Bob Sullentrup Named Secretary of Libertarian Party National Committee

Bob Sullentrup, who had announced March 7 his intention to seek the position of Secretary of the Libertarian National Committee (LNC), became the organization’s secretary a bit early on April 6 following the resignation of incumbent secretary Steve Givot of Chicago.

Bob Sullentrup, Missouri’s Libertarian Party Chair, will serve out the remaining eight weeks of Mr. Givot’s term and then seek election to a full two-year term at the Party's national convention in Atlanta the last week of May.

When asked at the time of his announcement what he expected to contribute as Secretary, he replied, "I expect to lead by example and to honor my word. The most valuable practice for an activist is to keep his commitments. I will start with my own commitment to meet the job's expectations, particularly in getting the meeting minutes produced and distributed within two weeks of our meetings, easily within the required month. My work products will be professional, timely, and complete. In so doing, the serious and substantial undertaking to which the LNC addresses itself, that of restoring Liberty to America, will have the professional services from that office that it deserves. I'll be especially attentive in LNC meetings to statements containing commitments expressing who is committing to doing what by what date. If we all keep our word and do what we say, we can build a party on that."

Bob Sullentrup recently distinguished himself as the author of a set of comprehensive reports from annual Libertarian Party state chairs conferences. The reports, produced in 2001 through 2004, document conference proceedings and have demonstrated his abilities while highlighting his dedication to Party service.

In all cases his contributions to these reports were substantially complete after four days. Official release of the documents typically occurred within 2-3 weeks after allowing for review and comment from other attendees.

The state chair's conference reports which serve as samples of his handiwork are available at http://www.stcharlesco.lpmo.org/SC/LSLA_Reports.htm.

Taking notice of his work, fellow state chairs urged Bob to seek the office. LNC member Mark Cenci of Maine noted, "Look at the terrific work he has done for the State Chairs Conferences. He takes the initiative and in his quiet way gets things accomplished. We need that."

After joining the Party in 1993 after the election of Bill Clinton, Bob formed the St. Charles County Libertarian Party Central Committee in August 1997 along with Mark Ballard and the late George Mussmann. His participation in party building commenced immediately and grew to encompass OPH outreach booths, tax day protests, county and state organizational meetings, a speakers bureau, newsletter production and distribution and website development. In addition, Bob organized the last five Missouri Libertarian Party conventions and recently produced a third of an 80-page manual documenting Missouri Libertarian Party operations.

In 1999 he was elected Missouri Party's vice chair and later succeeded Jim Givens as chair in March, 2001. In 2002 he became an alternate on the LNC to Mark Nelson, District 8 LNC representative.

In 2000 the Missouri Libertarian Party recognized his volunteer service bestowing him with its "Champion of Freedom" award.

The state chairs conferences launched by the national Party have spawned the Libertarian State Leadership Alliance (LSLA) as state organizations have assumed responsibility. In addition to having been the group's amanuensis (secretarial slave, a term called to his attention by former LNC Chair Jim Lark), Bob is a steering committee member and will have a significant part in organizing the next conference slated for St. Louis in January 2005.

With skills honed in his profession as a software web developer and project manager for Collaboratech, a consulting firm based in St. Louis, and with his track record of solid contribution to the Party, Bob has gained the endorsement of 20 state chairs, LNC members and a model from the Ladies of Liberty calendar before his announcement. The list includes former LNC chair Jim Lark, outgoing LNC Secretary Steve Givot as well as a host of state chairs, executive directors and Ms. November, Mary Ruwart.

When asked what motivates his devotion to the Party, he replied, "It is an enormous challenge for Libertarians to restore liberty to America and take our lives and prosperity back from the politicians and bureaucrats. To my mind, their work has kept generations of Americans in poverty and destroyed families. They have regulated health care into higher costs with less service. They coerced a bankrupt retirement system on Americans, and dumbed-down our children through inept government schools. But as my friends Mark Rutherford and Mark Schreiber from Indiana have said, although we are reluctant participants in the political process, our efforts are vital because the future of our country and the lives of generations to follow are at stake, and we owe it to ourselves and our children to keep doing all we can to undo the harm."

Mr. Sullentrup is a graduate of the University of Chicago with a BA in Mathematics and Masters of Business Administration. He lives with his wife, the former Diane Schroeder of Stevensville, MI, at his home in St. Charles, Missouri. They have two children.