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| David F. Nolan |
Mr. Nolan was also a member of the Libertarian National Committee (LNC). He is survived by his wife Elizabeth.
Mr. Nolan founded the Libertarian Party with a group of colleagues in his home in Denver, Colorado on December 11, 1971.
Mark Hinkle, Chairman of the LP, said, "I am saddened by the news of David Nolan's death. He not only helped found the Libertarian Party, but remained active and helped to guide our party for the last forty years. We are now the third-largest political party in America, and one of the most persistent and successful third parties in American history, thanks in large part to David Nolan. We will feel this loss."
Mr. Nolan ran this year as a Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senator in Arizona, against incumbent John McCain. In 2006, Mr. Nolan ran for U.S. Representative in Arizona's 8th District, against incumbent Gabrielle Giffords.
The Advocates for Self-Government provides more information about David Nolan's contributions here: Visit site.
Comments from friends and colleagues:
Sharon Harris, President of the Advocates for Self-Government: "I am so shocked and saddened by Dave's death -- what a loss for the cause of liberty!"
Wes Benedict, Executive Director of the LP: "While I've admired David Nolan for years, this year I finally had the pleasure of working directly with him. He was an enthusiastic and principled activist doing the hard work right alongside newer members."
Jack Dean, longtime friend and political associate: "David was the conscience of the Libertarian Party. He was always there to remind us what the party was about."
Mr. Nolan had submitted a resolution for consideration at the November 20-21 LNC meeting in New Orleans. Unaware of Mr. Nolan's death, the LNC adopted the resolution, which reads as follows:
"WHEREAS the Libertarian Party can grow only by attracting new members and supporters, and
"WHEREAS libertarianism is a unique political philosophy, distinct from both contemporary liberalism and contemporary conservatism, and
"WHEREAS we need the support of both former liberals and former conservatives who have come to realize that libertarianism and the Libertarian Party offer a better path to achieving a just, humane and prosperous society,
"The Libertarian National Committee hereby reaffirms that the Libertarian Party welcomes individuals from across the political spectrum who now accept the libertarian principles of self-ownership and non-aggression."
View a biographical article about Mr. Nolan here.
Libertarian Party founder, David Nolan dies
Former Mission Viejo resident David F. Nolan, who helped found the Libertarian Party in his Denver living room on Dec. 11, 1971, died Sunday, two days before his 67th birthday.
Nolan opposed government intrusion in daily life, and believed in personal freedom, according to an obituary in Sentinel of Tucson, where he lived most recently. He opposed the war in Iraq, called for an end to personal income taxes, and wanted to legalize drugs. He supported a guest-worker program over building a border wall, wanted to close the Federal Reserve System, and end the Patriot Act.
"He was sort of a guiding light," Fullerton's Jack Dean, past chairman of the California Libertarian Party, told the Arizona Daily Star. "He was kind of our conscience. Dave was a presence at every national convention; everyone respected him. He kept reminding everybody what the goal was.
"He was a low-key and extremely reasonable radical. And he could make Libertarian positions sound reasonable and logical to anyone."
Nolan also developed the "Nolan Chart," which plots a participant's answers to a questionnaire on a political grid which an axis for social issues and one for fiscal issues, and shows the relationship between the political parties. The Libertarian Party is now the third largest political party in the country.
In 2002, while living in Mission Viejo, Nolan unsuccessfully ran for the House of Representatives against incumbent Christopher Cox, R-Newport Beach. He moved to Arizona in 2005.
In 2006, Nolan unsuccessfully ran against Gabrielle Giffords for a seat in Arizona's 8th Congressional District.
This year, he challenged John McCain for his Senate seat and racked up 63,000 votes – in a state with only 24,000 registered Libertarians, according to the Arizona Daily Star.
Nolan's cause of death was unclear late Sunday, and no information was immediately available on memorial services, according to the Arizona Daily Star.
He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth.
Posted on the Orange County Register
