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BlogElection 2020

25+ Years of Real-World Experience as Author, Activist, Attorney

by Carla Gericke
written by Carla Gericke

EDITOR’S NOTE: This post originally appeared on my old Carla4NHSenate website in October 2018. It has since been updated to include awesome new stuff like publishing my first book! 🙂

I finished high school when I was 16 years old, and law school when I was 21. My first “job” was when I was eight-ish, when my sister, our best friend, and I would go–with our parents’ permission–to a neighborhood grocery store in Pretoria, and offer to push customers’ shopping carts and unload their bags into their cars for tips. We spent our “mad money” on Fantas and chips. In high school, I worked as a waitress at Giovanni’s Pizza, and in college, my summer jobs entailed making fibre glass bar stools by hand (ouch!) and working as an intake registrar/cashier at a local college.

Daughter of a South African diplomat, I’ve lived on 4 continents and remain an avid traveler, having visited 40 countries (and counting!). I won a green card in the Diversity Visa Lottery in 1994 and became a U.S. citizen in 2000.

I’m a writer, foodie, cook, gardener, photographer, amateur painter, hiker, Scrabble player, and documentary film buff. I practice yoga and shooting. I own a home in West Manchester with Louis Calitz, my husband since 1994, where we live with our new puppy, Obi.

I blog regularly here at Carla Gericke: The Art of Independence.

You can read more about the activism I have done to keep all Granite Staters free on Wikipedia.

On Manchester Public TV, I host The Carla Gericke Show and co-host Manch Talk TV. In the past, I co-hosted the Told You So and Free State Live podcasts, both currently on hiatus. I have appeared on C-SPAN, BBC, CNN, been quoted in the New York Times, The Economist and more, and have been a guest on a variety of news shows and podcasts.

I’m passionate about voluntary interactions, individual liberty, and am proud to call New Hampshire my chosen home. I believe all human interactions should be based on consent. My life philosophy is: Live free and thrive!

Copied below is my professional resume, which highlights my 25+ years of real-world experience and skills.

Carla Gericke

497 Hooksett Rd No.134, Manchester, NH, 03104
home: 603.865.7140 | email: carla@carlagericke.com
www.CarlaGericke.com

HIGHLIGHTS
  • Former attorney with 20+ years legal and executive non-profit experience
  • Charismatic and visionary leader with strong community support
  • Self-starter who excels at successfully completing projects
  • Excellent interpersonal, written, and public speaking skills
  • Strategic/creative/independent thinker: Law degree and M.F.A. in Creative Writing
  • Named one of NH Magazine’s 2014 “Remarkable Women”
WORK EXPERIENCE

Candidate for NH House of Representatives (2022)

