Libertarian Ferguson Flips to GOP, Supports Blunt

A top leader in Missouri's Libertarian Party has become a Republican and is supporting Congressman Roy Blunt's campaign for U.S. Senate.

Mike Ferguson, who was the Libertarian candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 2004, announced his conversion Wednesday on his website.

"I don’t want to just talk about better, smaller government for Missouri; I want to be part of creating a better, smaller government in our state. I am at home in the Republican Party," Ferguson wrote on his website. "We need a Republican Party that once again proclaims and puts into practice the values that were once the centerpiece of our party. Fortunately, the Missouri Republican Party is listening and is once again embracing the part of its base that has felt abandoned in recent years. I am excited to have the opportunity to help reconnect the party with the freedom movement," Ferguson went on.

Ferguson said he's throwing his support behind Blunt's campaign because his hope is that "everyone who opposes the dangerous and irresponsible economic policies of the Obama administration will unite."

"Those of us in libertarian and other freedom-based circles have occasionally not agreed with Congressman Blunt’s votes. He and I have had very candid conversations about that. The Congressman is not afraid of dialogue; in fact, he wants to have the discussions that will allow him to effectively represent the entire conservative base – and the state of Missouri – in the United States Senate," Ferguson wrote.

Blunt mentioned those conversations with Ferguson in a statement: "We talked about his commitment to the conservative movement for freedom and the importance of having an inclusive campaign regardless of Party. We discussed the importance of reaching out to Libertarians and others who are concerned about Washington's out of control taxing, out of control spending and out of control debt and borrowing. I believe Mike's decision shows that our campaign and the Republican Party are serious about reaching out to people who believe as we do in Missouri's common sense conservative values and principles. I appreciate Mike Ferguson's endorsement of our campaign and I look forward to his advice and help in reaching out to others across our state to join us in the fight to put the people's future first."

Spokesman Rich Chrismer said Ferguson will serve as an informal adviser to Blunt's campaign, and will have "an important role in helping us reach out to Libertarians."

Burlison "Excited About" Barr's Libertarian Run

With a hat-tip to loyal reader Matt Lyons . . .

Springfield City Councilman Doug Burlison was found quoted in the The Atlanta Journal-Constitution this weekend, talking about the presidential candidacy of Libertarian Bob Barr.

Barr announced his presidential campaign in Kansas City this weekend.

The excerpt:

"I'm excited to see what he [Barr] has to say," said Doug Burlison, a Libertarian who serves on the Springfield, Mo., City Council. "And I'm excited to see what Mike Gravel has to say. It's exciting to have to former office-holders running [as Libertarians]."

Audit Report Due Thursday

A state audit on the city of Springfield will be unveiled this Thursday, Dec. 6th.

"This document will give Springfield residents an opportunity to seethe true financial and infrastructure picture of the city", said Libertarian Tom Martz, one of the audit's chief petitioners.

"A lot of people worked very hard to make this audit a reality, and now we get a chance to prove its critics wrong," added Keith Rodgers, chairman of the Greene County Libertarian Party.

Rodgers is urging people to attend the presentation of the audit, read the report, and follow-up by calling on their elected representatives and non-elected city officials to do more than just offer solutions.

"The people who run Springfield need to act on the responses given by the Auditors' recommendations. Had this had been done in the past, perhaps the million-plus dollars missing from the Municipal Court might have not been missing in the first place," Rodgers said.

The audit hearing by State Auditor Susan Montee will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Springfield City Council building, on 830 N. Boonville in Springfield.