May 1998
Across the country, state parties file "largest ever" candidate slates
From California to Michigan to Missouri, LP state organizations have announced some of their largest-ever slates of candidates for public office -- giving the Libertarian Party a chance to hit its goal of 1,000 candidates in 1998.
"In 1996, we ran over 850 candidates," said LP National Director Ron Crickenberger. "For '98, we are off to a great start to beat that number. And with more candidates comes more exposure for Libertarian ideas -- and most importantly, more Libertarians in office."
Recent candidate announcements include:
* Missouri: The LP has 47 candidates on the ballot -- including a full slate of nine Congressional candidates, for the second election in a row.
In all, the state LP filed 37 candidates for state and federal office and 10 for county offices.
"I am proud of all our candidates," said State Chair Jim Givens. "They are not doing this for personal gain. Their goals are modest: They simply want to change the world."
* Michigan: When the state party emerged from its state convention in East Lansing April 5, it had nominated 93 candidates for public office -- a 20% increase over the number of candidates the LP ran in 1996.
For the second consecutive election, the party is contesting all 16 U.S. Congressional seats, and is running candidates for 51 Michigan House and Senate seats. The state LP also has 10 candidates for statewide office and 16 running for county posts.
"We are offering voters some terrific candidates," said State Chair Tim O'Brien.
* California: The "Golden State" LP is running more candidates this year than the Natural Law Party, the Peace & Freedom Party, the Reform Party, and the Green Party -- combined.
The LP has 95 candidates on the ballot this year, compared to 44 candidates for the Natural Law Party; 25 for the California-based Peace & Freedom Party; 14 for Ross Perot's Reform Party; and 11 for the Green Party.
The disparity is widest for the State Assembly (80 seats), where the 39 Libertarian candidates trounce the Natural Law's 11, the Peace & Freedom's five, the Reform party's five, and the Green Party's two candidates.
"The other third parties seem to be giving up the ghost," said Ted Brown, the LP of California's candidate recruiter.