  • Running as the Republican candidate in Ward 11, Manchester (Hillsborough 22).
Civic Leader (2008+) and Candidate for NH State Senate (2016, 2018, 2020)
  • Won landmark 1st Amendment case affirming right to film police encounters and eliminating the claim of qualified immunity; Gericke vs. Begin is widely cited and positively affects the rights of 13 million residents of the First Circuit
  • Strong, independent voice on liberty issues, including internet freedom/censorship, government accountability/transparency/overreach/privacy, and health freedom
  • Ran as the Republican candidate for NH State Senate in District 20 three times, going from 39-45%. Due to redistricting, I am now running for NH House in Ward 11 of Manchester (Hillsborough 22).
President, Free State Project (March 2011 – March 2016, volunteer since 2008)
  • Managed operations: budgeting, fundraising, board and media relations, online/social media
  • Drafted strategic plan with measurable outcomes and improved reporting and tracking systems
  • Grew two major annual events (+50% over 3 years) and recruited iconic speakers like Edward Snowden
  • Managed geographically dispersed team of 20+ volunteers and independent contractors
  • Sought-after speaker at national and international conferences, podcasts, radio and television
  • Quoted in The Economist, Wall Street Journal, New York Magazine, New York Times, Playboy, GQ, and elsewhere, appeared on CNN and WMUR
  • Devised marketing campaigns to promote NH as an appealing destination for liberty activists
  • Met organization’s overall mission of recruiting 20,000 participants 2 years ahead of schedule
  • Organized the Porcupine Freedom Festival x3 times (2009, 2010, 2020)
Acting Executive Director, New Hampshire Writers’ Project at SNHU (March 2008 – Oct 2013: Acting Executive Director; 2013, Program Director 2010-2012; Program Manager 2008-2010)
  • Managed daily operations including events planning and Writers’ Day, budgeting, grant writing, fundraising, and staff
  • Liaised with NHWP members, board, other NH non-profit arts organizations and businesses
  • Taught writing workshops and judged local writing contests
  • Managed media relations, online presence, website, and social media
  • Implemented CRM system to track progress and measure successes
Adjunct, City College of New York (Fall 2007)
  • Taught Freshman Composition while completing M.F.A. in Creative Writing
Writing Lab Tutor, 826NYC (Dec 2004 – Sept 2006)
  • Provided intensive one-on-one tutoring and mentoring to at-risk children ages 6-18
  • Edited “Nine Novels by Younger Americans” with author and 826NYC founder Dave Eggers
Management Consultant, eFormation Africa (Sept 2002 – May 2003)
  • Provided consulting services to South African educational non-profit
Sabbatical (December 2001– 2002)
  • Backpacked with husband on $15 daily budget through India, Asia, and Southern Africa
In-House Counsel, Scient Corporation (1999 – 2001)
  • Provided legal support to sales and marketing teams
  • Drafted, evaluated, negotiated and executed contracts, including IP licensing
  • Worked with Finance on risk management, including revenue recognition and pricing
  • Implemented company-wide best practices procedures and standardized forms
  • Managed paralegal and worked with team of 4 lawyers
  • Lead attorney on $30M Japanese subsidiary management buyout
In-House Counsel, Logitech Inc. (1998 – 2000)
  • Provided legal support to sales, marketing, and development teams
  • Drafted, evaluated, negotiated and executed contracts with private and public sector
Paralegal, Borland (1997 –1998)
  • Recruited by Associate General Counsel at Apple Inc. to Borland based on performance
  • General contract support: NDAs, Sales/Purchasing, Sub-Contracts, Consulting, Licensing, Independent Contractor, Master and Distribution Agreements
  • Corporate/SEC compliance and due diligence
Paralegal, Apple Inc. (1996 – 1997)
  • Worked as paralegal while taking the California Bar Exam, passed first attempt
  • Provided legal support and contract management assistance to sales/support teams
  • Worked on due diligence of NeXT acquisition
Stegmanns Attorneys (1994 – 1996)
  • Attorney licensed to practice in Supreme Court of South Africa
  • General practice with focus on Legal Aid pro-bono work serving the underprivileged
Anti-Apartheid Activist (1989-1994)
  • While completing law degree, involved in various anti-apartheid activities, including producing underground Zine called The Third “I” and writing for and acting in a banned play called Die Klein Krul Swart Haartjie
  • Attended Nelson Mandela’s public inauguration at the Union Buildings in 1994
CURRENT EDUCATIONAL NON-PROFIT BOARD POSITIONS
  • Free State Project, President Emeritus (2011+)
  • Foundation for New Hampshire Independence (President 2016-2021, now Board Member)
  • Right-to-Know NH, Secretary (2017-2020) now At-Large (2020+)
AUTHOR AND CREATIVE WRITING EXPERIENCE
  • “The Ecstatic Pessimist: Stories of Hope (Mostly),” a collection of award-winning short stories, essays, and opinion pieces now available in paperback and Kindle (2020)
  • “Ghost of a Dream” in Lumina (Spring 2009)
  • Translation of acclaimed South African author Eben Venter’s short story “Gabriel” (Winter 2008)
  • “The Ecstatic Pessimist” short story in Bonne Route No.19 (anthology, Winter 2007)
  • “Father Let Me Walk With Thee” in Ep;phany (Fall 2007)
  • “The Vitiation of John White Junior” at Lew Rockwell (Spring 2007)
  • “Duck, Duck, Goose” at Word Riot (Winter 2007)
  • “When We Talk About Words” in Dog Days (anthology, 2006), reprinted in Promethean (Fall 2007). Winner of $1,000 award for Best Student Fiction
  • “The Silent House of Noble” in Inkwell (Fall 2006)
  • “Blue Inked” at Rumble (Fall 2005)
  • “Double Happiness” in HerStory (anthology, Fall 2005)
  • “Perfect Timing” in Better Non Sequitur (anthology, Fall 2005)
  • “Holding Down a Dream” at Underground Voices (Winter 2005)
  • “The Devil in Her Eyes” at Pindeldyboz (Fall 2004)
  • “Victor/Victorious” in Wild Strawberries (Summer 2004)
  • Editor and contributor at Shire Liberty News
  • Editor and contributor at fsp.org
  • Founding editor and contributor to The Free Stater magazine
  • Essays and blogs at various online outlets
EDUCATION
  • The City College of New York, Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, 2008
  • University of Pretoria, South Africa, Baccalaureus Procurationis, 1993 (J.D. equivalent)
  • Pretoria High School for Girls, South Africa, 1988 (Form Prefect, Squash Captain)
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BlogElection 2020

