While I’ve been Libertarian in philosophy since I was even aware of politics, I was not involved in party politics until I moved to northern California, so no, I did not get to participate in the Arizona parties. I lived only a few miles from David Nolan in Tucson, and I had no idea. I only found that out last year at the LSLA convention in Vegas.

I was involved with the San Francisco party when I lived up there, although before too long, I was getting involved with the campaign and was focused primarily on that. I became more involved in the state party during that period, as well. When I moved to southern California, I became very heavily involved in both the state party and in the local party in San Bernardino.

I’ll answer your other questions first, then come back to my service in the county party because that’s complicated.

As to volunteer posts? Even apart from activism on various issues, the single biggest and most obvious example I can offer is the Shakespeare Theatre Troupe. It was entirely volunteer, funded at first from my own pocket with some donations from the kids and their parents. My philosophy was that I wanted any child who wanted to participate to be able to, regardless of finances, and that we would let our audiences to finance the company by buying tickets to the shows. It worked very well. We rolled the proceeds of one show into the next, which allowed us better costumes, better sets, better venues.

Again, this ended when I moved to CA, and I’ve actually been thinking of starting such another theatre troupe here because it was so successful. I’m also looking forward to directing Cymbeline again because it rocked. But I digress…

I understand your asking about my finances, and I am not offended. Let me assure you, my pockets are deep enough. Since this is a public site, I’m hesitant to lay out my financials in detail, but let’s just say we were a Microsoft family in the 90s, and I have a fair number of investments. I have enough money to travel, and my son is grown, so homeschooling is no longer a consideration.

As to Starr’s “donations,” as I said, I do have money, but I also have very good people skills and a good hand with fundraising. I should be fine.

Here’s the thing. I know that my one issue in running — and yes, I admit it could be seen as a weakness — is that I’ve not been visible in the party as long as a lot of other people. I’ve not been part of the status quo, and I’m not one of the fixtures yet. Some, however, see that as a strength. I’m not steeped in the old ways and the old rules and the old way of thinking, and I’m not beholden to this faction or that faction. I’m still fresh, still enthusiastic, still idealistic, but with a healthy dose of realism that can only come from real-world business experience.

My whole business is, was and always has been innovation and problem solving. You don’t solve problems by throwing the same broken big-party solutions at them over and over til they stick. You have to find new solutions and make new friends.

As to candidates not replying, well… the more we say, the more we give people to kibbitz, and the advice everyone gives is, DON’T ANSWER! So I may be shooting myself in the foot to be so forthcoming. But honestly, I’d rather you make your decision based on something other than my smile hehe. So I want you to know what you’re voting for or NOT voting for, as the case may be. I trust people to take my answers in the spirit in which I offer them, in a spirit of honesty and disclosure. If they want to find something to crucify me with, well, that’s on them.

Okay, so let’s talk county party. You may be aware of the drama in the San Bernardino County party. That drama’s been ongoing for a while. It’s difficult to get into my time as treasurer without getting into some of that, and I’d rather not. Suffice it to say, I resigned my position as treasurer partway through my term over a matter of principle, a violation of the party by-laws to push another officer’s personal agenda, in direct conflict with the vote of the body, which bypassed myself and the chair, and that same officer’s patent refusal to comply with my requests for receipts in order to do the books properly. Between that and the fact that the prior officers could not manage to get my name or the name of the chair on the chequebook, there was nothing I could do short of resigning and bringing it to the attention of the membership, which I did.

I’ve never resigned from any post like this in my life, nor would I be inclined to. But this was a hopeless situation, and as more information about this individual has come to light, I do not regret that decision. During my tenure as treasurer, however, I did oversee a successful joint fundraiser between the state and county parties, and the party was comfortably in the black.

I’ve since changed my party affiliation to a different county party (the state by-laws allow this) and am working with members of that party to create a law enforcement liaison position to help coordinate with local law enforcement so we can avoid misunderstandings and potential dangerous conflicts. Their chair, Gene Trosper, has endorsed me for national vice chair.

