FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Franklin County Libertarian Party Endorses Mike Mains for Harrison City Council in 2025
Columbus, OH – 3/18/2025 – The Franklin County Libertarian Party of Ohio is proud to endorse Mike Mains in his campaign for Harrison City Council in the upcoming 2025 general election. Though not a member of our own county, Mike is a dedicated Libertarian who has consistently demonstrated his commitment to defending individual freedoms, reducing government overreach, and ensuring that hardworking residents keep more of their own money.
Mike Mains is a fierce defender of liberty, with a track record of standing against tax increases and wasteful spending. His steadfast commitment to fiscal responsibility and limited government has earned him the trust of residents who expect their representatives to prioritize their interests—not special interests.
Moreover, Mike is working alongside other like-minded candidates to ensure that the Harrison City Council lives up to the expectations of the people it serves. His leadership is essential in the fight to shrink the size of government, protect property rights, and restore local control to the citizens of Hamilton County.
“The people of Harrison deserve a council that respects their freedoms and their wallets,” said David Kinney, At-Large of the Franklin County Libertarian Party. “Mike Mains has already proven that he will stand firm against unnecessary government expansion and taxation. We are proud to support his efforts and look forward to seeing the impact of his principled leadership.”
The Franklin County Libertarian Party urges all liberty-minded voters in Harrison and across Hamilton County to support Mike Mains for City Council in the 2025 general election.
Franklin County needs energetic people to run for office! Libertarian elected officials get to make policy that reduces the scope of government and increases personal liberty.
Columbus Metropolitan Library: Driving Park Branch 1422 E Livingston Ave Columbus, OH 43205
We encourage first-timers to run for local offices in odd-numbered years. You must file a declaration of candidacy with the Franklin County Board of Elections, with completed petitions containing the number of signatures required for the office you are seeking.
Local offices include city and village council, township trustees, and school board members. With a term or two of local office, you will have the experience and credibility to run a successful campaign for county, state, or federal office, but if you have the qualifications to run for a different office, we won’t turn you down! Before starting your campaign, take a quick look at our “Candidate Quick Start Guide” video (27 minutes) and new “How to Run for Local Election” step-by-step guide.
Over the past 10 years it has become obvious that the Republican Party has abandoned the dense urban centers of most Ohio cities and suburbs.
Retreating to the safety of their easy wins at the state level, and the occasional local family dynasty, the red team has abdicated all interest and effort in even token attempts to run candidates in Franklin County. (Of course, the red team is still happy to take your money! It just won’t find it’s way into helping any candidate or issue in your neighborhood.)
After spending the same decade working tirelessly to eliminate any possible competition in the form of alternative political parties, (through lawfare, intimidation and fraud), this has left voters in our area with a large and growing slate of unopposed elections, where blue team candidates file paperwork and walk into elected office without winning an election.
This has left the Franklin County red team with a dwindling, defeatist and disenfranchised volunteer and voter base, thoroughly convinced in their permanent loss of representation at the local level. This is also leading to a loss of county and local political influence.
In contrast, the Franklin County Libertarian Party of Ohio has spent the last 10 years working to recruit and train candidates, fundraise and support issues, and generally work to support orphaned candidates and voters, (helping independents, and even blue and red team candidates when it made sense).
We did that work while fighting off constant attacks on our political credibility while only benefiting from ballot access half the time, and pushing through odious and burdensome petitioning requirements the other half.
How did Franklin County get to this point, with a dominating and lazy blue team, and an equally lazy, but vanishingly relevant red team?
Franklin County is an economic hub, home to Columbus, numerous smaller cities, boasting a diverse economy in finance, education, healthcare, and tech. Its central location, strong infrastructure, and vibrant workforce drive growth, attracting talent and investment, making it vital to Ohio’s prosperity.
With all this going for it, you’d think a major political party would be fighting for every precinct tooth and nail.
