Larry Gillis
| Laurence "Larry" Gillis | |
 | |
| Personal Details | |
| Birth: | June 1942 Revere MA |
| Education: | Phillips Academy ("Andover") |
| Military: | Commanding Officer, 437th Military Police Company, USACOMZEUR, (Orleans, France) |
| Occupation: | retired attorney; presently Adjunct Professor of Legal Studies (University of Maryland Global Campus) |
| Residence: | Cape Coral, FL |
| Party: | Libertarian Party |
| Facebook: | [facebook.com/laurence.gillis Facebook] |
Laurence "Larry" Gillis is a lawyer, professor, Libertarian activist, and a candidate running for State Representative in Cape Coral, Florida's District 79. With a background in law, military service, and education, Gillis is committed to advocating for individual liberty and limited government intervention. His proposed Constitutional amendment seeks to fundamentally change legal interpretations related to government actions by instating a presumption against governmental involvement.
Early Life and Education
Gillis was born in June 1942 in Revere, Massachusetts. He received his education at Phillips Academy (Andover), Harvard College, and Boston University school of law.
Military Service
Gillis served as Captain in the United States Army, commanding the 437th Military Police Company stationed in Orleans, France.
Legal Career
Gillis has a rich and varied legal career, primarily as a criminal lawyer in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, spanning over 30 years. He also held the position of Chair of the NH House Appropriations Subcommittee on Justice during his tenure as a State Representative. In addition to his criminal law practice, Gillis served as Concord City Prosecutor and as an Assistant County Attorney. He was a member of the Board of Governors of the NH Bar Association. He wrote numerous editorials for the (Manchester) Union Leader and the NH Bar News on legal topics, especially on criminal justice reforms. He joined the editorial board of the Fort Myers News-Press shortly after moving to Florida, having previously served as a member of the editorial board of the Portsmouth Herald (NH).
Academic Career
In his pursuit of academic excellence, Gillis transitioned from law to an academic career, teaching legal studies courses. For the past 15 years, he has been an Adjunct Professor of Legal Studies at the University of Maryland Global Campus, where he imparts his legal knowledge to students.
Libertarian Activism
Gillis is a committed Libertarian activist with an impressive record of service within the party. He has held various Libertarian Party positions, including Vice-Chair of the Libertarian Party of Lee County, Region 12 Representative to the Libertarian Party of Florida Executive Committee, Chair of the Libertarian Party of Florida Legislative Affairs Committee, and Director-at-Large for the Libertarian Party of Florida. He also served as a delegate at Libertarian Party of Florida conventions from 2017 to 2019 and as an Alternate Delegate at the Libertarian National Convention in 2020. In the 2020 presidential election, Gillis served as an LPF Presidential Elector. Gillis' many letters to the editor have been published over the years in all of the local print media, typically with direct quotations from the LP national or Florida platforms.
Proposed Constitutional Amendment
One of the central aspects of Gillis's campaign is his proposed Constitutional amendment. He advocates for a legal presumption that government action is neither required nor desirable at any level of government." This amendment, if enacted, would apply to the Florida State Constitution, all statutes, directives, ordinances, and administrative regulations, with courts directed to apply this rule to legislative enactments. Gillis believes that this amendment is crucial in reducing government intervention and increasing personal freedom.
Personal Life
Gillis and his wife relocated from seacoast New Hampshire to Cape Coral, Florida, specifically the Sands Boulevard area, in 2008.