If you’re interested in more information about my time with San Bernardino, I’d be willing to discuss it offline, not to protect myself — hell, I resigned, I have nothing to try to protect in that regard — but because I’d rather not allow my campaign to be tainted by the drama of what’s going on there which has spread all the way to national. I appreciate your understanding.

Thanks for asking these questions.

~~ Carolyn

A short version of the story behind that film: Rob, the director, was under contractual obligation to finish this film, but the original producer had left, apparently taking the remainder of the budget with her. There was literally NO money left and a whole lot of film yet to make. So I took over as producer, and we had to get very creative in order to finish the film in any way we could to keep the executive producer from having grounds to sue.

It’s not a good film. I’ll be the first to admit it. But the fact that it exists at all and that Canyon Pictures still exists, such as it is, is a testament to my ability to salvage otherwise financially destroyed projects, make something out of nothing and meet contractual obligations.

Hopefully that helps.

NASCAR, I’m posting my reply to your message now. The page was broken last night when I tried to post.

~~ Carolyn

“In 2003, she produced and edited an internationally distributed independent film with English director Rob Walker.”

http://badmovieyear.blogspot.com/2007/05/bad-movie-day-47-border-warz.html

Please tell me about your experiences as treasurer and who from the Tucson Party endorses you? It is party leadership experience that is important to me.

I think that working with local Libertarians is a far stronger test than owning your own business. Business is pretty straight forward in comparison to what I have seen from politics.

I want to hear about your experiences staying at a volunteer post, spending your own money and working with difficult personalities on a team you did not create, especially the sorts of personalities that third parties draw.

Being a treasurer can be a lot of pressure even in a small rural group. There is a lot of responsibility there. Tell me about your successes there. Were you in on some of the R3volution activity there?

Also, forgive me asking. It is none of my business really; but how would you afford the travel costs that NatCom VC would incur as a home-school mom?

We have seen LNC members take on more than they realized and drop out. That’s how some of those people we have now got there. They couldn’t get elected or chosen from their own region, so their friends drove up the cost of being an elected Rep and knocked good people out. Do you have the means to take on all the travel and incidentals… not to mentions Mr. Starr’s requisite donations from officers and reps?

Thank you for responding. It is very good of you to come out and post. Not even Root is doing that.

~~ Carolyn

Fiduciary responsibilities: As I said above, I was CEO of my own company at age 21, and it was a profitable company if small. I only dissolved it because I got a better offer, frankly. I do know how to run a business, and I do know how to put together financial statements. As vice chair, of course, being able to create financials is less of a requirement than being able to read and understand them, but knowing how they go together means I’m better able to read between the lines and ask questions. This is something we need at the national level.

I listed some of my early endorsements from members of the party in my announcement, including Less Antman, Angela Keaton and David Nolan, among others. I’ve worked closely with Angela in particular on many occasions, but the other endorsements I’ve received have been based on what I’ve said and done within the party, my ideas for moving the party forward and my ability to bring people together who might otherwise find it hard to cooperate.

My directorial experience is not just with children but with professional actors. I’ve heard it said that guiding Libertarians is like herding wet cats. The same can be said of both actors and engineers, and I’ve successfully guided both to success.

Hopefully this helps you get to know me a little better. If you have any other questions, I’d be happy to answer them. If you’d rather ask me privately, my email is cmarbry at gmail dot com.

~~ Carolyn

One thing I’d add, for those who are concerned about my relative youth in the party: Root is very new to the party, yet he ran for President and is now running for chair. Bob Barr was put on the LNC and later nominated as a Presidential candidate with far less time or experience within the party than I have now.

Leading children in reciting in pentameter may have some similarities to directing candidates and activists but…

I have been very disappointed by some of my votes at previous NatCons. To feel confident, would love to hear about her history in positions of authority or trust in party leadership.