LIBERTARIANS MAKE IT A THREE-WAY RACE FOR GOVERNOR
July 31, 2002
The Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania filed nomination papers in Harrisburg on Wednesday for their gubernatorial candidate Ken Krawchuk and his running mate Henry Haller, making them the first third party to officially qualify for the statewide race. Krawchuk submitted 23,710 notarized signatures to election officials, well over the required minimum of 21,028. A supplemental filing planned for Thursday is expected to bring that total to almost 32,000 signatures.
"This is a great day for Pennsylvania taxpayers", said Krawchuk at a press conference after the filing. "Now their concerns are sure to be represented in the political dialogue this fall. The voters won't have to accept bigger, more-expensive government as their only alternative."
To get on the ballot, Pennsylvania law requires that Krawchuk collect over ten times as many signatures as his fellow candidates Mike Fisher or Ed Rendell, even though the Pennsylvania Constitution mandates that all elections be equal. "I guess some political parties are more equal than others", Krawchuk said. "But their arbitrary election laws have created huge hurdles for us Libertarians. We spend so much time and effort getting on the ballot that it prevents us from campaigning and focusing on issues. It goes against democracy and all fairness. Are they afraid of the competition? All we're looking for is an even break."
In addition to Krawchuk and Haller, signatures were filed for ten other Libertarian candidates, including two congressmen, one state senator, and seven state representatives.
Founded in 1971, the Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in the state and the nation, with over 500 elected and appointed officials currently serving in office nationwide, and 71 in Pennsylvania, more than any other state except California. Like the Founding Fathers, Libertarians believe that you have a God-given, inalienable right to conduct your life as you see fit, without interference, so long as you respect the rights and property of others. For more information about the Libertarian Party, the public is invited to contact the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania at www.LpPa.org or (800) R-RIGHTS, or the National Libertarian Party at Lp.org or (202) 333-0008.
The Krawchuk campaign can be contacted at 215-881-9696, info@KenK.org, www.KenK.org, or c/o PO Box 260, Cheltenham Penna., 19012.
