John Sophocleus

John Peter Sophocleus is an economist and libertarian political activist in Alabama.

Career in economics

Sophocleus has taught economics at Clemson University, Auburn University, and Auburn University Montgomery. He has been twice nominated to the "Who's Who Among American Teachers". He is an adjunct faculty member of the Mises Institute ["Faculty Members." Ludwig von Mises Institute. "Mises.org". [http://www.mises.org/faculty.aspx] ] and occasionally lectures there, usually on United States tariff history. Sophocleus generally teaches the principles of microeconomics.

His 1988 article "The Social Cost of Rent-seeking" with David Laband, published in "Public Choice", has been cited by Gordon Tullock and others. ["John P. Sophocleus." Google Scholar. [http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=John%20P.%20Sophocleus] ]

Political efforts

In 1996, he was the Libertarian Party candidate for Alabama's 3rd District, U.S. House of Representatives seat, opposing Republican Bob Riley.

In 2002, Sophocleus entered the Alabama gubernatorial race on the Libertarian Party of Alabama's ticket against incumbent Don Siegelman and previous opponent Bob Riley. In the 2002 race, which was one of the closest in Alabama's history, Sophocleus received 23,242 votes (~2%) ["Politics: 2002 Governors." "USA Today". 20 May 2005. [http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/2002-governors-all-table.htm] ] , a number which was greater than the margin of victory in the race.

According to a 16 November 2002 "New York Times" editorial by John J. Miller::"The only reason the governor's race in Alabama was so close this year as to be disputed beyond election night was that the Libertarian candidate, John Sophocleus, attracted 23,000 votes." [Miller, John J. "A Third Party on the Right." Editorials. "New York Times". 16 November 2002. [http://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/16/opinion/16MILL.html?ei=5070&en=c82c662bf125787b&ex=1178769600&pagewanted=print&position=top] ] [Reynolds, Glenn. Instapundit.com. 16 November 2002. [http://instapundit.com/archives/005531.php] ]

On 8 June 2006, in the wake of Stephen P. Gordon's acceptance of a position with the national Libertarian Party and subsequent resignation from the LPA Executive Committee, Sophocleus was named Vice-Chairman of the Libertarian Party of Alabama. ["LPA Officers." Libertarian Party of Alabama. [http://al.lp.org/officers.htm] ]

Eminent domain conflict

Since 1998, Sophocleus has been involved in litigation with the State of Alabama, the Alabama Department of Transportation, and others over the seizure of his US Highway 280 home via eminent domain. Sophocleus contends that the state acted improperly by evicting him and allowing highway workers to live in his house for several months (while he still held legal title to the home) rather than immediately demolishing it as was stated would happen in District Court.

Notes

External links

* [http://supreme.lp.findlaw.com/supreme_court/orders/2005/100305pzor.html Writ of Certiorari] granted by the US Supreme Court in case against AL Department of Transportation
* [http://www.mises.org/media.aspx?action=showname&ID=642 Mises.org media archive for John Sophocleus]
* [http://southernevents.org/free_traders.htm "Free Traders, Not Traitors -- Economic Issues And The War For Southern Independence"]
* [http://www.lewrockwell.com/anderson/anderson59.html Article discussing 2002 gubernatorial campaign]