None of the Above
I was born in Cape Girardeau, Mo., in 1972, and grew up in the Chaffee area where I still reside with my lovely wife and three beautiful and talented daughters. I have been employed in the paper industry for the past 14 years and am a member of St. Ambrose Catholic Church. In my spare time I support my local parochial school, listen to and perform music, and read.
This is my second run for U.S. Congress as the Libertarian Party candidate. In 2010 I was endorsed by the Boston Tea Party and received an "A" rating from the Gun Owners of America. Since my last campaign I supported the opposition to the smoking ban in Cape Girardeau, gathered signatures for the Show-Me Cannabis initiative, was elected to the Missouri State Libertarian Party Executive Committee, and recently won the Champion of Freedom Award.
I hope that my candidacy helps to advance the cause of individual liberty. I welcome your questions and comments. Thank you for reading!
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LIBERTARIAN PARTY CANDIDATE BILL SLANTZ ON AMERICA'S VOICE NOW WITH MICHAEL EVANS
Posted Wednesday, February 13, 2013, at 11:48 AM3Libertarian Party candidate for US Representative (MO-8), Bill Slantz, appears on America's Voice Now with Michael Evans, February 13, 2013. http://youtu.be/AEbY4C93aGM -
LIBERTARIAN PARTY NOMINATES BILL SLANTZ
Posted Sunday, February 10, 2013, at 7:22 PM2Contact: Rick Vandeven, Chair -- Libertarian Party Missouri 8th Congressional District Committee Tel: 573-318-5564 E-mail: rickvandeven@sbcglobal.net What: Libertarian Party Missouri 8th Congressional District Committee Nominates Bill Slantz Where: Scott County Courthouse, Benton... -
LIBERTARIAN PARTY ANNOUNCES CANDIDATES AND NOMINATING PROCEDURE FOR 8TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SPECIAL ELECTION
Posted Thursday, January 24, 2013, at 8:27 PM2Contact: Rick Vandeven, Chair -- Libertarian Party Missouri 8th Congressional District Committee Tel: 573-318-5564 E-mail: rickvandeven@sbcglobal.net What: Libertarian Party Missouri 8th Congressional District Forum and Nominating Convention Where: Scott County Courthouse, Benton... -
Happy Holidays! Now, Bend Over
Posted Saturday, December 29, 2012, at 8:48 AM3What is it about the holiday season that possesses CONgress, the Prez, and the rest of the Hitler Youth to perform the most dastardly of deeds? Is it because the country has a collective belly full of Figgie pudding, and is too busy playing with their new pacifiers to notice? I doubt it. We never notice things like the NDAA (Christmas 2011), or the Veteran's Disarmament Act (Christmas 2007) regardless of when the criminals in DC enact them... -
Jo Ann Emerson - Legacy of a Statist
Posted Thursday, December 27, 2012, at 9:13 AM12Not many professional politicians have been as effective as Jo Ann Emerson in the art of criticism deflection, and selling perception. Her entire political career is filled with examples of the use of public money to garner the support of the most vocal and wealthy special interest groups: senior citizens and the agriculture, telecommunication, medical, pharmaceutical, military, financial, and energy industries while limiting her public appearances to safe events like ribbon cuttings and GOP picnics. ... -
A Thanksgiving Tradition: The Tale of Lump's Parachute Pants
Posted Thursday, November 22, 2012, at 9:50 AMNOTE: I wrote this story several years ago, and always post it on my blog pages on Thanksgiving. Every year at Thanksgiving time I sit back and consider what I am thankful for currently in my life: my wonderful family and friends, a great job that is challenging and pays the bills, good health. Sometimes, I also like to ride a cheesy dream sequence to the past and remember those things I was thankful for in my youth - like the first pair of really awesome pants I ever owned!... -
It's Better To...
Posted Wednesday, November 7, 2012, at 8:23 PM4"It's better to..." First of all I want to thank my beautiful wife of 20 years, Darlene, for her continued support and encouragement. She has been witness to the highs and lows of running a Libertarian campaign in an establishment GOP stronghold district. ... -
Remember To Vote!