I’m Your Gal…

by Carla Gericke
written by Carla Gericke

If you’re looking for the same-old, same-old, please, continue to vote for the 11-term, 82 year-old Establishment dude, a man who is rated an actual “Constitutional Threat,” a man who has now spent several d-e-c-a-d-e-s in the Senate reducing your freedoms, raising your taxes, writing legislation to control your personal choices, lock you down, and destroy your livelihoods. Lou D’Allesandro voted for SB1 this year, the bill that would introduce a statewide income tax! BOO!

If, however, YOU are looking for someone who is an independent thinker and can represent YOUR interests to keep government limited and in-check, someone who can restore balance to the Senate, then I’m your gal…

If you are looking for someone who is FRESH, HONEST, and has ‘TEGRIDY, who believes the content of your character matters, then I’m your gal.

If you are looking for someone to stand up to a sales or income tax, then I’m your gal.

If you are looking for someone who has 25+ years of mad, mad skills as an author, attorney, and activist, then I’m your gal.

If you are looking for someone who has been a lawyer on two continents (South Africa when I am originally from and California where I worked in-house for Apple and Logitech focusing on business deals and intellectual property), then I’m your gal.

If you are looking for someone who, as a diplomat’s daughter and trained mediator, works exceptionally well with diverse groups of people who don’t necessarily get along, then I’m your gal.

If you are looking for someone who enjoys life to the fullest, including the arts, and who, in addition to her law degree, has a Master in Fine Arts and has written a book, The Ecstatic Pessimist: Stories of Hope (Mostly), now available on Amazon or buy it directly from me, then I’m your gal.

If you are looking for someone who has dedicated a good chunk of her life to fighting for the underdog, from her days as an anti-apartheid activist in South Africa, to fighting against government overreach as a liberty activist in New Hampshire, then I’m your gal.

If you are looking for someone who strives for optimal balance in life and has done the work (including losing 65 lbs, quitting alcohol, and practicing mindfulness) to improve her own health so she can best inspire you, then I’m your gal.

If you are looking for someone who understands the future socio-economic problems that are going to emerge as a result of what 2020 has thrown our way, then I’m your gal.

If you are looking for someone who has been married to the same brilliant and loving man since 1994, and whose own parents just celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary, I’m your gal.

If you are looking for someone who will support open, accessible, transparent, and responsive government at every turn, then I’m your gal.

If you are looking for someone who understands criminal justice reform is critical, someone who has worked on police accountability issues for years, and someone who thinks cannabis should be legal for adult recreational use, including home grown, then I’m your gal.

If you are looking for someone who supports the Second Amendment because she understands exactly how important the right to defend yourself from government tyranny is (e.g. her great-grandmother was put in a British concentration camp during the Anglo-Boer War where 25% of all Afrikaaner women and children perished), then I’m your gal.

If you are looking for someone who is personally pro-life and does not support taxpayer funding of abortions, but also understands that this is a difficult personal decision that should not be fully outlawed, then I’m your gal.

If you are looking for a Senator who will record her votes, who is willing to wear a Go-Pro camera at the state house to show you exactly how the sausage is made, and who will continue to report local political shenanigans, then I’m your gal.

If you are looking for someone who will make New Hampshire politics as exciting as it is going to get, delivered with the widest, brightest smile you will find at the State House, then I’m your gal.

If, despite your party affiliation, or because you are “undeclared,” you want someone who loves New Hampshire so much, she chose NH as her forever home above all other places in the whole wide world, someone who will always put New Hampshire, the NH Advantage and Granite Staters first, who is dedicating her life to the notion that together we can “Live Free and Thrive!”, then I am your gal.

