R. Lee Wrights

Roger Lee Wrights (June 8, 1958 - May 4, 2017) was an American politician, activist and political consultant. He was the founder, editor, and publisher of the online libertarian newsletter Liberty For All. He was the National Vice Chair of the Libertarian National Committee, serving several different times in that role. Wrights was an unsuccessful contender for the 2012 presidential nomination of the Libertarian Party, finishing as first runner-up to the eventual nominee Gary Johnson. He was briefly a candidate for Governor of Texas in 2014.
Personal life
Wrights was born on June 8, 1958, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He graduated from West Forsyth High School in Clemmons, North Carolina in 1976. Afterwards he enlisted in the United States Air Force, and served as a medical services technician at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Goldsboro, North Carolina.
Wrights earned a degree from Willmar College in Willmar, Minnesota where he majored in history and journalism. After college, he was a contributing editor for the Eagle News, a monthly political news and commentary newspaper in Forsyth County. after a lengthy illness.
Career
Online
Wrights founded Liberty For All with J. Michael Bragg in 2000, a free speech publication with the motto "Let Your Voice Be Heard" which claims "no one is turned away and no one is censored". Rational Review News Digest continues to publish at news.rationalreview.com.
From 2005 to 2008, Wrights worked as editor of the Choice Channel for the International Society for Individual Liberty. He previously held that position from 2004 to 2006.
On April 16, 2011, Wrights officially announced his candidacy for the Libertarian presidential nomination in the election of 2012. Wrights supported a non-interventionist foreign policy. The stated focus of his campaign was to "stop all war", referring not only to war with foreign nations, but also to war on the American people and their civil liberties waged by the U.S. government. His campaign slogan was "I am not at war".
At the 2012 Libertarian National Convention, Wrights was defeated for the LP presidential nomination by former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, finishing second in the balloting with 25% of the delegate votes.
Following the defeat, Wrights expressed support for Johnson in his general election campaign. He was then nominated as a candidate for the LP vice-presidential slot. Wrights was defeated for that nomination by retired California Superior Court Judge Jim Gray, finishing second in the balloting with 38% of the delegate votes.
The following day, Wrights was nominated for National Chair of the LNC, but declined the nomination. He chose instead to run for National Vice Chair of the LNC, and won election to that office. In January 2014, he withdrew his candidacy, citing fundraising difficulties.
Death
Wrights died at age 58 on May 4, 2017, following a series of health ailments.

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