed over the Old Boys there, and I have no doubt that they will again, here in Skamania County." 

The Lorangers -- who are the driving force behind the new charter -- have been working on it since 1994, when county voters decided to go the home rule route. 

The proposed charter would create a county government where: 

* There are no appointed offices; everyone in the executive and judicial branches would be elected by the people. 

* An oath of office is "a contract with the people." Any official who violates the oath is subject to the laws pertaining to contract violation. 

* There won't be a legislature. Instead, citizens will draft proposed laws. A county Judicial Committee will verify that the proposed law is in accordance with the county charter, state constitution, and U.S. Constitution. Then, the proposed law will be placed as a question on the ballot in the next general election -- and must receive a two-thirds super-majority to pass. 

The central premise behind the proposed county government is "that we each own ourselves, and therefore our property; that we must each therefore take responsibility for ourselves and our actions. The principle of minimum use of government force. The idea that common law should prevail over administrative law. The right to be left alone," said Lori Loranger. 

State LP leaders -- who have promoted the Lorangers' charter as "highly libertarian" -- criticized the slow-down tactics by the county commissioners. 

"In Skamania County, [under the proposed home-rule charter], legislative powers would be taken from the commissioners and revert back to the sovereign citizens," noted LP Executive Director Mike Hihn. "Technically, it remains to be seen whether this recapture of power is indeed the will of the people. The Lorangers are eager to find out. The commissioners are afraid to. That alone says a lot." 

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