Libertarians in the news

The Salisbury (Maryland) Daily Times writes about Libertarian Mike Calpino:

SALISBURY — Mike Calpino, a Nanticoke resident who says government needs a philosophical makeover, will run against Stevie Prettyman for her Wicomico County Council seat.

"We need to change the way we do government. Trying to be all things for all people is too expensive," Calpino says.

The Daily Caller reports on our increased number of candidates:

For the 2010 election, 171 candidates for U.S. Congress are running with an “L” beside their names, up from 127 in 2008 and 114 in 2006. At all levels of public office, the party counts 716 candidates running as Libertarians this year, compared to 593 in 2008, and 596 in 2006.

Wes Benedict, executive director of the Libertarian National Committee, said that some of these declared candidates might not meet the requirements to be placed on the ballot. The party will add new candidates up until the election, though, and he thinks the final candidate number could remain above 700.

WCPN (Ohio) covers Libertarian candidate for governor Ken Matesz:

Ohio voters who don’t want to vote for Democrat Ted Strickland or Republican challenger John Kasich for governor do have other choices. A few minor party candidates are also running. Among them is Libertarian Ken Matesz. Following the libertarian philosophy, he’s pushing for big cuts in government programs. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen has this report.

The Denver Westword writes about Libertarian Christine Smith:

Colorado’s favorite John Denver-loving libertarian is back in politics, two years after her unsuccessful run for the Libertarian Party’s presidential nomination left her angry at the process. Christine Smith, a freelance writer who penned A Mountain in the Wind — An Exploration of the Spirituality of John Denver in 2001 and organized a festival honoring the late singer for six years, will challenge Republican Tom Massey in House District 60, which includes Chaffee, Custer, Fremont, Park, Saguache and Pueblo counties.

FortBendNow writes about Kathie Glass, Texas Libertarian candidate for governor:

Kathie Glass, a Houston attorney, has won the Libertarian Party’s nomination for governor.

Glass will face incumbent Gov. Rick Perry and former Houston mayor Bill White in the November gubernatorial election.

After being picked as the Libertarian Party’s candidate, Glass called the upcoming election “our time.”

“We will leave this convention as a united party,” Glass said. “Texans want smaller government and more freedom. This is the message that we bring.”

The Orlando Sentinel writes about Florida’s first-ever primary contest between Libertarians:

Voters in Orange, Seminole and Volusia counties will see something on their Aug. 24 primary ballot that’s never before been seen in Florida, according to the Secretary of State’s office: a primary contest between two third-party candidates.

Libertarian Party members Ellen Paul and Franklin Perez have both qualified to run for the 33rd District seat in the Florida House, the seat that’s been held for the past eight years by Republican Sandy Adams.