Libertarian candidate making Senate run

Bless his heart. Sign his petition too.

Centre Daily Times | 03/10/2006 | Libertarian candidate making Senate run: "Libertarian candidate making Senate run
Tom Martin says ballot access is most important campaign issue

STATE COLLEGE -- Penn State computer engineer Thomas Martin has been nominated by the state Libertarian Party to run for the U.S. Senate, though he'll need more than 66,000 petition signatures of eligible voters to get his name on the November ballot.

Incumbent U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, a Republican, and Democratic Senate candidates Bob Casey Jr., Chuck Pennacchio and Alan Sandals were required to obtain only 2,000 signatures each to get their names on the May 16 primary election ballot.

Huston Township resident Martin, 48, said his most important campaign issue is ballot access, trying to reduce the signature requirements for minor party candidates to a more reasonable level.

'If we cannot call the mismanagers to account at the ballot box, they're freer in Iraq than we are here,' Martin said Thursday.

The 66,000-signature requirement is a statutory requirement enforced by the Department of State. The state arrives at the number by taking 2 percent of the largest vote cast for the last statewide vote -- the 3.3 million votes Casey got in the 2004 race for state treasurer.

The Libertarian Party's political philosophy calls for small government and respect for individuals' rights. The philosophy differs from other minor parties, but most minor parties have gotten behind a lawsuit filed by the Constitution and Green parties asking the federal court to strike down the Pennsylvania statute as unconstitutional.

Martin acknowledged Thursday that it will be a daunting task to obtain enough signatures. He said he will endeavor to surpass the 2,000 signatures required of Republicans and Democrats."