Sean Shepard for Congress

It has been 24 hours and I’ve gotten some rest and tended to the sun burn I got while out greeting voters for several hours throughout election day. It was great getting to shake hands and speak with so many people on their way in to cast ballots.  Let’s look at some of the great outcomes from this election!  

HIGHEST PERCENTAGE EVER!?

While our final number of around 3% may not sound impressive, it did represent a new percentage record for Libertarians vying for this seat.  It was nearly a full 1% of the vote higher than the last time there was a Libertarian candidate running for the 7th. Our campaign staff should be very proud for having helped move more voters towards seeking freedom and liberty and away from voting for increased government spending, control and authority.  I cannot thank everyone enough for their efforts and their support. 

Don’t think for a moment that for every one thousand voters out there, having just a few more wake up and decide they’ve had enough of politics as usual isn’t important.  For everyone that showed up and cast a ballot in our favor, how many more would have not stayed home if we could have just reached them somehow with a flyer or a TV ad?  As we look towards the future, please consider contributing to our campaign fund at http://shepard2008.com/contribute/ or to the Libertarian Party of Indiana at http://www.lpin.org/contribute

WE WON THE DEBATES!

I have been told repeatedly that we won the Indiana Equality forum debate and crushed our opponents in the IUPUI debate.  Democrats and Republicans both sent kind words and made respectful blog posts indicating that we were the best prepared and could talk through the issues much deeper than the others.  I worry that many Libertarians might have been turned off by the softened tone of our message and the fact that we didn’t beat people over the head with the Constitution every 10 seconds, but I’ve decided that it is important to talk about issues with voters in ways that seem measured and pragmatic.     

We didn’t get the bloated government we have overnight, we’re not going to unwind it overnight… well, short of pitchforks and torches that is.

MEDIA ATTENTION

Our campaign received more media attention than any other Libertarian campaign I can recall.  We were not excluded from anything, we were given more space in the Indianapolis Star than any Libertarian ever.  Jim Shella (WISH) and John Ketzenberger (Star) both said great things about our debate performance on Indiana Week in Review last week (you can watch the replay on-line at http://www.wfyi.org/indianaWeekInReview.asp until probably Monday morning (March 17).  We’re mentioned in the first 10 minutes of the show.

THANK YOU

This was just the first step and a tremendous experience.  We’ve made lots of friends and hopefully few enemies. I cannot thank everyone enough for their support, especially our staff and contributors for getting us through this first stage, the Special Election.  We have some things in the works behind the scenes, may be making a trip to Washington D.C. soon and still have an election coming up in November to start making decisions about!

Stay tuned!!

Sean Shepard will be campaigning right up until the last vote

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Sean Shepard will be out and about all day tomorrow (Election Day), talking to voters and drumming up last minute support. When the property tax fiasco hit last year, Sean was there, standing with the taxpayers. Now he’s finishing the campaign in the same way, “with the people.”

“We’re encouraging people to vote for their hopes, not their fears,” said Shepard. “Don’t let politicians intimidate you into voting for someone you don’t support.”

SCHEDULE

MORNING: Sean will be voting, along with his wife, at Eastbrook Elementary between 6:15 and 6:30 AM. (Eastbrook Elementary, 7839 New Augusta Road, is in Pike Township at the intersection of 79th Street and New Augusta Road).

DURING THE DAY: Shepard will be visiting various polling places throughout the day. Please contact him tomorrow at 317-513-2406 to find out his exact location at the time. Tim Maguire can also be contacted at 317-372-6436.

EVENING: Sean Shepard supporters will be gathering at Deano’s Vino Restaurant and Wine Bar tomorrow night after the polls close. Deano’s Vino is at 1138 Shelby Street in Fountain Square and reachable at 317-423-3154

Sean Shepard is a life long resident of Indianapolis and local businessman. He is married with two children who attend private Christian school. Mr. Shepard has been active in local politics for several years, has worked with Americans for Fair Taxation and helped organize and coordinate several of the local property tax protests in 2007. Mr. Shepard’s policy approaches support affordable healthcare, lower taxes, protection of civil liberties, border security, school choice and a strong national defense

The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in the United States, and is the only non-major party with ballot access in the state of Indiana. Libertarians believe in being SERVED by a small non-intrusive government that is financially responsible, administratively competent and socially tolerant.

Elrod’s campaign calls imply that Sean Shepard doesn’t support lower taxes.

 INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Voters in the 7th District were surprised over the past 24 hours by automated calls and voicemails falsely claiming that Elrod was “the only candidate in the race” for smaller government and lower taxes.

Having participated in a handful of candidate forums with Libertarian Sean Shepard, Elrod and his campaign staff know that these statements are patently false.  Libertarians, including Sean Shepard, consistently and uniformly call for smaller government and lower taxes.

“Is this dishonesty what citizens of the 7th District should expect from Jon Elrod and his staff?” asked Kurt St. Angelo, E-Communications Editor for the Libertarian Party of Indiana. “The citizens deserve a representative with more integrity.”

To correct his campaign’s misrepresentations, it is incumbent on Elrod to publicly retract its false statements and set the record straight – that small government and low taxes are the benchmarks of libertarianism.

