bylaws

May 1, 1982.The Libertarian Party of Montgomery County, Texas was founded May 1, 1982 in Conroe, Texas around a card table in Ron Hard's yard. Present at the membership meeting were Ron and Linda Hard, Bob and Donna Merzi, Martin Sorrels, Bob McConnel, Audie Hicks, Joe Doe and Abel Pricolo.

Over the years Ron ran for various political offices. In the late eighties activities waned, however, and the Montgomery County Party became inactive.

1992. Ken Gaillot Jr. reactivated the LPMC. Ken is a Libertarian who served as Chair of the College Libertarians at Louisiana State University from 1987 until 1990, and coordinated precinct walking for Libertarian Michael Wolf's 1991 Louisiana State Senate campaign. He served as Chair of the Libertarian Party of Montgomery County, Texas from January 1992 to August 1994.

In 1992 Ken authored the following:
A Proposal for forming the Libertarian Party of Montgomery County, Texas
by Ken Gaillot Jr.
To achieve success at the national level, the Libertarian Party will need to prove its competence and viability at handling public policy. Name recognition and credibility at the state and local levels will help achieve this goal. Local affiliates of the Libertarian Party, therefore, are valuable not only for influencing public policy but also for building the case for libertarianism at the national level.
I propose the formation of the Libertarian Party of Montgomery County (LPMC), to be affiliated with the state and national LPs, to pursue the goals of name recognition, credibility and influence over local public policy.
To succeed, the LPMC will need a thorough knowledge of:
Media: the address, phone/fax numbers and advertising rates of all newspapers, magazines, cable companies and TV and radio stations serving the county.
Government: current officeholders, terms of office, geographical area covered, etc., of all elective offices in the county.
Community: list of all charitable, religious, social etc. groups in the county.
The libertarian movement: libertarian magazines and books dealing with issues of interest in the county, outreach materials available from libertarian organizations, etc.
The usefulness of such information is obvious. The LPMC will need to use the media for advertising and for coverage of any events sponsored. Knowledge of government offices will allow the LPMC to run viable campaigns and to identify officeholders who may be open to libertarian ideas. Voluntary groups in the community can be targeted by the LPMC for outreach, and may be parts of coalitions on specific issues. Access to libertarian resources will allow the LPMC to use strategies that have worked elsewhere and to support positions on specific issues.
Of course, to be successful the LPMC will also have to take an active role in promoting Libertarianism. Depending on the level of funding and volunteer activism, the LPMC could, for example:
Speak at local groups: representatives of the LPMC could speak to local high school civics classes and to the voluntary community groups mentioned before, either as an introduction to libertarianism or on specific issues.
Sponsor events: the LPMC could hold debates, candidate forums, seminars, parties, protests and so forth.
Advertise Libertarian ideas: the LPMC could run TV and radio commercials promoting the Libertarian Party or Libertarian viewpoints on specific issues. This would also include letters-to-the-editor for county newspapers.
Run political campaigns: winning elective office should be a major goal of the LPMC. Well-run campaigns and high-profile officeholders would go a long way to establishing the LP's credibility.
The goals of such actions include name recognition, outreach, fundraising and press coverage. Speeches and debates will give potential candidates speaking experience. Successful political campaigns will allow the LPMC to advance libertarianism directly.
There are many specific events that a newly-founded LPMC, with minimal funding and volunteerism, could sponsor. An affiliation ceremony (party) marking the formation of the LPMC could strengthen links between the LPMC and the Harris County and Texas LPs. LPMCers could write letters to the editor on various issues. The LPMC could also protest Tax Day, memorialize Tiananmen Square or speak to a civic group.
I have the experience necessary to get a libertarian organization off the ground. While attending Louisiana State University, I re-activated the College Libertarians at LSU, serving as president from 1987 to 1989 and as treasurer in 1990 and 1991. I organized many speeches, debates and outreach efforts for the College Libertarians. I also collected signatures to get Ron Paul on the Florida ballot in 1988, and coordinated precinct walking for a Libertarian campaign for the Louisiana State Senate in 1991. I moved to the Woodlands, Texas, in January 1992, and look forward to advancing liberty in Texas.

