Citizen Clark - Because Liberty is an American value

Auburn Plainsman article: "Incumbents hold ground"

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 16:39:41 -0600

By Ashley Hungerford
Assistant State & Local Editor
9 November 2006

The rainy weather on Election Day Tuesday didn’t stop voters in Lee County from going to the polls.

Of the registered voters in Lee County, 26,768 votes were cast at the polls. Lee County Probate Judge Bill English said there was a 37.7 percent turnout of registered voters, just below his 39.5 percent forecast.

English said he didn’t see the rain as a deterrent to voters. He said many voters rushed to the polls early to beat the rain. When the weather cleared up in the afternoon, he said there was still a steady stream at the polls.

As the results rolled in Tuesday night, it was clear Lee County voted many incumbents into another term.

Clark earns more votes per dollar spent than either Hubbard or Ellis

Wed, 08 Nov 2006 14:51:04 -0600

While Mike Hubbard won the AL House 79 election and Carolyn Ellis came in a not-too-close second, Dick Clark outperformed both of them by one important measure: most votes earned per campaign dollar spent.

Based on the most recent campaign finance filings, these are the standings for dollars spent per vote in the AL House 79 race:

*Dick Clark - $10.13/vote
*Mike Hubbard - $43.58/vote
*Carolyn Ellis - $69.46/vote

Thanks go out to all of the campaign's supporters, both those who volunteered their time and those who made their resources available to allow the campaign to reach as many citizens as possible with the message of liberty. Please continue to support the Libertarian Party of Alabama, the United States Libertarian Party, and the Auburn University Libertarians.

Clark interviewed on WANI 1400 AM's Auburn-Opelika This Morning

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 10:24:28 -0600

Listeners tuning in to WANI 1400 AM on Wednesday morning got a chance to hear about their Libertarian option in the AL House 79 race as the host of Auburn-Opelika This Morning interviewed Dick Clark.

Clark discussed his policy positions, including increasing restrictions on Eminent Domain takings and lowering taxes and state expenditures. He also discussed the basic tenets of the Libertarian political philosophy and how he came to be a Libertarian over the Summer of 2001.

If you missed the first airing of the interview, be sure to listen via the CitizenClark.com multimedia archive or tune in to WANI Thursday morning at 6:30am.

O-A News article: "Campaign 2006 candidate interview"

Tue, 31 Oct 2006 15:34:47 -0600

Dick Clark

Age: 25

Education: B.A. English (Technical & Professional Communications), minor in Philosophy, Auburn University, December 2004

Experience: Librarian, copy editor, archivist at local non-profit economics institute (2004-Present); Chairman, Libertarian Party of Alabama (2006-Present); Libertarian Candidate, Alabama Public Service Commission, Place 1 (2002); Co-founder, OnTarget Technologies (computer hard-ware and networking company; 1998-1999)

Q: Why should the citizens of our district vote for you?

People in Alabama's 79th district desire the ability to work hard and to reap the benefits of their labors. Supporting my candidacy means supporting a genuinely, drastically lower tax level and smaller government across the board. My constituents can count on me to be a tireless opponent of any state measure seeking to redistribute their hard-earned money through state bureaucracies. Our area is strong in education, strong in worker productivity, and has a generally rising standard of living. People in District 79 do not need the politicians in Montgomery telling them how to spend their money, and I will fight to ensure that the politicians don't get additional opportunities to do just that.

O-A News article: "Democrats, Libertarians tackle issues in debate"

Tue, 31 Oct 2006 15:31:59 -0600

Amy Weaver / Staff Writer
October 27, 2006

The political debate at Auburn University Thursday night between the College Democrats and College Libertarians started with an apology.

Brandon Costerison, campaign director for the Democrats, apologized for “not being able to offer a comprehensive debate” before the Nov. 7 election. Both the Libertarians and Democrats were unable to convince the College Republicans to participate.

Republican President Kristy Cottrell has said her group is against a three-party debate because the party felt the three-party debate last year didn’t run well, and the party didn’t feel an urgency to debate the Libertarians before the election when the Libertarians don’t have a candidate on a statewide ballot.

Auburn Plainsman article: "Forum allows candidates chance to be heard"

Thu, 19 Oct 2006 14:56:32 -0500

State & Local
By Trey Wood
Staff Writer

Tuesday night’s political candidate’s forum — sponsored by the Auburn League of Women’s Voters, the Opelika Chamber of Commerce and the Auburn Chamber of Commerce — allowed participating candidates the chance to speak directly to their constituents.

“We basically just wanted to provide a neutral forum in which candidates could convey to the public what their platforms are and give the public a chance to hear what they have to say,” said Lucy LaMar of the Opelika Chamber of Commerce.

The sections, which included vying candidates for the Lee County Board of Education, Lee County Commissions, the Alabama House of Representatives and the Alabama Senate, were heated. Besides opening and closing statements, each participant was allowed one minute to answer each question.

Seven Questions from the Lee County Candidates Forum

Wed, 18 Oct 2006 14:39:24 -0500

At the 17 October Lee County Candidates Forum, Libertarian Candidate Dick Clark for AL House #79 joined other state legislative candidates on the stage to better inform Lee County citizens of their electoral choices this November. Each candidate was instructed to introduce him or herself, and then all of the candidates responded to a series of questions asked by Dr. Steven Brown of Auburn University's Political Science department. After the questions segment, each candidate then delivered one last appeal for votes before the legislative candidates portion of the event ended.

Listed below are the questions asked of the candidates followed by links to audio recordings of Clark's answers to each one. (Special thanks to Dr. Brown for providing the public with the exact wording of the questions.)

