MO Libertarian Party Seeks to Gain Statue of Liberty Ballot Symbol

Greg Tlapek, Executive Director of the MO Libertarian Party, has filed papers with the Secretary of State for the Libertarian Party to use a stylized bust of the Statue of Liberty as its ballot symbol. The symbol replaces "Libby Belle", our Missouri mule, which had served while Missouri Democrats used their "Goddess of Liberty" as their symbol.

State statutes prohibit parties from using symbols deceptively similar to those used by others. When the Libertarian Party gained state ballot access in 1993, the Democrats, having claimed since 1922 their "Goddess of Liberty", forced the Libertarians to find an alternative ballot symbol.

Phil Horras of Springfield who was involved in choosing Libby Belle noted, "the Democrats stole our Liberty, so we pinched their ass".

In 2004, the Democrats are switching to the donkey as their ballot symbol. While this affords Libertarians a chance to contest that move in as much as the Libertarians have been using Libby Belle, the consensus of the Executive Committee and others registering their opinions on the matter was to move to Lady Liberty as soon as possible.

With no Executive Committee meeting in December, state chair Bob Sullentrup polled the Executive Committee and other active Libertarians across the state via e-mail. The responses indicated 32 in favor and none opposed.

"I don't know if we can still have Lady Liberty for the February 3 presidential preference primary election, but we certainly should be able to do so in subsequent elections".

Should the Secretary of State deny the Party's petition to change its ballot symbol, the Party could respond by filing suit against the Democrats who have horned in on Libby Belle.

Libby Belle