Meet Phil Anderson, Libertarian Candidate For Governor in Wis.

MADISON, WI — Phil Anderson is a Libertarian candidate for governor who will be on the ballot during the Aug. 14, 2018 primary election in Wisconsin.

Anderson, a 53-year-old real estate broker from Madison, Wis., is running on a number of key issues, including ending the state income tax, transferring more governmental functions and power from the state level to the local level, and leading multiple criminal justice reforms.

Patch.com reached out to Anderson's campaign to learn more about his political positions, accomplishements and vision for the Governor's office.

Name: Phil Anderson
Age: 53
Hometown: Madison, WI
Occupation: real estate broker

Please characterize where you fall on the political spectrum (liberal/moderate/conservative, etc.): Libertarian

Please describe your relevant political experience: Ran for State Assembly 2014, US Senate 2016, Chair of Libertarian Party of Wisconsin, member of Libertarian National Comittee

Please talk about the top 1 or 2 leading issues in your campaign and how you plan to approach them if elected:

1) End the state income tax. The income tax is a blank check to state government, as opposed to other taxes which are used for specific purposes. Ending the state income tax will help stop crony capitalism embodied in agencies like the WEDC and corporate giveaways like Foxconn. I will use my budget, and line item veto, to accomplish this.

2) Make Government Local Again. I will examine every function of state government and ask if it needs to be done, is it being done efficiently, can it be done locally, can it be done by private entities- and strike from my budget whatever can be eradicated, or done locally or privately.

3) Criminal Justice Reform. We must end the racist War on Drugs in Wisconsin, by first, legalizing recreational marijuana. Even most Republican-leaning people agree with legalization, and their party does not represent them on this.

We must also decriminalize other drugs and treat drug addiction as a medical problem and move users into treatment programs and out of jails. I will oppose, wherever possible the Federal War on Drugs and any attempts to subvert state laws.

We must roll back mandatory minimum sentencing laws, so that judges are free to determine the just sentence for a particular situation. We must not block juries from being aware of jury nullification. Juries do have the right to return a verdict of not guilty, not based on evidence, but based on an unjust law. Current practice in Wisconsin forbids juries from being informed of their right to nullify, and as Governor, I will end this injustice, so that juries can do the right thing in response to unjust laws.

As Governor I will immediately convene a Pardon Advisory Board, comprised of legal advisors and community members, and begin pardoning those incarcerated for victimless crimes. I will also support and promote expungement of criminal records of those only guilty of victimless crimes.

We must also honor and consider basic voting rights for all Wisconsinites. Convicted felons, once out of jail but still on paper, are prohibited from voting in Wisconsin. The punishment does not fit the crime. Everyone of legal age and residency should be free, and indeed encouraged, to vote, unless they are guilty of voter fraud.

Your vote is your voice, and we must not silence people’s political voices unjustly. None of us are truly free until we are all free, and it is my intent as Governor to insist on a system that treats those most historically oppressed and incarcerated the same as everyone else- with justice and parity.

Submitted Photo

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