On Saturday, March 18, 2017, Independent Voting held its Ninth Biennial National Conference of Independents. “Crossroads for an Independent America” brought together over 350 independent activists from 36 states to engage the issue of empowerment for independent voters and the creation of a new political culture. Video from past conferences is available here.
Segment 1 – Welcoming remarks and Live Focus Group “Who are America’s Independent Voters?” moderated by: Thom Reilly, Director, ASU Morrison Institute for Public Policy and Cathy Stewart, VP for National Development, Independent Voting. Also, commentary on the focus group offered by Doug Schoen, Pollster, political strategist and advisor, author. (Running time 54 mins.)
Segment 2 – President’s Address by Jacqueline Salit, President of Independent Voting. Follow up dialogue moderated by Harry Kresky, Esq and Jackie Salit with: Tiani Coleman, Founder, New Hampshire Independent Voters, Michael Hardy, Executive Vice President and General Counsel to the National Action Network, Daniel Ortega, Jr., Board Member, Cesar Chavez Foundation and Rick Robol, Chair of Independent Ohio. Audience Q & A closes out this segment. (Running time 1:37 mins.)
Segment 3 – Keynote address by Lenora B. Fulani, 1988/1992 Independent presidential candidate and co-founder, Independent Voting, on the topic of Power, Poverty and Democracy. (Running time: 20 mins.)
Segment 4 – Conversations moderated by Jacqueline Salit on the topic of opening up the Presidential Debates, lessons learned from the Sanders campaign and the untold story of South Dakota’s attempt to pass top two open primaries. Participants include Chad Peace, President of IVC Media LLC, Charlotte Scot, Independents United for Progress, Malcolm Burn, Political activist, award winning music producer and John Opdycke, President of Open Primaries. Participants in the Unsung Heroes: The Story of South Dakota’s Amendment V segment include: Nancy Hallenbeck, President of the League of Women Voters of Sioux Falls, SD; Adam Morfeld, State Senator (D-Lincoln), Executive Director and Founder of Nebraskans for Civic Reform; Jason Olson, Director of National Outreach, Open Primaries; Justin Otoski, US Army Veteran, Voter Outreach Coordinator, Yes on V Campaign; Chuck Parkinson, Former Reagan and Bush Appointee, Longtime Senior Staff; Tamara Pier, Former City Attorney of Rapid City, SD. (Running time: 1:22 mins.)
#riseindependent / @indie_voting / independentvoting
——————————— 10:30 AM ———————————
Registration
——————————— 11:30 AM ———————————
Welcoming Remarks
Gwen Mandell, Director of National Outreach, Independent Voting
Omar H. Ali, Dean and Professor, Honors College, UNC-Greensboro,
Gwen Ballard, Coalition of Independent Voters in Colorado
Who are America’s Independent Voters? Live Focus Group
Moderators: Thom Reilly, Director, ASU Morrison Institute for Public Policy
Cathy Stewart, VP for National Development, Independent Voting
Participants: Dee Curlee (SC), Juli Dominguez (IN), Domonique Edwards (NC), Dave Ellis (OR),
Juliana Francisco (NY), Steve Hough (FL), Jeff Leader (KS), Larry Reinsch (IA), Gwen Samuel (CT) , PJ Steiner (UT)
Commentator: Dr. Doug Schoen, Pollster, political strategist and advisor, author
President’s Address
Jacqueline Salit, President of Independent Voting
Conversations at the Crossroads #1
Moderators: Harry Kresky, General Counsel at Independent Voting
Jacqueline Salit, President, Independent Voting
Participants: Tiani Coleman, Founder, New Hampshire Independent Voters
Michael Hardy, Executive Vice President and General Counsel to the National Action Network
Daniel Ortega, Jr., Board Member, Cesar Chavez Foundation
Rick Robol, Chair of Independent Ohio
Audience Discussion
——————————— LUNCH———————————
2:00 – 2:45 PM
(compliments of NYC Independence Clubs)
Power, Poverty and Democracy
Lenora B. Fulani, 1988/1992 Independent presidential candidate and co-founder, Independent Voting
Independents at the Social Media Crossroads
Jarell Corley, Member, Independent Voting
Kerry Malloy, Assistant to the Vice President, Independent Voting
Gwen Mandell, Director of National Outreach, Independent Voting
Conversations at the Crossroads #2
Moderator: Jacqueline Salit
Participants: Chad Peace, President of IVC Media LLC
Charlotte Scot, Independents United for Progress
Malcolm Burn, Political activist, award winning music producer
John Opdycke, President, Open Primaries
Unsung Heroes: The Story of South Dakota’s Amendment V
Moderator: John Opdycke
Participants: Nancy Hallenbeck, President of the League of Women Voters of Sioux Falls, SD
Adam Morfeld, State Senator (D-Lincoln), Executive Director and Founder of Nebraskans for Civic Reform
Jason Olson, Director of National Outreach, Open Primaries
Justin Otoski, US Army Veteran, Voter Outreach Coordinator, Yes on V Campaign
Chuck Parkinson, Former Reagan and Bush Appointee, Longtime Senior Staff
Tamara Pier, Former City Attorney of Rapid City, SD
Audience Discussion
Wrap-Up
——————————— 5:00 PM ———————————
Adjourn