First Amendment attorney Luke Lirot is perhaps best known for being Joe Redner's defense counsel when he fought local government's attempts to crack down on his nude dancing establishments. Now Lirot has been hired by Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Adrian Wyllie to help get him included in the televised gubernatorial debates that begin next month.Though Wyllie was initially invited to be in an Oct. 15 debate at Broward College sponsored by Leadership Florida and the Florida Press Association, organizers have now adopted rules that candidates must have at least 15 percent voter support to be included — up from their earlier stance that candidates must have 7 percent.
Wyllie has consistently been averaging around 8 percent in most recent polls, a notable take for a third-party candidate.
“The campaign is set to fight to make sure that we be included in the debates and we will not stand for our voices to be silenced by erroneous criteria set out to exclude viable alternatives in the race," Wyllie said in a statement released this week. "What has changed in our political environment to warrant such a significant change in their criteria? Why in 2006 was 7 percent viable, but in 2014 it is 15 percent?"
In addition to working on notable First Amendment cases, Lirot was part of a legal team (along with Mark Adams and Ellis Rubin) that was successful in getting third-party gubernatorial candidate Max Linn included in a 2006 debate with Charlie Crist and Jim Davis. (That debate, hosted by MSNBC's Chris Matthews, was an absolutely wild affair that frequently dealt with issues more appropriate for a Senate debate than a gubernatorial one).
"After meeting with Mr. Lirot, I feel he not only understands the battle we are willing to take on, but is as devoted to the cause of having the undeniable third option heard on the debate stage,” Wyllie campaign manager Danielle Alexandre said. “I feel he has the same vigor as all of our staff and volunteers do, to ensure that Adrian be on that stage. I could not be happier to have him join our team."
"For too long, the Republican-Democrat 'duopoly' has controlled the conversation, and they have used their power to silence the competition. Their attempts to exclude me from the debates is just another example," said Wyllie. "The people of Florida are demanding a third choice, and we are going to make sure that their voice is heard. We will not go quietly."