Posted on 07/08/2006 3:29:00 PM PDT by Graybeard58
TOPEKA, Kan. - Kansas Libertarians were stopped from holding a fundraiser at a nudist camp in southwest Shawnee County, when sheriff's deputies blocked people from entering.
Shawnee County deputies said they were merely enforcing a court order when they stopped people from accessing Lake Edun on Friday. Last year, Shawnee County District Judge Terry Bullock issued a court order banning "commercial or recreational activities" on the property unless the owners get a permit for such events - something the county refuses to provide.
But Rob Hodgkinson, chairman of the Libertarian Party of Kansas, said a political party fundraiser isn't a commercial activity. He also said the deputies suppressed party members' constitutional right to hold such an event on private property.
Gates were to open at 4 p.m. Friday, said Webb Garlinghouse, who owns the property with his wife, Julie, but an employee called him that morning and said deputies were blocking the driveway. By mid-afternoon, six marked sheriff's cars were parked along the road outside the main entrance.
Hodgkinson said the Libertarian Party moved the three-day event to an alternative site.
Shawnee County Undersheriff Don Long said his office learned about the Libertarian gathering at Lake Edun from county counselor Rich Eckert. A sign at the property's entrance said the event was to run Friday through Sunday.
Patrick Wilbur, vice chairman for the Libertarian Party of Kansas, said admission was to be $75 per person and $90 per couple in advance and $80 per person and $100 per couple at the door. Topics for discussion included property rights and freedom of assembly.
Hodgkinson said the Libertarians needed to make money so they can compete and get people elected.
"We've got a chance to actually elect people, so am I frustrated? You bet!" he told the Topeka Capital-Journal.
Lake Edun, which promotes a clothing-free lifestyle and uses the term "naturist" rather than "nudist," has been at odds with county officials since 1996.
The county insisted Lake Edun (nude spelled backward) was being run as a commercial, recreational facility, even though the property was zoned agricultural. Garlinghouse insisted the camp was focusing on harvesting fish and planting native grasses and trees.
In January 2001, the county gave the Garlinghouses a two-year, conditional-use permit, with the stipulation that they could not try to renew it.
In September 2006, Bullock issued a restraining order banning the Garlinghouses from using the camp for recreation or commercial activities without a conditional-use permit. According to court records, the Garlinhouses' appeal is pending.
Webb Garlinghouse, a Libertarian, said the weekend gathering was to be the political party's first at Lake Edun. It was to include free camping, parking and recreational activities at the lake, plus musical and theatrical performances.
OK - I question the motivation behind a nudist fundraiser for libertarians... but on the other hand - it IS private property. And from what I hear - it is located in an area that any such activity is not likely to disturb anyone else.
I thought Libertarians were all for hemp clothing?
So those wanting to contribute to Libertarians had to pull a checkbook out of their butts? LOL
The problem with holding a political fundraiser at a nudist camp is the lack of deep pockets, or any pockets.
Nothing says "credibility and gravitas" like a fundraiser at a nudist colony ...
Lake Edun
Get it?
I thought the point was to raise money, not frighten people to death.
Kind of ironic I'd say.
Darn. And all those clams and sausages are going to go uneaten.
If it was a 'clothing required' event, I wonder if they still would have required a permit.
Ping-0
Why is it these things are always being held by the wrong people? Now... if it were the Kansas City Chiefs cheerleaders - then you'd have something!
Probably embarassed.
You have a point there about publicity by having it at that location - and I would imagine that the foreknowledge that no permit would be granted was more reason to try to have it there -
The real shame of this matter is that the Libertarian party feels the need (even if it IS warranted) to stoop to these kinds of stunts to attract even the periphery of a spotlight. It seems as though Decorum is following the footsteps of Chivalry.
Thread Jester Ping
A low-volume pinglist dedicated for all the thread jesters out there--you know who you are...8^)
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Thanks to ARealMothersSonForever for the heads up...8^)
But how would the Libertarians carry their concealed weapons?
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