John Buckley Running For West Virginia Secretary Of State
Libertarian seeks West Virginia seat
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WHEELING -- John Buckley, the Libertarian candidate for West Virginia secretary of state, made a campaign stop in Wheeling recently to outline his platform, which prioritizes fair elections and greater inclusivity for candidates and voters alike in the electoral system.
Buckley, whose Hardy County home sits near the Eastern Panhandle border with Virginia, said that if elected, he would use the Secretary of State's office as a "bully pulpit" to preserve fairness, not only in the letter of election law, but also "in the spirit of election law which is open and inclusive elections."
Buckley will be on the November ballot alongside Democratic nominee and incumbent Natalie Tennant and Republican nominee Mac Warner.
One of the main priorities of a Buckley administration would be to encourage the state legislature to re-evaluate filing fees and campaign reporting requirements. Buckley believes that those requirements are particularly stifling to small party and third party candidates seeking democratic involvement. Access to debates is also an issue that interests Buckley. While he recognizes that debates are usually sponsored by private organizations who cannot be mandated to include all candidates, he said he believes that it serves the public better when all the candidates who have qualified for the ballot are included" in debates.
"I think they all bring something to the table in terms of a perspective on the issue and a respectful challenge to the candidates who may be considered the leading candidates," Buckley said.
As for the current state of West Virginia election law, Buckley said he is optimistic about recent developments in some areas but still sees room for improvement.
Buckley said he was encouraged by a new law that requires West Virginians to show identification at the polls on Election Day and provides for automatic voter registration. The voter identification aspect of the bill requires West Virginians to show some sort of identification before casting a ballot at his or her polling place.
Buckley said he believes it is "absolutely crucial" that voters have faith that elections are conducted fairly, and while he acknowledged that voter fraud is rare, he still advocates mandatory presentation of identification at the polls. He said that he would have gone further than the current legislature and advocated for the requirement of photo identification.
"I'd have been happier with requiring a picture voter ID, but I understand that for many people, they don't readily have that and we don't want to dissuade or deter those people from full participation in our electoral system," said Buckley.
The main criticism Buckley has of the current administration is that he believes it has not done enough to educate local election officials on who can vote in which elections.
"It's about time that there was a better job done between the Secretary of State and the counties, educating the appropriate officials… There were too many instances of confusion and that shouldn't be happening in 2016," Buckley said.
Many voters may recognize Buckley from his unsuccessful run for the United States Senate in 2014. Buckley said that he is grateful for that experience as he begins his new campaign, as it helped him connect with Libertarians throughout the state. He said that West Virginia Libertarian voter registration has doubled in the past two years and attendance at the state nominating convention grew significantly since 2014.
Buckley said he is also excited about Libertarian prospects at the national level, and believes his party can provide a great alternative for voters unhappy with both major party presidential nominees.
Buckley himself maintains a mix of conservative and liberal views. He is openly gay, pro-life, and most of all believes that limited government promotes individual freedom and economic prosperity.
Buckley, 62, said he envisions his base as voters under the age of 40 who chose to register with no party affiliation. He said those voters tend to be open-minded and seek to make their own independent choices.
An attorney by trade, Buckley retired two years ago after serving as the chief administrator of the United States Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C. He previously served as the Chief of Staff to the Chief Judge of the Court of Federal Claims.
Prior to attending law school, Buckley served a term as a Republican representative to the Virginia House of Delegates. He then later served as the chairman of the Fair Campaign Practices Committee in Fairfax County, Va.