Liberty Activist, Free Stater Running for Governor as a Democrat

Liberty activist Ian Freeman, a Free State Project supporter from Keene, has filed papers to run for governor of New Hampshire as a Democrat.

The candidate filing June 12 puts Freeman, a talk show host, in a primary with Gov. Maggie Hassan, D-Exeter.

Freeman filed papers with Secretary of State William Gardner on the same day as the incumbent filed for another two-year term.

He made news earlier this spring when he was arrested by New Hampshire State Police on charges of unsworn falsification and prohibitions for allegedly using different names to obtain identification from the state.

On his talk show, on Free Talk Live, Freeman blasted the charge as a "ridiculous technicality" in the law concerning an attempt to officially change his legal name to "Ian Freeman" while still being able to drive (his legal name is Ian Bernard), Concord-NH Patch reported.

Freeman is also associated with the Keene "Robin Hooders," which have made national headlines for pestering parking meter readers. Even The New York Times covered the meter-reading donnybrook in a story with a slideshow called, "Freeing a city that didn't know it was enslaved."

Clecia Terrio of Manchester also filed June 12 to run for the Democratic nomination for governor.

On the Republican side, the candidates are Walt Havenstein and Andrew Hemingway. 

The state filing period closes Friday, June 13, at 5 p.m.