Post by shoreman on Jul 31, 2006 15:37:47 GMT -5
Libertarian candidate for governor fighting third-party image
12:29 AM CDT on Sunday, July 30, 2006
By CLAIRE CUMMINGS / The Dallas Morning News
www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/073006dntexwerner.1c6e188.html
The biography on James Werner's Web site exclaims that the Libertarian gubernatorial candidate is just "a regular guy."
That wasn't his idea.
"My Webmaster put that up there," Mr. Werner said, laughing. "He said, 'I think you're just a regular guy – in a good way.' "
In an unusual governor's race featuring three attention-getting politicians and a highly quotable entertainer, Mr. Werner is indeed the regular guy – hardly known and barely mentioned.
But he says that's an advantage.
"I always thought that I could just do it better than the people who do it for a living," the candidate said by phone from his office in Austin.
Mr. Werner, 43, grew up in New England and spent most of his adult life in California, where he was a fundraiser for not-for-profit organizations, primarily groups involving education. He's been a software sales and marketing executive in Austin for the past eight years.
As governor, Mr. Werner says, he would dramatically shrink the government by eliminating all state taxes in favor of a single "fair" sales tax. He also would push to repeal laws restricting drugs and guns.
"Not every Libertarian position is going to be approved of by every voter," Mr. Werner said. "But the fact that we are willing to take a dramatic stand against the status quo is something people respect."
Nobody knows about fighting third-party stereotypes better than Jeff Daiell of Houston. He joined the Libertarian Party in the 1970s and ran for Texas governor in 1990 and 2002.
The challenge is raising enough money to compete with million-dollar major party opponents, Mr. Daiell said.
Figures released this month show Mr. Werner raised less than $2,000 in the most recent reporting period. Each of Mr. Daiell's campaigns garnered at least $20,000 by the end.
"The other problem is that people are just brought up to think that third parties are sinister or flaky," Mr. Daiell said.
But Libertarian leaders say that people are beginning to look beyond traditional parties and that more are willing to vote minor-party candidates into offices.
The party consistently draws enough votes to win an automatic spot on the ballot in the next campaign. And this year, there will be 170 Libertarian candidates across the state, the most in the party's history, said Wes Benedict, executive director of the Libertarian Party of Texas.
"Big deal," said Harvey Tucker, professor of political science at Texas A&M University.
"Minor-party candidates are minor-party candidates because they can't win. They will not win. They don't win," Mr. Tucker said. "The definition of minor for most people is loser."
Mr. Benedict said he's realistic about his party's chance of winning office.
He views Mr. Werner's goal as simply continuing to build up party support.
"There's a lot more who agree with us than have been voting for us," the party leader said.
12:29 AM CDT on Sunday, July 30, 2006
By CLAIRE CUMMINGS / The Dallas Morning News
www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/073006dntexwerner.1c6e188.html
The biography on James Werner's Web site exclaims that the Libertarian gubernatorial candidate is just "a regular guy."
That wasn't his idea.
"My Webmaster put that up there," Mr. Werner said, laughing. "He said, 'I think you're just a regular guy – in a good way.' "
In an unusual governor's race featuring three attention-getting politicians and a highly quotable entertainer, Mr. Werner is indeed the regular guy – hardly known and barely mentioned.
But he says that's an advantage.
"I always thought that I could just do it better than the people who do it for a living," the candidate said by phone from his office in Austin.
Mr. Werner, 43, grew up in New England and spent most of his adult life in California, where he was a fundraiser for not-for-profit organizations, primarily groups involving education. He's been a software sales and marketing executive in Austin for the past eight years.
As governor, Mr. Werner says, he would dramatically shrink the government by eliminating all state taxes in favor of a single "fair" sales tax. He also would push to repeal laws restricting drugs and guns.
"Not every Libertarian position is going to be approved of by every voter," Mr. Werner said. "But the fact that we are willing to take a dramatic stand against the status quo is something people respect."
Nobody knows about fighting third-party stereotypes better than Jeff Daiell of Houston. He joined the Libertarian Party in the 1970s and ran for Texas governor in 1990 and 2002.
The challenge is raising enough money to compete with million-dollar major party opponents, Mr. Daiell said.
Figures released this month show Mr. Werner raised less than $2,000 in the most recent reporting period. Each of Mr. Daiell's campaigns garnered at least $20,000 by the end.
"The other problem is that people are just brought up to think that third parties are sinister or flaky," Mr. Daiell said.
But Libertarian leaders say that people are beginning to look beyond traditional parties and that more are willing to vote minor-party candidates into offices.
The party consistently draws enough votes to win an automatic spot on the ballot in the next campaign. And this year, there will be 170 Libertarian candidates across the state, the most in the party's history, said Wes Benedict, executive director of the Libertarian Party of Texas.
"Big deal," said Harvey Tucker, professor of political science at Texas A&M University.
"Minor-party candidates are minor-party candidates because they can't win. They will not win. They don't win," Mr. Tucker said. "The definition of minor for most people is loser."
Mr. Benedict said he's realistic about his party's chance of winning office.
He views Mr. Werner's goal as simply continuing to build up party support.
"There's a lot more who agree with us than have been voting for us," the party leader said.