Francis Wendt

Francis Wendt
Courtesy of Francis Wendt
Region 1 Alternate Libertarian National Committee with Richard Longstreth
December 2019—present
Predecessor:	Johnny Adams
Secretary Libertarian Party of Gallatin Valley
April 2018—April 2020
Predecessor:	Raymond Porter
Successor:	Current
Chair Montana Libertarian Party
April 2018—July 2019
Predecessor:	Michael Fucci
Successor:	Sid Daoud
Personal Details
Birth:	(1981-12-20) December 20, 1981 Great Falls, Montana
Education:	Montana State University
Military:	U.S. Air Force, Montana Army National Guard
Occupation:	Finance & Customer Service
Residence:	Bozeman, Montana
Party:	Libertarian Party
Media
Website:	https://franciswendt.com
Facebook:	Facebook
Twitter:	[@franciswendt Twitter]
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Francis Vernon Wendt (born December 20, 1981) is an American soldier and politician in Bozeman, Montana. He is a former Chair of the Montana Libertarian Party and was instrumental in the re-organization of that affiliate along with Michael Fucci following the death of Mike Fellows. He is the current Region 1 Alternate on the LNC.

Early life and Education

Francis Wendt was born on December 20, 1981, in Great Falls, Montana, the 14th child of Vernon Joseph Wendt , a U.S. Air Force Veteran of the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and Kathyrn Rae Nyman-Wendt, a performing artist. Wendt enlisted in the United States Air Force following his graduation from Great Falls High School, and received training as an Aircraft Armament Apprentice at Shepherd AFB, TX in 2000. During his service in the Air Force he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. After his initial enlistment, he settled in Bozeman to attend Montana State Univeristy. He briefly studied Electrical Engineering, but eventually perused his education in Business and Economics. As a non-traditional student, his studies were prolonged due to financing, and He has yet to complete a B.S. in Business Management with a minor in Economics. He has held a multitude of service and finance related positions honing his skills in management and business. In 2011 Wendt reenlisted in the Montana Army National Guard as a supply specialist. He was activated in 2013 and again in 2017 by the governor of Montana for support and suppression of wildfires in Lolo, Montana.

Political Career

Wendt was drawn to Libertarian activism in 2012 as a supporter of Gary Johnson. His studies in economics, the poverty of his childhood, and his dedication to the founding principles of the United States together led him to embrace the The Libertarian Party. In 2016 He furthered his involvement by running for Montana House District 61's open seat. Wendt achieved 4% of the votes loosing to Jim Hamilton (D) who received 55% and defeated Neal Ganser (R) who received 41%. During that run he assumed the role of State Director for the 2016 Johnson/Weld Presidential campaign. This introduced him to such people as Michael Fucci and Cindy Dyson, and led the way for the restructuring of the Montana Libertarian Party following the death of long-time chair and liberty activist Mike Fellows.

In 2017 he served as the interim chair of the Libertarian Party of Gallatin Valley during its initial organization. LPGV drafted bylaws and elected a small group of dedicated officers to help lead Montana in a new direction. Wendt supported Mark Wicks during the 2017 Special Election for Montana's lone congressional seat. He currently serves as the Secretary of LPGV.

In May of 2017 following the resignation of Ron Vandevender as the MTLP Chair several vacancies occurred on the MTLP Executive Board. Wendt was appointed to serve as Assistant Treasurer of the state party. On September 9, 2017 the MTLP Central Committee convened in Bozeman, MT to approve new bylaws and confirm officer appointments. Wendt was elected by acclimation to Treasurer of the MTLP during these proceedings to succeed Michael Fucci who was elected to serve as Chair. In April of 2018 Fucci resigned as chair of the MTLP and Wendt was subsequently appointed by the Executive Board to serve the remainder of Fucci's term.

Wendt presided at the 2018 MTLP Delegate Convention on May 19th in Butte, Montana where he delivered his "Lands and Liberty" speech.

Wendt challenged incumbent Jedediah Hinkle (R) for Montana State Senate District 32 in 2018 losing to challenger Pat Flowers (D) who received 50% of the votes to Hinkle's 47% and Wendt's 3%.

Wendt presided at the 2019 MTLP officer convention held on July 13. Wendt authored two amendments to the MTLP Blyaws simplifying county affiliation and restructuring the Executive Board. Both were unanimously approved (one with amendments) by the members of the MTLP Central Committee. Wendt declined the nomination to continue as chair of the state party due to personal and professional conflicts that would detract from his performance of the elected duties. Sid Daoud was elected unanimously to succeed him as the chair of the Montana Libertarian Party. At that convention the Central Committee elected him to serve on the MTLP Judicial Committee, which subsequently elected him chair.