Libertarian Party of Virginia Alleged Dissolution Controversy 2022

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This article summarizes the alleged dissolution incident perpetrated by seven members of the Libertarian Party of Virginia (LPVA) State Central Committee (SCC) which occurred during the September 11, 2022 SCC meeting, as well as its aftermath.

Timeline

• August 30, 2022 - Chair Holly Ward returns from a one month absence and calls a meeting of the LPVA SCC for September 11, 2022 at 7:00 PM
• September 11, 2022 at 7:00 PM - Meeting opens. During Secretary Celeste Garrett's report, she halts the report to put forward this motion (info) with no prior notice or mention of the motion in the agenda having been made. The motion is voted on, the vote result is 7-5-1. The Zoom call is turned off over strenuous objections. Draft meeting minutes are available here (info).
• September 11, 2022 by 9:00 PM - The LPVA Facebook page and Twitter page are deleted and the website is taken down by either the LPVA SCC members attempting to dissolved the party or their co-conspirators.
• September 12, 2022 - The remaining members of the Eighth Congressional District Committee vote to hold a meeting. At this meeting then-District At-Large Member Logan Hoy is elected as District Chair to fill the vacant position.
• September 12, 2022 - October 5, 2022 - LPVA members Jason Bruce and Paul Bracco, along with help from others, work to organize an agenda, petition, and convention venue to call a General State Convention under the rules of the LPVA Constitution (Art. V Sec. 7) (info).
• September 13, 2022 - Holly Ward files Articles of Dissolution (info) indicating that the nonstock corporation Libertarian Party of Virginia Inc. was dissolved by a vote of the members rather than a vote of the board. The original Articles of Incorporation (info) are added here for reference.
• September 13, 2022 - October 11, 2022 - Holly Ward provides multiple interviews to media outlets. She is characterized in multiple articles as the "former chair" or "ex-chair".
• September 15, 2022 - LNC Chair Angela McArdle, in response to a Point of Inquiry raised by Secretary Caryn Ann Harlos, confirms the continuing existence of the Libertarian Party of Virginia as an affiliate of the Libertarian Party.
• September 18, 2022 - Joe Enroughty is removed as Sixth Congressional District Chair by the district committee. Per the Sixth Congressional District bylaws District Vice-Chair David Maurice is automatically elevated to District Chair.
• September 21, 2022 - The LPVA Fifth Congressional District Facebook page announces the resignation of District Chair Brian Doss effective September 11, 2022. District Vice-Chair Derek Maddox is automatically elevated to District Chair.
• September 23, 2022 - The LPVA website is brought back online. This statement (info) is provided on the home page.
• October 5, 2022 - LPVA member and petition spokesperson Jason Bruce launches a website to solicit petitions to call a General State Convention on Saturday, December 3. The proposed agenda for the convention is available here (info).
• October 10, 2022 - An email (info) is sent to all members of the LPVA email list from petition spokesperson Jason Bruce including an explanation of the situation as well as requesting that members sign the convention petition.
• October 12, 2022 - LPVA member and petition spokesperson Jason Bruce submits over 80 member signatures to the LPVA SCC to call a General State Convention. Per the LPVA Constitution (info) signatures of twenty percent of the membership is required to call a General State Convention (Art. V Sec. 7). As of October 12, 2022 the LPVA membership rolls contained 306 active members, meaning 62 member signatures are required to call a General State Convention.
• October 16, 2022 - A video recording of the September 11, 2022 SCC meeting is published on the Libertarian Party of Virginia YouTube channel. An email to members is sent out (info) letting them know this new development.
• October 17, 2022 - The chat log (here (info)) for the September 11, 2022 SCC meeting is made available on LPedia.
• October 26, 2022 - The convention notice mailer (mailer contents (info)) is sent by petition spokesperson Jason Bruce.
• October 27, 2022 - The LNC publishes the convention call on lp.org.
• October 28, 2022 - Parliamentary opinions provided by Mr. Jonathan M. Jacobs, PRP-R, CPP are made available publicly. The first opinion (opinion contents (info)) covers the parliamentary procedure aspects of the alleged dissolution. The second opinion (opinion contents (info)) speaks to the Secretary's role specifically and the SCC's role more broadly in the process for calling a General State Convention under the rules set by the LPVA Constitution (info).
• November 3, 2022 - Per the LPVA Constitution (info), the last date for new members of the LPVA to join and be eligible to vote at convention. Lapsed members may become eligible to vote by renewing their membership up until the day of the convention provided their membership lapsed on or after January 3, 2022.
• November 3-10, 2022 - The convention mailer (info) is delivered to all current members of the LPVA.
• November 27, 2022 - A sample ballot (info) containing candidates for officer positions is made available by the convention organizers. Additional candidate nominations may be made from the convention floor.
• December 3, 2022 - The General Convention is held in Ruther Glen, VA. The proposed changes to the Constitution were passed with minor amendments. The elections of Chair and Secretary were rescinded and a new Chair (Jennifer Leatherbury), Vice Chair (Paul Bracco), and Secretary (Jason Bruce) were elected. Draft minutes are available here (info).
• December 18, 2022 - The new SCC meets for the first time following the December 3, 2022 General State Convention. The minutes from the September 11, 2022 SCC meeting (info) and the minutes from the December 3, 2022 General State Convention (info) are approved.
• January 3, 2023 - LPVA Chair Jennifer Leatherbury and Secretary Jason Bruce file Articles of Revocation of Dissolution (info). The Virginia State Corporation Commission once again recognizes the Libertarian Party of Virginia Inc. as an active corporation.
• August 24, 2023 - In compliance with Article VII of the LPVA Constitution (info), notice is sent by Jason Bruce to the LPVA SCC of his intention to make separate motions to expel Holly Ward, Celeste Garrett, Hannah Lawrence, Paul Kunberger, Brian Doss, Joe Enroughty, & Chris Frashure at a meeting to take place on September 24, 2023.
• September 24, 2023 - The separate motions to expel Holly Ward, Celeste Garrett, Hannah Lawrence, Paul Kunberger, Brian Doss, Joe Enroughty, & Chris Frashure all pass. The results for all seven motions is 15-0-0. Meeting minutes are available here (info).