R. Lee Wrights
Vice Chair Libertarian National Committee
Incumbent
Assumed office 2012
In office 2004–2006
Succeeded by	Chuck Moulton
Personal details
Born	(1958-06-08) June 8, 1958 (age 54) Winston-Salem, N.C
Political party	Libertarian
Residence	Burnet, Texas
Occupation	Writer; Editor; Communications director
Website	wrights2012.com

Roger Lee Wrights (born June 8, 1958 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina) is an American political consultant and Libertarian activist. He is the founder, editor, and publisher of the online libertarian newsletter Liberty For All.^[1] He is the National Vice Chair of the Libertarian National Committee. Wrights was an unsuccessful contender for the 2012 presidential nomination of the Libertarian Party, and he finished as first runner-up to Gary Johnson.

Biography [edit]

Early life [edit]

Wrights was born on June 8, 1958. He graduated from West Forsyth High School in Clemmons, North Carolina in 1976.^[2] Afterwards he enlisted in the United States Air Force,^[3] and served as a medical services technician at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Goldsboro, North Carolina.^[2] He was honorably discharged in 1981 with the rank of sergeant.^[2][4]

Wrights earned a degree from Willmar College in Willmar, Minnesota where he majored in history and journalism. After college, he was a contributing editor for the Eagle News, a monthly political news and commentary newspaper in Forsyth County.^[2]

He has worked as a carpenter and a bartender.^[3]

Career [edit]

Online [edit]

Wrights founded Liberty For All with J. Michael Bragg in 2000, a free speech publication with the motto "Let Your Voice Be Heard" which claims "no one is turned away and no one is censored".^[1][4]

In 2001 Wrights began work as an editor of the Free Market Daily, an e-mail newsletter distributed by FreeMarket.net. After FreeMarket.net shut down in 2002, Wrights joined a group that began the Rational Review News Digest, a daily web and email-based news and commentary roundup. He has been an editor of the Rational Review News Digest ever since.^[2][4]

From 2005 to 2008, Wrights worked as editor of the Choice Channel for the International Society for Individual Liberty.^[2]

Political career [edit]

Wrights was elected National Vice Chair of Libertarian National Committee (LNC) in May 2012.^[5] He previously held that position from 2004 to 2006.^[2]

Wrights served as an at-large member of the LNC. During his time on the LNC, Wrights also served four years on the platform committee. He is currently a member of the Libertarian Party judicial committee, elected to that body at the 2010 national convention.^[2]

"I Am Not At War" R. Lee Wrights, speaking at LPNC 2011 State Convention

Wrights has been active in local, state and national Libertarian Party organizations since 2000 and is a lifetime member of the Libertarian Party.^[3] He has served as secretary and chair of the Libertarian Party of Forsyth County, N.C. and was vice chair of the Libertarian Party of North Carolina (LPNC) for seven years. He also served as the LPNC ballot access director for two years.^[2]

Wrights was formerly the chair of the Burnet County, Texas LP and was the Senate District 24 representative to the Texas LP State Executive Committee. In 2008, Wrights was campaign manager for the Mary Ruwart for President Committee, and in 2010, he managed Ruwart's campaign for Texas State Comptroller.^[2]

Wrights is president of the Foundation for a Free Society, a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization dedicated to promoting the principles of liberty, personal sovereignty, private property, and free markets.^[2]

2012 presidential campaign [edit]

In July 2010, Wrights announced the formation of an exploratory committee to lay the groundwork for a potential bid for the 2012 Libertarian Party presidential nomination.^[6]

On April 16, 2011, Wrights officially announced his candidacy for the Libertarian presidential nomination in the election of 2012.^[7][8] The stated focus of his campaign was to "stop all war", referring not only to war with foreign nations, but also to war on the American people and their civil liberties waged by the U.S. government.^[3][9][10] His campaign slogan was "I am not at war".^[11] Wrights also advocated abolition of the national income tax and added that he would "replace it with...nothing."^[12]

At the 2012 Libertarian National Convention, Wrights was defeated for the LP presidential nomination by former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, finishing second in the balloting with 25% of the delegate votes.^[13]

Following the defeat, Wrights expressed support for Johnson in his general election campaign.^[14] He was then nominated as a candidate for the LP vice-presidential slot.^[15] Wrights was defeated for that nomination by retired California Superior Court Judge Jim Gray, finishing second in the balloting with 38% of the delegate votes.^[16]

The following day, Wrights was nominated for National Chair of the LNC, but declined the nomination.^[5][17] He chose instead to run for National Vice Chair of the LNC, and won election to that office.^[5]

References [edit]

External links [edit]

Biography portal

• Wrights2012.com, official presidential campaign site
• LibertyForAll.net
• The Foundation For A Free Society