Posted Friday, November 2, 2012, at 1:44 PM3 -
Campaign News
Posted Friday, October 5, 2012, at 1:40 PM4October 12, 2012 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Rick Vandeven for US Representative campaign news... Rick Vandeven, Libertarian Party candidate for US Representative (MO-8), is proud to have received an "A" rating from the Gun Owner's of America. This is his second "A" rating from the organization. The GOA is a non-profit lobbying organization formed in 1975 to preserve and defend the Second Amendment rights of gun owners. Rick agrees with the GOA's position that firearms ownership is a freedom issue... -
Former Democrat Candidate Endorses Rick Vandeven for US Representative
Posted Tuesday, September 4, 2012, at 8:20 PMAugust 27, 2012 Rick Vandeven, Libertarian Party candidate for US Representative (MO-8), has been endorsed by Bob Camp of Cape Girardeau, a former Democrat candidate who received 67,760 votes in 2000 for the same office. Camp has cited Vandeven's support of medical marijuana as his reason for going public with the announcement... -
More Ethanol Boondoggle Facts and Fun
Posted Thursday, August 30, 2012, at 11:16 AM2A recent letter to the editor regarding ethanol mandates written by Jim Stuever of Dexter, MO http://www.semissourian.com/story/188735... caught my attention. I wondered why this particular individual was so passionate about preserving the federal ethanol mandate... -
The Pledge for Honest Candidates
Posted Sunday, August 12, 2012, at 7:38 AM5Despite the Pollyanna nomenclature, I have signed the "Pledge for Honest Candidates". The Pledge is distributed to candidates for public office by Writeindependent.org, an educational nonpartisan website that empowers people to engage and participate in American democracy by simplifying the candidate write-in process at the congressional, senatorial, and presidential levels of office... -
The Libertarian's Reaction to the August 7, 2012 Primary
Posted Thursday, August 9, 2012, at 9:50 PMAs a candidate from a third party which had no contested races for voters in the MO 8th Congressional District to decide, I am very proud that 166 people chose a Libertarian Party ballot. It is a bit confounding to me because it would be wonderful to know who these rebels are. ... -
A Note To Anyone But Obama 2012!
Posted Friday, August 3, 2012, at 5:47 PM4NOTE: I originally composed this in May, and posted it on the Community Bloggers (No Man's Land) of this website on my "Lumpy Nuggets" blog. Today I found another note from "Anyone But Obama 2012", and thought that it would generate more discussion here since I now have an official title. ... -
MO Libertarian Party Opposes Public Prayer Amendment
Posted Tuesday, July 31, 2012, at 5:10 AM3For Immediate Release Cisse W. Spragins, Ph.D. 612 309 9232 cisseforliberty@gmail.com The Missouri Libertarian Party Passes Resolution on Ballot Initiative Opposes Constitutional Amendment 2 On July 30th, the Missouri Libertarian Party passed a resolution on Constitutional Amendment 2 and issued the following statement:... -
The GOP Candidates Punt On the Failed War On Drugs
Posted Saturday, July 21, 2012, at 1:08 PM10(NOTE: an abridged version of this blog will appear in print as a "paid letter" in a future edition of the Southeast Missourian. I have posted it here for public discussion purposes) I have been following the recent scuttlebutt between the incumbent and her GOP rival Bob Parker's supposed support for an end to the failed war on drugs with a heavy dose of loathing and amusement... -
Truth Is Treason
Posted Wednesday, July 18, 2012, at 8:29 PM3Here is a full transcript of my speech to the Cape County Tea Party on July 17, 2012... Good evening! My name is Rick Vandeven, and I am proud to be THE Missouri 8th Congressional District Libertarian Party candidate for, or in my case, AGAINST Congress. I am grateful to have the opportunity to speak with you tonight... -
The Gift of Obamacare
Posted Sunday, July 15, 2012, at 11:57 AM6Recently, the Republicans in the US House of Representatives took time out of their busy schedule (naming newly constructed public buildings for local authoritarians, attending campaign fundraisers, and issuing official proclamations honoring sports teams) for another token vote on their trademark: opposition to the Affordable Care Act... -
Show-Me Cannabis Update
Posted Saturday, July 14, 2012, at 10:39 AMI received the following message from the Show-Me Cannabis Regulation activist group of which I am a member... Today, Maranda Reynolds of Springfield Cannabis Regulation -- Show-Me Cannabis Regulations' local affiliate -- turned in nearly 2,600 signatures from Springfield residents on a petition to the city clerk to remove criminal penalties for the possession of under 35 grams of cannabis in the city. ... -
You Say You Wanna Revolution?
Posted Wednesday, July 4, 2012, at 7:28 AM24I thought to myself, "this year, I am really going to kick that football". I did have some good, albeit misplaced, intentions of saying something positive about these here United States of America on Independence Day, or as the holiday has become known in the popular vernacular - The Fourth of July. Riddle: Do the English have The Fourth of July?...
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