Change is possible! But it is up to YOU! Choose me, CARLA GERICKE for State Senate, in Goffstown and Manchester (Wards 3, 4, 10 and 11). I prevailed in my Primary in September, and now I ask for your vote on November 3rd… Pick me, Carla Gericke, because I’m your gal! 🙂

Request your Absentee Ballot to vote-by-mail.

Contribute to my LIVE FREE AND THRIVE! campaign today.

Show your support, request a yard sign and we’ll deliver it asap!

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In the MediaPodcasts

Guest Appearance on The Survival Podcast: Episode-2710- Carla Gericke on Strategic Relocation to New Hampshire

by Carla Gericke
written by Carla Gericke
Episode-2710- Carla Gericke on Strategic Relocation to New Hampshire

Carla Gericke (JD, MFA) is an advocate of liberty specializing in localized voluntarism, self-determination, and how responsible human action can lead to peace and prosperity. She is president emeritus of the Free State Project, and lives in New Hampshire with thousands of fellow freedom fighters. In 2014, Carla won a landmark case affirming the 1st Amendment right to film police encounters.

She has appeared on WMUR, CNN, and Fox News, been featured in GQ and Playboy, been quoted in The Economist, and has discussed libertarianism on the BBC. She has visited more than 40 countries, hiked to the base camp of the 10th highest mountain in the world, lost a shoe in a taxi more than once, had her passport stolen in Goa, got kidnapped in Vietnam, and has noshed on more “mystery meat” street food than she cares to admit.

Carla once spent an entire summer while working as in-house counsel at Logitech eating tuna fish sandwiches with Doug Engelbart (the Mother Of All Demos dude), she worked on Apple’s acquisition of Steve Job’s NeXT, and bought her first Bitcoin for $6. Carla co-hosts the Told You So podcast, and co-chairs Manch Talk TV. She serves on several non-profit boards, follows a Keto lifestyle, practices yoga and shooting, and plays a mean game of Scrabble.

Carla enjoys cooking, gardening, painting, reading, and watching documentary films. She has twice run for New Hampshire Senate, garnering 42% of the vote in 2018 against an 11-term incumbent, and believes in 2020, third time will be the charm! DONATE to her race TODAY!

Carla’s first book, a collection of award-winning short stories, essays, and speeches, The Ecstatic Pessimist is now available on Amazon. Says Nick Gillespie, Editor-at-Large of Reason Magazine: “It is a fantastic package of writings that veer from fiction, to autobiography and memoir, to political polemics. It’s great, mixes stories about substance abuse, lack of focus, historical wrongs and utopian attempts to remake the world as a better place in a very pragmatic way. I highly recommend The Ecstatic Pessimist: Stories of Hope (Mostly).”

Resources for today’s show…

Carla’s Links

Sponsors of the Day

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In the MediaPodcastsVideo

Guest Appearance: Unsafe Space

by Carla Gericke
written by Carla Gericke

I recently joined Carter of Unsafe Space for a freewheeling discussion about the Free State Project, my landmark court case, police reform, my Senate race, and more! Like what you hear? PLEASE show your support by:

Giving your most generous donation to my Senate race: Live free and thrive!
Buying my book, The Ecstatic Pessimist, now on Amazon.
Donating to the Free State Project. Now our last chance for Liberty in Our Lifetimes!

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Blog

What People Are Saying About PorcFest XVII

by Carla Gericke
written by Carla Gericke

This article from the Caledonian Record captures much of the spirit of the 17th Annual Porcupine Freedom Festival. Some excellent quotes by yours truly, too!

“I think Libertarians are the people in the middle,” said Carla Gericke, president emeritus of the Free State Project, created to recruit 20,000 libertarians to move to New Hampshire. “We’re the ones who actually do believe in ‘live and let live, don’t hurt other people, and don’t tell me what to do’.”

Carla Gericke

“I think there are a lot of angry people,” said Gericke about today’s political climate, noting that Libertarians “are people who have already channeled that anger, we’ve sort of processed it already, and we know what the problems are. So we get together at PorcFest to talk about the solutions.” Gericke, who is running against 11-term incumbent Lou D’Allesandro (D-Manchester) for the District 20 State Senate seat, said she hoped public dissatisfaction with the Democratic and Republican parties would lead to stronger support for third party candidates. “I hope it is our moment.”

