Activist, Entertainer, and Federal Convict NA Poe Accepts Libertarian Nomination for Philly City Council

At a convening of the Libertarian Party of Philadelphia last night at Abbaye bar in Northern Liberties, members officially nominated Richard Tamaccio, known as N.A. Poe, as their candidate in the May 20th special election for Philadelphia City Councilman-At-Large. Council President Darrel Clarke announced the special election in March to be held to fill the seat left vacant by Councilman Bill Greene, now head of the School Reform Commission.

Poe, not a member of the Libertarian Party, began working with Liberty movement activists through his comedy troupe The Panic Hour’s monthly civil disobedience action at Independence Mall, Smokedown Prohibition, where he was arrested last May along with Libertarian celebrity Adam Kokesh, and eventually charged with and convicted of marijuana possession and other misdemeanors, for which he is currently serving a year of federal probation. The group’s Meetup Page has already received a comment questioning the nomination, which was soundly rebutted by another member. Party Chair Richard Schwarz, who was reelected last night at the party’s annual meeting, said that Poe’s non-membership in the party was not a stumbling-block in his receiving the nomination. “I think you would have trouble finding any single person in the city of Philadelphia who has done more for the cause of liberty this past year than Poe,” Schwarz said.

“Anyway, I think he’s more Libertarian than Gary Johnson was when he ran for president two years ago,” laughed Schwarz.

Poe is expected to be on the ballot May 20th with Democrat Representative Ed Neilson and Republican Anthony Wolfe, as well as any independent candidate that can gather 1,785 signatures supporting their candidacy. The Declaration is extending an invitation to all candidates to participate in a public debate, date and location to be announced in the very near future.