QUOTE:
What I propose is being honest about what we believe and begin to run for these unopposed seats.

I don't think anyone suggested being dishonest. Some Republicans advocate small government, want to end the wars (on drugs and Iraq), and want to return government to the duties limited by the constitution. (Hint: Ron Paul).

QUOTE:
The second thing is that the Rep party never recovered.

This sounds like an opportunity to rebuild the committee as "Ron Paul Republicans", assuming there is a market for liberty in your township.

QUOTE:
If ballot access is denied, we need to use the local press to push for equity.

This confuses me a wee bit. If these seats are unopposed, are you complaining that 2nd column isn't good enough? How would "ballot access" be denied? Will you have trouble getting 100 signatures on a petition as a Libertarian? What exactly do you expect the local press to do for a 3rd party candidate?

QUOTE:
I don't believe you can change things from within.

I'm not sure what you're saying here. Isn't changing things as an elected Councilman "from within". I'm thinking you must mean "by running as a Republican" won't change things. You already perceive problems with ballot access as a Libertarian. Don't you think, by your own projection, that it is infinitely easier to enter the system as one of the two established parties?

If you have a total void of Republicans in your town, then you won't have the problem of pleasing the party bosses, and your chances of getting elected won't be better as a Libertarian. History shows us that 1.5% is about as good as it gets for a Lib. I've heard ancient folklore that some absolutely stellar candidates with deep pockets have approached 20% vote totals (I've never met one). I think the absolute worst Republican (when one is on the ballot) gets 25% in NJ.

There are tremendous advantages to running as one of the old parties. You don't have to convince the media that you are a legitimate candidate. You don't have to convince a voter that you are a legitimate candidate.

If you run as a Republican, all you have to do is convince the voter that you aren't George Bush or John McCain.

QUOTE:
They're too ingrained.

I don't know who "they" refers too. The media? Yup! They're ingrained to ignore 3rd parties. Voters? Yup, ditto! If you mean Republican Party Leadership, I thought you said there aren't any in your town.

I don't know what issues you hope to run on, but at the town level, I think it would be taxes, taxes, taxes. What position would you take on taxes that wouldn't appeal to self-proclaimed fiscal conservatives? At the town level, you aren't going to get to impact policy on wars of aggression, drug prohibition, reproductive rights, prostitution, gaming, or any of the litany of so-called "Libertarian" positions.

Truth be told, there isn't much of the budget you can fix either. Pensions have to be funded, labor contracts have to be honored, etc. The bulk of your taxes are wasted on the schools, and is mostly out of the hands of Councilmen.

So, I ask you, what is it you will have trouble being honest about if you were to run as a "Ron Paul Republican" with a platform appropriate to a small town office? Is it worth the guaranteed media blackout of a 3rd party candidate?

The voter sees us as gun-totin', pot-smokin' economists. Visit this "humor" site to see what Joe Sixpack thinks of Libertarians: http://uncyclopedia.org/wiki/Libertarian_Party

Be honest about what you believe in, and put an R after your name on the ballot. You'll get the highest vote total of any NJLP member in history.

[Disclaimer: You might think I'm a Republican troll bent on destroying the NJLP. I have high hopes for the current leadership. I think that one needs to define what they hope to accomplish. Education, outreach, legal pursuits, and fellowship are fine goals. Getting elected is not the strong suit of the NJLP. Send them your $15 and run as an R. Oh, and speak at the convention after you're elected.]