O-A News article: "Speaking their minds"

Wed, 18 Oct 2006 10:17:43 -0500

Jessica R. Elmore / Staff Writer
October 18, 2006

Dick Clark, the Libertarian candidate for Alabama House District 79, was the first candidate to draw an eruption of clapping from his supporters during Tuesday’s Lee County Candidate’s Forum at Opelika Middle School. Clark, who spoke very quickly during his three-minute pause-free introduction, informed the audience of his qualifications, constituent accessibility and possible office priorities—points each candidate was asked to address.

“I want to put my money where my mouth is and truly be a public servant,” Clark said.

An available parking spot was rare as approximately 150 people took a red seat in OMS’ auditorium on Denson Drive. Hosted by the League of Women Voters, the Auburn Chamber of Commerce and the Opelika Chamber of Commerce, the forum was facilitated by a man who says he always votes the person, not the party.

O-A News article: "Libertarians lacking permit told to leave Republican-sponsored voter event at AU"

Thu, 12 Oct 2006 15:52:11 -0500

Amy Weaver / Staff Writer
October 12, 2006

The controversy between student political organizations at Auburn University continued Tuesday night as the College Libertarians tried to participate in the Republican-sponsored nonpartisan voter registration concert on the lawn of Cater Hall.

Grace Toles said she and other members of the College Libertarians attended the event with the intention of registering voters for the upcoming election.

But once they began to assemble their table and campaign signs, they drew attention from members of the College Republicans and the Auburn Police Division.

Toles, president of the Libertarians, said because the lawn was riddled with signs for Republican candidates the Libertarians felt it was right to follow suit.

O-A News article: "College Democrats cite ethical reasons in pullout from debate"

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 13:34:01 -0500

Amy Weaver / Staff Writer
October 11, 2006

A debate scheduled for Tuesday between the College Republicans and College Democrats at Auburn University is not going to happen as planned.

Brandon Costerison, campaign director for the College Democrats, said his organization for ethical reasons has pulled out of what has become an exclusive two-party debate. He said the Democrats will take part only if the Republicans allow the College Libertarians to participate or agree to debate the Libertarians before the Nov. 7 election.

"The goal of our organization is to educate voters, and that cannot be done in the format of the debate that we had been forced into," said College Democrat President Jeffrey Ioimo.

Clark supporters, AU Libertarians threatened with arrest while attending Republican-sponsored Voter Registration Concert

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 23:39:22 -0500

Members of the Clark campaign, along with members of the Auburn University Libertarians attended the AU College Republican-sponsored "Non-Partisan Voter Registration Concert" in front of Auburn University's Cater Hall on the night of Tuesday, 10 October.

After setting up a table in a back corner of the Cater Lawn, members were approached by several individuals wearing AUCR name badges, who informed the Libertarians that they were not permitted to set up a table and some yard signs at the event which was already heavily laden with Hubbard, Riley, and Rogers signs. Clark, AUL President Grace Toles, and others protested, arguing that the event had been promoted through the Student Government Association as "non-partisan."

Clark campaign radio ads to begin airing

Thu, 05 Oct 2006 11:16:38 -0500

The Dick Clark campaign has just completed final versions of two 60-second radio advertisements that will begin running on local radio stations Monday, 9 October.

The advertisements remind voters that "a vote for Clark is a vote for lower taxes, property rights, and traditional American values," and encourage citizens to "send a message on November 7th—Cast your vote for Libertarian Dick Clark, Alabama House District 79."

The three stations that will feature the ads include 99.9FM "The Rock," 1230AM WAUD, and 93.9FM "The Eagle".

Auburn Plainsman investigates Closed Campus Debate controversy

Thu, 28 Sep 2006 15:54:23 -0500

In the 28 September 2006 edition of the Auburn Plainsman, readers were again informed about the debate controversy on Auburn University's campus. A front page article details the latest developments, and, in addition, an editorial written by a former AU College Democrat president decries the Republicans and Democrats alike for what the writer describes as "pride," "fear," and "timidity" that resulted in their refusing to allow the Auburn University Libertarians to participate in a 17 October debate.

First, in "Libertarians announce separate debate for Oct. 26," reporter Sarah Brock reports the fact that the AU Libertarians, after being excluded from the College-Republican-sponsored closed campus debate on 17 October, have arranged to sponsor an alternative, "open" debate to which all three active political organizations on campus—Democrats, Republicans, and Libertarians—have been invited. The open debate will also feature a non-partisan moderator, Dr. Steve Brown of the AU Political Science department, and will feature both party-to-party questions and questions from the audience.

Auburn Villager fills 2/3 of front page with local libertarian news

Mon, 25 Sep 2006 13:43:53 -0500

In what can only be described as yet another advance for libertarians in Auburn, the 21 September edition of the Auburn Villager dedicated approximately two-thirds of its front page to covering local partisan and non-partisan libertarian efforts.

In the first article, "Libertarians fight for recognition, ballot access," Villager reporter Jennifer Foster reports on past and present political efforts by local members of the Libertarian Party of Alabama and the Auburn University Libertarians, including Dick Clark and John Sophocleus. Foster notes that Lee County is home to a very active libertarian population, as is reflected by the fact that the only partisan Libertarian on ballots in Alabama this year will be AL House 79 candidate Dick Clark.

AUL Secretary Russell Biser and Clark discuss campus debate, minimum wage on Inside Auburn Politics

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 13:17:23 -0500

On Tuesday, 19 September, Lane Powell, host of WAUD AM 1230's lunchtime political show Inside Auburn Politics, interviewed Auburn University Libertarians Secretary (now Vice-President) Russell Biser and AL House 79 candidate Dick Clark. Topics discussed included the campus debate controversy, ballot access laws, the minimum wage, and more.

Host Lane Powell and producer/engineer Mark David Sawyer both expressed surprise at the Republicans' exclusion of the Libertarians from the fall debate, with Powell stating that the Libertarian Party,