Carla Gericke

“I mean, this is one of the biggest political events in the North Country. Earlier today there was a talk about school choice. And there’s people that come up from think tanks in Washington, D.C., they’ve had articles published in the New York Times and they’re talking about these policy issues at a high-end level, and it’s right in my own backyard,” said Beaulier. “So it’s really interesting seeing some of the people and personalities that come out. Some of them I agree with, and some of them are like totally nuts, but you get a really interesting mix of people.”

Calvin Beaulier

The amazing Jeffrey Tucker gave an incredible talk and wrote this excellent piece about PorcFest XVII for AIER, Broadway Closed But PorcFest Stayed Open. Some choice quotes below.

I’m sure that the organizers faced some pressure to call it off, but Carla Gericke looked past the propaganda and went ahead anyway. This year too was a bit different from usual, lacking some of the glitz and organizational formalism of the past. But we were no worse for it. There were talks on every aspect of health, economics, history, philosophy, commerce, crypto, firearms, COVID, and you name it. The main pavilion had something go on day and night, and there were mini gatherings all over the campground.

Jeffrey Tucker

All that aside, we used to speak of this country as the land of the free and home of the brave. Our response to this virus has sacrificed freedom based on fear. Rather than focusing on the actual problem — vulnerable people in nursing homes, many of which were actually forced to take in COVID-19 patients — we shut down nearly the whole country for absolutely no reason. 

Jeffrey Tucker

Never forget that the message of liberty is spreading! I received the following mail from someone who attended my PorcFest talk about police accountability:

The dais you were on at PorcFest about the good, the bad & the ugly moved me. I am a former 18 year Texas Police Officer. I currently live in Massachusetts and moving to New Hampshire soon. I would love to collaborate with you on establishing accountability between law enforcement and the public. This is near and dear to my heart.  I hope we can work together on this. 

Jay
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Blog

Questions for Mayor about Militarized Policing and Unnamed Federal Agents Operating in Manchester

by Carla Gericke
written by Carla Gericke

Yesterday, Mayor Joyce Craig posted this:

I stand with all those who are peacefully protesting the unjust killing of George Floyd, and the racism and violence directed at Black Americans across our country. We know we must do better, and I remain committed to listening to and supporting our community during this time of mourning and outrage.

Peaceful protest to bring attention to systemic racism is right, but causing destruction to our communities is not.

The Manchester Police Department has heard of potential threats to our City and are taking them extremely seriously. Our Emergency Operations Center will be open and operating this evening, and while we are hoping for a peaceful night in Manchester, the City is prepared for any scenario. We are working with our state and federal partners to ensure the safety of our City, and I am thankful to all of our first responders for all that they have done to keep Manchester safe and treat the people of our community with respect and compassion.

In response, I posted the following questions for Mayor Joyce Craig:

1. Will the MPD un-encrypt their police scanners so we can hear what is happening real-time (like it used to be until 2016 when, without any public input, they hid this important citizen’s oversight tool from us)? 
2. Will the BEARCAT be brought out? 
3. What other agencies, other than MPD, are being used? You mention “federal.” Which ones? Under what authority/law?
4. Will the MPD’s body cameras be switched on? Will this footage be made available to the public upon request, as Chief Capano is on the record saying BWC footage would be? 
5. Are any MPD officers working tonight also on the secret Laurie’s List (EES) of bad cops? If so, how many?
6. What use of force has been authorized? E.g. tear gas, rubber bullets, tazers, etc.
7. How much is this costing the taxpayers? Where is it accounted for (line item/budget)?

My point being, we need to end police militarization and policing in secret in order to restore public trust. You can start by answering my questions. I hope everyone is safe tonight. Thank you. #NHPolitics #NoPoliceStateNH

And followed up this morning with these additional comments:

If you are genuine in your desire to fix problems in Manchester, you need to address these questions. The MPD has been getting away with too much in the dark for too long… 

Did you know body cam footage is apparently NOT subject to Right-to-Know… why would this be the case other than to hide things? 

Why are the police scanners encrypted? Do the militarized police see ordinary citizens as the enemy? 

Remember this case? Look at the shocking lack of oversight we can expect from the AG’s office… the same individuals who are keeping a list of bad cops secret from the public even after a judge ruled in April last year that it should be disclosed because it is in the public interest to know who officers with “sustained findings of misconduct” are… 

I wonder if any MPD officers are on that list? Or, are any of these officers still employed in NH? 

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