Sean Shepard is a life long resident of Indianapolis and local businessman.  He is married with two children who attend private Christian school.  Mr. Shepard has been active in local politics for several years, has worked with Americans for Fair Taxation and helped organize and coordinate several of the local property tax protests in 2007.  Mr. Shepard’s policy approaches support affordable healthcare, lower taxes, protection of civil liberties, border security, school choice and a strong national defense

The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in the United States, and is the only non-major party with ballot access in the state of Indiana.  Libertarians believe in being SERVED by a small non-intrusive government that is financially responsible, administratively competent and socially tolerant.

Thursday, March 6, 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.
University Place Conference Center Auditorium
850 West Michigan Street, Indianapolis

Candidates for the March 11th Special Election for the 7th Congressional District

Andre Cason – Democrat
(www.andrecarsonforcongress.com)
Jon Elrod – Republican
(www.jonelrod.com)
Sean Shepard – Libertarian
(shepard2008.com)

Moderators:

Amos Brown, WTLC-AM 1310 “Afternoons with Amos” host
Jim Shella, 24-Hour News 8 political reporter

Thanks To: Hoosier Scholars Helping Democracy and the Political Engagement Project

Update:

You can watch the entire debate online at WISH TV.

US government on a “burning platform” of unsustainable policies and practices

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Sean Shepard, Libertarian candidate for the 7th Congressional District, is inviting you to learn about some alarming events going on in Washington right now. Join him at 1:00pm on Wednesday, February 27 for a press conference on the south steps of Monument Circle (downtown).

Sean Shepard is a life long resident of Indianapolis and local businessman. He is married with two children who attend private Christian school. Mr. Shepard has been active in local politics for several years, has worked with Americans for Fair Taxation and helped organize and coordinate several of the local property tax protests in 2007. Mr. Shepard’s policy approaches support affordable healthcare, lower taxes, protection of civil liberties, border security, school choice and a strong national defense.

The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in the United States, and is the only non-major party with ballot access in the state of Indiana. Libertarians believe in being SERVED by a small non-intrusive government that is financially responsible, administratively competent and socially tolerant.
###
Authorized by Sean Shepard for Congress: http://shepard2008.com - (317) 513-2406
For more information on Sean Shepard, or to arrange an interview, please contact Timothy Maguire at (317)372-6436 or by email at Maguire_tj@hotmail.com.

Local supporters band together to help Sean Shepard, candidate for Congress

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – The taxpayers will find no better friend in Congress, once elected, than Sean Shepard. And some local supporters who want to help him get there are hosting a fundraiser in his honor. This is yet another reason why Sean deserves to be Indianapolis’ next congressman.

EVENT DEAILS: Friday, February 29 6:30-8:30pm; Santorini’s Greek Kitchen (one of Indianapolis Monthly’s “top 25” restaurants since 2002), located in the Historic Fountain Square District,1417 Prospect Street, Indianapolis, IN. Cost per person: $50, with proceeds benefiting the Shepard for Congress campaign. Being provided is a four-course meal featuring “Chicken Souvlaki”.

Seating is limited to 50 persons, so RSVP to: Maguire_tj@hotmail.com ASAP.

Sean Shepard is a life long resident of Indianapolis and local businessman. He is married with two children who attend private Christian school. Mr. Shepard has been active in local politics for several years, has worked with Americans for Fair Taxation and helped organize and coordinate several of the local property tax protests in 2007. Mr. Shepard’s policy approaches support affordable healthcare, lower taxes, protection of civil liberties, border security, school choice and a strong national defense

The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in the United States, and is the only non-major party with ballot access in the state of Indiana. Libertarians believe in being SERVED by a small non-intrusive government that is financially responsible, administratively competent and socially tolerant.

Authorized by Sean Shepard for Congress: http://shepard2008.com - (317) 513-2406

First off, we received word today that we will be included Sunday morning in WTHR’s (local channel 13) candidates forum at 9:00 AM.
Second, the first full candidate debate, tame as it was, went great and we really believe we “opened some eyes” as the Indianapolis Star suggested.

We continue to get calls from usual supporters and officers of the other parties letting us know they’re with us.  This is fantastic and just proof that the usual brand of candidates is no longer pleasing to the electorate.   Polling continues to show us doing much better than anyone else would have possibly guessed and we plan on turning heads on March 11.

Thank you to everyone!  Stay tuned!

After a double-digit poll result out of the gate at TheIndyChannel (WRTV 6’s web site) that was very welcome, we’ve now done very well at an obscure local conservative web site by winning it in a landslide (over 60%). Here is the link to the results

Many voters are realizing that our campaign represents the best choice for not only Libertarians, but for pro-family Conservatives and anti-Carson machine Democrats. With no straight ticket balloting we think there could be some surprises on March 11.

Sean talks briefly about the failure of the two party system and avoiding partisanship. People are disgusted with both of the “old parties” and need to start voting for their hopes, not out of fear of “the other guy”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWRpBhcYV_o

With full repeal not being a realistic short-term option, Sean discusses his support for HR 25 (The FairTax Act) as an improvement over our current Income Tax system and one that has significant support already in Congress.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGh-3aDzdb4

Here is a video clip from the Community Heights forum from last evening. Stay tuned for more. It’s worth noting that one of our opponents skipped out on an obligation to attend the forum.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQZ2×1FEb1Q