You would be wrong, and it wouldn’t be just the last ten years that that impression would be incorrect.
In the distant past, when smoke filled rooms were legal, and the common way to manage politics, the red and blue teams in Franklin County struck a deal, a détente, if you will, to stay out of each other’s way. At the state level the red and blue teams took cyclical turns running the state-wide offices of governor, secretary of state and rarely commanded more than slim margins in the state house or senate.
This made such an agreement more palatable for both sides, and elected roles in Franklin County were divided up based on who most often won, leading to many unopposed elections for both teams, and candidates with very little real support when some did go “rouge”. Elected roles like Mayor of Columbus, Columbus City Council, County Commissioners and urban State Representatives were firmly blue team, while County Prosecutor, County Engineer, County Treasurer and more rural State Senators were firmly red team.
Over time the district lines shifted, but the agreement was held for the most part and political power in central Ohio leaned blue or red without much real variance.
Then something unexpected happened.
A Green Party member filed to run for County Prosecutor, a race the county blue team had largely ignored, and rarely fielded a candidate to oppose. This candidate was brash and full of energy, a real firebrand and was talking about real reform and actual political action.
Of course, the blue team could not allow any such challenge to the status quo. (Let alone a Green!)
So, they found a paper candidate on short notice to file, and with all the influence and endorsement of the blue county machine, the paper candidate sailed through the primary unopposed and found some enthusiasm among their voters.
And then the unthinkable happened.
The blue team candidate almost won the general election.
When the dust settled, the blue team tallied their numbers and realized something profound.
The demographics for central Ohio had shifted. There was no longer a reliable swing back and forth between so-called “liberal” and “conservative” voters. Columbus voters in particular seemed to have shifted firmly “liberal”.
This new understanding led the county blue team machine to ramp up recruiting, fundraising and undertake the effort of running a candidate for every race they could.
Meanwhile, the red team slumbered, even as several of their choice elected roles were competed right out from under them several times in a row. However, instead of fighting back with grass roots ground game and pouring effort and energy into revitalizing their sleepy base, they continued to demand the blue team honor the now defunct back-room agreements, and shifted strategy to controlling state level district lines.
The ”redistricting strategy” has kept the red team with a healthy margin of control of the State House and Senate, and the wide-spread, and numerous, rural voter base continues to fall for the faux conservative act for state-wide red candidates.
However, while the population of the State of Ohio is not growing (in fact, shrinking), urban and suburban central Ohio is gaining residents, both from other cities and from rural areas.
Red team’s control of the state-level government may be short-lived as local and county-level influence wanes. As demographic shifts and urbanization increase, their traditional rural base diminishes. This disconnect from local issues will erode voter support, leading to significant challenges in maintaining statewide power in future elections.
While at the highest level it looks like the Republican Party of Ohio is in control politically, the reality we are seeing is local and county GOP death spiral.
Ohio is moving more and more purple, and the fake “conservatives” that made their bread and butter over pretending to care about small govt, low taxes and individual liberties days are numbered.
Franklin County Libertarians offer choice on the ballot, not a fake choice between voting and not voting, but real choice with candidates who listen, live and work in our communities, shop in the same stores and experience the same concerns and share values with neighbors.
We are not asleep, we are not going away, we are putting in the work, and we will represent all residents in Franklin County.
We are not red or blue.
We are not “liberal” or “conservative”.
We are Libertarians.
We stand for individual freedom, limited government, free markets, and personal responsibility.
A little money goes a long way in Franklin County! Your gift will help spread the word to the public at community festivals and fairs, purchase literature, and pay the cost of community outreach.
Donate today to support Franklin County Libertarian candidates and issues!
Libertarian review that highlights books on individual freedom, limited government, free markets, and personal responsibility. It critiques works from diverse genres, promoting independent thought and offering insights into libertarian ideas and their real-world impact.
