Arthur C. Olivier (born August 24, 1957) is an American politician who was the Libertarian candidate for Vice President of the United States in the 2000 U.S. presidential election as the running mate of presidential candidate Harry Browne.[1]

Art Olivier
Olivier in 2006
Mayor of Bellflower, California
In office
1998–1999
Personal details
Born (1957-08-24) August 24, 1957 (age 67)
Lynwood, California, U.S.
Political partyLibertarian
SpouseJoyce (m. 1987 div. 2022)
Children3
Alma materCerritos College

Olivier later unsuccessfully ran in the 2024 Libertarian Party presidential primaries for the party's presidential nomination.[2][3] Olivier served as a councilman (1994–1997), mayor pro tempore (1997–1998) and mayor (1998–1999) of Bellflower, California, a Los Angeles suburb with 77,000 residents. During his five years on the Bellflower City Council (1994–1999), Olivier privatized the city's tree trimming, crossing guards, street sweeping and building department. He eliminated the city's lighting tax assessment and did not allow eminent domain to be exercised while on the council.

A graduate of Cerritos College with a degree in Design Technology, Olivier is a realtor with Cogburn Realty.

Views

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During the campaign for vice president, Olivier advocated smaller government, "We have to reduce the size of the federal government back to the size of its constitutional limits."[4] Critical of the U.S. foreign policy of interventionism,[5] [unreliable source] he said he would like the government to return U.S. troops from abroad[6] and make the Department of Defense get back to defending us, and not be a Department of Offense that bombs little countries."[7] "I don't believe we should be the world's policeman."[8] He believes that U.S. foreign policy should be governed by an avoidance of “entangling alliances."[9] "The conflicts this country has entered into cause others to look badly upon America."[10]

Olivier ran uncontested for governor in the 2006 Libertarian primary. He received 114,329 votes (1.3%) in his loss to incumbent Arnold Schwarzenegger in the general election.[1][11] Olivier criticized Governor Schwarzenegger for passing a budget that was “30% larger than the one that got Governor Gray Davis recalled just three years ago.”[12] Olivier's main earned media was talk radio, advertising his opposition to illegal immigration. Olivier favored having the government build a wall on the border and cut off all tax-funded programs to illegal immigrants.[1][13]

Campaigns

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2000 Libertarian vice presidential nominee

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On July 4, 2000, Olivier was chosen as the Libertarian Party's vice presidential nominee for the 2000 Presidential Election. He beat Steve Kubby on the second ballot. He ran with Harry Browne.[14] They got 5th place and 384,431 votes.

2006 California gubernatorial campaign

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In the 2006 California gubernatorial election, Olivier ran against Arnold Schwarzenegger and Phil Angelides. He said he appeared on more talk radio shows than all other candidates combined.[15] Olivier finished in 4th place. He got around 1% of the vote.

2024 Libertarian presidential campaign

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Olivier ran for president in the 2024 Libertarian Party primaries. He earned 5 votes in the primaries.[16]

In the first round of voting in the 2024 Libertarian National Convention, Olivier got 4 delegate votes. He was eliminated in the first round. The nomination eventually went to Chase Oliver.[17]

Operation Terror

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Olivier is supportive of the 9/11 truth movement.[18] In 2012, he wrote and produced the thriller film Operation Terror, which depicted a fictionalized version of the September 11 attacks in New York City, 2001. The movie's plot centered on a group of American government insiders that organized and assembled a group of people to attack the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. In writing Operation Terror, Olivier used dialogue taken from transcripts of the investigation by the 9/11 Commission and based the film's characters on real-life players in the 9/11 attack.

The film premiered on September 11, 2012, in Los Angeles, and received the Honorable Mention Award at the International Film Festival for Peace, Inspiration and Equality and won the Genre Film: Thriller award at the International Movie Awards. The film's director, Paul Cross, was also nominated for Best Director at the Fajr International Film Festival.[19]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Doherty, Brian (August 22, 2006) "Minuteman ?s Libertarian Party Candidate", Reason. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  2. ^ Pre-Caucus Libertarian Debate, retrieved January 18, 2024
  3. ^ "2000 VP Nominee, Art Olivier, Seeks 2024 Libertarian Party Presidential Nomination" Californer.com.
  4. ^ The Herald Bulletin, Madison County, Indiana 8-20-2000
  5. ^ "Former Libertarian VP Candidate Art Olivier Calls for New Approach to 9/11". Independent Political Report. July 20, 2011./
  6. ^ The Tampa FL Tribune 10-7-2000
  7. ^ The Indianapolis Star 8-21-2000
  8. ^ Santa Maria CA Times 10-25-2000
  9. ^ Los Angeles Times 7-4-2000
  10. ^ Aspen Daily News 9-11-2000
  11. ^ “CA 2006 General Election: Governor” Archived June 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Office of the Secretary of State of California.
  12. ^ CBS13.com Voter Guide: Comparison, 2006.
  13. ^ “Art Olivier, Libertarian candidate for governor, stops by” Archived 2007-01-29 at the Wayback Machine, Orange County Register blog.
  14. ^ "Libertarian Party National Convention". C-Span. July 2, 2000. Archived from the original on July 18, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  15. ^ Olivier, Art. "2000 Libertarian Vice President Nominee". A Passion for Freedom. Archived from the original on March 29, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  16. ^ "✨Official Straw Poll Results of the LPPA Presidential Candidate Debate✨". X.
  17. ^ Libertarian Party National Convention 2024 Day 3. Retrieved June 2, 2024 – via www.youtube.com.
  18. ^ "Former Libertarian VP Candidate Art Olivier Calls for New Approach to 9/11". July 20, 2011. [unreliable source]
  19. ^ "Fajr Fest English site". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
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Party political offices
Preceded by Libertarian nominee for Vice President of the United States
2000
Succeeded by