Ken's chronology:
September 1992. Libertarian Presidential candidate Andre Marrou speaks at Rice University in Houston. Montgomery County residents Ken and Lori Gaillot and Phil and Roxie Moser attend and decide to form a county chapter of the party. "Marrou pledges solutions" by Lori Gaillot appears in the September 27, 1992 Conroe Courier. Ken Gaillot writes a proposal to reactivate the LPMC.
October 1992. Ken Gaillot acts as Chair and Phil Moser as Vice Chair of the newly reactivated party. Ken Gaillot mails letter announcing formation to a mailing list provided by the state party. The official formation is held October 22, 1992 at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Conroe, with 1990 LP Texas gubernatorial candidate Jeff Daiell as the keynote speaker. Articles announcing and reporting the formation appear in the Courier.
January 1993. New members recruited by letter and at the party formation begin organizational meetings. Thomas Rush writes a letter to the editor published in the Conroe Courier encouraging people to contact the new party.
March 1993. The LPMC holds its first official public meeting at the Jade Restaurant in The Woodlands.
May 1993. Thomas Rush runs for Magnolia Independent School District Board of Trustees and wins 46% of the vote in a strong showing against the incumbent Board Chair. Don Richards writes a letter published in the Courier on Rick Draheim's Libertarian campaign for U.S. Senate.
July 1993. The LPMC participates in the Woodlands Independence Day parade. Ruble Scarborough drives the LP truck entry while the Mosers, Gaillots and Thomas Rush wave to the crowds. Ken Gaillot writes a letter published in the Courier on the Libertarian meaning of the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Rush begins his nationwide Not a Penny More campaign to cut the federal budget. An article on the campaign appears in the Courier.
October 1993. The LPMC sponsors a speech by motivational speaker Ed Chaffin at the South Montgomery County Community Center.
January 1994. The LPMC is the only organized opposition to a proposed half-cent sales tax increase in Conroe. The party sponsors a town meeting, stirring up local controversy and a strong response from the city administration. Six articles on the controversy appear in the Courier. The tax passes.
March 1994. Don Richards edits the first issue of the Libertarian Bulletin. Ruble Scarborough announces his campaign for Conroe city council. The LPMC holds its first precinct and county conventions, nominating Phil Moser for County Surveyor and James W. Wright for State Senate District 16.
May 1994. Ruble Scarborough runs for Conroe city council, winning 319 votes against incumbent Bobby Cantrell's 1,496. Thomas Rush runs again for Magnolia Independent School District Board, winning 190 votes (35%) against incumbent Mike Souriall.
August 1994. Ken and Lori Gaillot relocate from Texas to Florida. Thomas Rush is elected temporary Chair and Jim Vause Treasurer.

Subsequent chronology:

September 1994 Executive Committee is Thomas Rush Chair, Phil Moser Vice-Chair, Elizabeth Vause Secretary and Jim Vause Treasurer.
November 1994. Phil Moser loses bid for County Surveyor. James W. Wright loses bid for State Representative.
April 1996. Elected Executive Committee includes Ruble Scarborough Chair, Scott Gordon Vice-Chair, Don Richards Secretary and Gary Willis Treasurer. Talk-show host Rob Thorn is nominated for Congress District 8 following a lively contest with James Wright in a Party Convention held March 12.
Thorn sets out on a vigorous campaign against then State Rep. Kevin Brady, who had battled Dr. Gene Fontenot in the Republican Primary. Then three Federal judges pull the plug by arbitrary redistricting , effectively shutting out Thorn from getting a position on the ballot
April 1998 Ron Crickenberger, Executive Director of the national Libertarian Party, persuades Don Richards to run for Congress District 8 in a two-way race with Brady. Richards undergoes open-heart surgery in August and spends most of the campaign season in cardiac rehab. Campaigning is limited to three TV appearances, visits with local news media and a seminar with students at Montgomery Community College. Brady wins the November election with over 90 percent of the vote.
August 15 1999. Gil Guillory announces his candidacy for Congress District 8. In the November election the following year Brady wins again by over 90 percent of the vote.
September 2001. Following terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center differences arise within the CEC as to whether the US should go to war against Afghanistan or seek peaceful solutions. These differences led to the departure of Chair Gordon and Treasurer Willis, resulting in changes in the composition of the CEC. As a result the Committee is newly comprised of Chairman Tim Dove, Vice-chairman Ron Hard, Secretary Gil Guillory and Treasurer Judy Dove. Gil Guillory announces another run against Congress District 8 incumbent Brady and draws about 7 percent of the vote in a two-way race.
June 19, 2003. Citing other commitments, Chairman Tim Dove and Treasurer Judy Dove resign. In addition, Secretary Gil Guillory departs for the Mideast for engineering work involving the war in Iraq. As a result the County Party in emergency session invokes the ARTICLE IX, Vacancy and Succession provision of the Rules of the Libertarian Party of Montgomery County, Texas (Bylaws).

ARTICLE IX: VACANCY AND SUCCESSION
A. In the event of the temporary inability of the Chair to perform the Chair's duties, said duties shall devolve upon the Vice-Chair. If there is more than one Vice-Chair, then said duties shall devolve upon the Vice-Chair designated by the CEC.
B. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Chair, the Vice-Chair as defined in ARTICLE IX:A. shall serve as Chair until the next regular election of officers. In the event of vacancy of any other elected officer, the CEC may select any LPMC member to fill such vacancy until the next regular election of LPMC officers.

Consequently, the following CEC was established by unanimous vote: Chair, Ron Hard; Vice-Chair, Ross Stevenson; Secretary, Don Richards and Treasurer, Gary King.
March 2004. At the County Convention, the following are elected to the CEC: Chair, Gil Guillory, Vice-Chair: Ross Stevenson, Secretary, Jacqueline Stevenson and Treasurer, Ron Hard.
November 2004. In a three-way race for a vastly-redistricted Congress District 8, Libertarian Paul Hansen, a Marine serving in Iraq, receives 3,705 votes against incumbent Republican Kevin Brady (179,599 votes) and Democrat James Wright (77,324 votes). In the Texas State Representative District 15 race, Ross Stevenson draws 5,753 votes (9.24 percent) against winner Republican Rob Eissler's 56,445 votes (90.75 percent).

May, 2007. Current status of the LPMC CEC: Chair, Ross Stevenson; Vice-Chair, open; Secretary, Jacqueline Stevenson, Treasurer, Gil Guillory.