Robert W. Poole’s Cutting Back City Hall offers a roadmap perfectly aligned with the Libertarian Platform’s vision of reducing government spending, eliminating taxes, and improving the quality of services. Poole demonstrates how local governments have monopolized services that could be better managed through privatization, voluntary efforts, and market-driven solutions. His work shows us how to take back control of essential services, empower communities, and eliminate wasteful government bureaucracy.
Breaking Government Monopolies
One of Poole’s central arguments is that municipal governments maintain monopolies over services like waste collection, public safety, and road maintenance. These monopolies create inefficiencies, drive up costs, and reduce service quality. As Libertarians, we know that competition and market forces outperform government monopolies. By allowing private companies to compete for service contracts, we can introduce innovation, drive down costs, and give residents real choices. Instead of being forced to pay for services that may not meet their needs, individuals and communities can choose providers who deliver better results.
Voluntary Funding and User-Pay Models
Poole advocates replacing tax-funded services with voluntary payments and user-based fees. This approach reflects our core belief that individuals should only pay for services they use, rather than being coerced through taxation. When people pay directly for services—whether through user fees, membership models, or subscriptions—they have an incentive to demand quality and efficiency. We can promote voluntary funding for essential services such as libraries, parks, and road maintenance through community-supported initiatives and user-pay systems.
As an example, replacing property taxes that fund public services with bundled payments on water, electric, and gas bills can make funding more transparent and directly tied to service quality. This not only reduces government intervention but also encourages people to take ownership of the services they value most.
Leveraging Volunteerism and Community Engagement
Poole highlights the potential for volunteer efforts and community organizations to take over many public services. As Libertarians, we recognize the power of civil society to solve problems without government interference. Volunteer fire departments, neighborhood watch programs, and local education initiatives show that communities can thrive when people are empowered to contribute directly. By promoting community-driven solutions, we can reduce dependence on government while strengthening social bonds and civic responsibility.
We can encourage businesses and nonprofits to take an active role in sponsoring and maintaining public spaces, funding education programs, and providing safety initiatives. These voluntary contributions not only reduce the need for taxes but also create a stronger, more engaged community.
Decentralization and Local Control
A core principle of the Libertarian Platform is decentralization, and Poole emphasizes its importance in managing public services. When power is returned to local communities, services become more responsive, innovative, and efficient. By breaking down large, unaccountable bureaucracies and giving communities control over their own resources, we ensure that decision-making reflects the unique needs and desires of those affected.
We can advocate for the dissolution of state-mandated service monopolies and push for local communities to make decisions about how best to provide essential services. Whether through cooperative models, private contractors, or volunteer organizations, local solutions outperform top-down government programs.
Addressing Concerns About Privatization
Critics of privatization often argue that it benefits wealthier communities and leaves others behind. Poole addresses this by demonstrating that market competition drives down costs, making services more affordable for everyone. As Libertarians, we can reinforce this by promoting models that offer tiered pricing, scholarships, and sliding-scale fees to ensure access without relying on government coercion.
Furthermore, opponents claim that voluntary systems will lead to gaps in service. However, history shows that when people see the direct impact of their contributions, giving increases dramatically. Voluntary contributions often surpass coerced taxation in both quantity and effectiveness, as people are more willing to give when they trust where their money is going.
Conclusion
Cutting Back City Hall provides a comprehensive framework for dismantling bloated local governments and replacing them with voluntary, market-driven solutions. Poole’s vision aligns with our Libertarian values of limited government, individual freedom, and personal responsibility. By promoting privatization, voluntary funding, and community-driven initiatives, we can eliminate unnecessary taxes while raising the quality of services provided. As Libertarians, we have an opportunity to apply these principles, empower our communities, and demonstrate that freedom and choice yield better outcomes than government control ever could.
Cutting Back City Hall by Robert W. Poole aligns with Libertarian goals by advocating privatization, voluntary funding, and local control. It shows how reducing government, eliminating taxes, and encouraging community-driven solutions can improve service quality and efficiency.