Libertarian may be added to ballot

Supporters of Libertarian Party gubernatorial candidate Spear Lancaster delivered 35,600 petition signatures to the Maryland State Board of Elections yesterday in an effort to place the first minor-party candidate on the ballot for the state's top job since 1966.

To appear on the ballot, state law requires independent and third-party candidates to collect valid signatures from 1 percent of the state's registered voters. About 2.7 million Maryland residents are registered as voters, meaning Lancaster needs about 27,000 valid signatures.

Elections officials must verify the signatures within 20 days, and Lancaster said last night that he is confident that his supporters accomplished their goal. "Our guess is, we should be in good shape," he said.

Lancaster, 69, of Crownsville, is a former Rubbermaid Corp. employee and flooring company owner. His running mate is Lorenzo Gaztanaga, a Baltimore resident and Cuban native who has run for City Council.