Libertarian Party

Ever heard of the Green and Libertarian parties? I have, and the American people have a right to know who is running and what they propose. I would also like your support for them both to be in the presidential debates, along with the Republican and Democrat. If they were in the debates, the people would have a better idea of who is running and what they do propose. Question: What party was Jessie Ventura (former professional wrestler, Navy Seal, author, actor, etc.) in when he was governor of Minnesota?

Leave it to The Sun. Having failed to mention my candidacy even one time during the entire campaign season despite numerous press releases and e-mails, The Sun finally mentions my campaign for Congress and erroneously identifies me as an independent ("Now, it's all about turnout," Nov. 4). I am a proud Libertarian who has been campaigning aggressively for months, having started my radio advertisements in September. The Sun then goes on to identify a Green candidate on the ballot in my district who, in fact, is not on the ballot.

The Libertarian Party -- that political oddity that manages to draw fire from both Democrats and Republicans, the right and the left alike -- has landed again in Maryland.This time, however, the Libertarians intend to stay.The group has delivered the signatures of more than 13,600 voters to the state election board in the hope of again becoming an officially recognized third party.That's 3,600 more signatures than the 10,000 needed under state law."This is the warning shot across the bow that says we are here," said Jesse N. Markowitz, a 27-year-old from Gaithersburg who chairs the Libertarian Party of Maryland in Bethesda.

MEET THE CANDIDATES   When Marylanders head to the polls Nov. 6, they will elect members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives in addition to casting their ballots for president. Dozens of people are running for a chance to represent the state's voters in Washington. The Baltimore Sun asked all major and third-party candidates to answer questions about pressing policy issues facing the country.   [ 1st Congressional District ] The 1st District was a political bellwether in the past two elections, but was redrawn by the Maryland General Assembly last year and is now more solidly Republican.

Leave it to The Sun. Having failed to mention my candidacy even one time during the entire campaign season despite numerous press releases and e-mails, The Sun finally mentions my campaign for Congress and erroneously identifies me as an independent ("Now, it's all about turnout," Nov. 4). I am a proud Libertarian who has been campaigning aggressively for months, having started my radio advertisements in September. The Sun then goes on to identify a Green candidate on the ballot in my district who, in fact, is not on the ballot.

Controlling Beavers At GunpowderI have to disagree with Peter Kozlek's letter (July 5) concerning the Gunpowder beavers.Some sort of beaver control is needed. I'm sure the beavers and their dams provide a picturesque trout fishing scene, but at a cost to the hardwood trees in the area.Not only do beavers need trees for their dams, they need to gnaw on trees to keep their teeth in check, thus the loss of more trees. . . .I think the Department of Natural Resources could allow limited trapping in the area.

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.

Wendy Rosen is the Democratic candidate for Congress in Maryland's 1st District but the Cockeysville businesswoman was busy Friday campaigning for a Libertarian. In an e-mail, Rosen's campaign implored supporters to sign a petition that would will help put Libertarian candidate Muir Boda on the ballot in November. Doing so, the e-mail said, would take votes away from incumbent Republican Rep. Andy Harris. "You can help me win this election by helping a third candidate enter the race," read the e-mail, which included a link to the state Libertarian Party's webpage.

MEET THE CANDIDATES   When Marylanders head to the polls Nov. 6, they will elect members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives in addition to casting their ballots for president. Dozens of people are running for a chance to represent the state's voters in Washington. The Baltimore Sun asked all major and third-party candidates to answer questions about pressing policy issues facing the country.   [ 1st Congressional District ] The 1st District was a political bellwether in the past two elections, but was redrawn by the Maryland General Assembly last year and is now more solidly Republican.

For many years I've considered myself to be among a minority in America. Not a racial or ethnic minority - I am a run-of-the-mill, middle-aged white guy - but a political minority. I am fiscally-conservative and socially-liberal, which results in my feeling orphaned by the two-party political establishment. Republicans appear increasingly adamant about insisting that government should dictate our society's mores and behaviors. They don't trust women to make their own reproductive decisions or want gays to enjoy the same rights that the balance of the populace does, and have generally evolved into a party of pompous, "thou shall do as I say" hypocrites.

Incumbent Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett and Democratic challenger John Delaney pitched vastly different approaches to deal with unemployment, federal deficits and immigration, while both hewed closely to their party's talking points Wednesday during the first televised debate of the state's marquee congressional race. Bartlett, a Republican who is considered the underdog in his bid for an 11th term in the 6th District, did little to moderate his more conservative views on regulations and education, even though his once-red district became more Democratic in last year's statewide redistricting.

An hour before Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama squared off on national television on Oct. 3, the pre-presidential-debate debate got under way at Carroll Community College, with one student speculating out loud, "I wonder when the shoe-throwing is going to start?" Not to worry — no shoes, rotten tomatoes, spitballs, mean-spirited invectives or anything else went airborne. In fact, the hour-long debate, which featured a seven-member panel representing the county Republican and Democratic central committees, the Carroll County League of Women Voters, the Libertarian Party and We, The People — a local offshoot of the Tea Party movement — was cordial.

Ever heard of the Green and Libertarian parties? I have, and the American people have a right to know who is running and what they propose. I would also like your support for them both to be in the presidential debates, along with the Republican and Democrat. If they were in the debates, the people would have a better idea of who is running and what they do propose. Question: What party was Jessie Ventura (former professional wrestler, Navy Seal, author, actor, etc.) in when he was governor of Minnesota?

I was pleased that Maryland's gerrymandered congressional districts will be put on the ballot this year so that voters can weigh in on them ("Referendum on political redistricting makes ballot," July 21). But there are other choices that voters may not have this November - namely, all 16 candidates for federal office who have been nominated by Maryland's two leading minor political parties. Last year, both the Green and the Libertarian Parties submitted 15,000 petition signatures to meet the 10,000 valid signature requirement, but the State Board of Elections denied both parties a renewal of their ballot status.

Wendy Rosen is the Democratic candidate for Congress in Maryland's 1st District but the Cockeysville businesswoman was busy Friday campaigning for a Libertarian. In an e-mail, Rosen's campaign implored supporters to sign a petition that would will help put Libertarian candidate Muir Boda on the ballot in November. Doing so, the e-mail said, would take votes away from incumbent Republican Rep. Andy Harris. "You can help me win this election by helping a third candidate enter the race," read the e-mail, which included a link to the state Libertarian Party's webpage.

Hundreds of Green Party members arrived Thursday in Baltimore to pick a candidate for president, even as the party has been forced to scramble for a spot on Maryland's ballot this fall. The national convention, which is taking place at the University of Baltimore before moving to a downtown hotel, doesn't have the glitz Democrats and Republicans will bring when they nominate Barack Obama and Mitt Romney later this year. But getting away from the money pervasive in national politics, Green Party leaders said, is at least partly the point.

Unlike many observers, I was not at all surprised by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's endorsement of Brian Murphy for governor ("Palin steps into Maryland politics, backing Murphy," Aug. 5) It was the logical thing for her to do. During his four years as governor, Bob Ehrlich increased state spending by 33 percent. This is the opposite of what tea partiers want -- they want smaller government. Mr. Ehrlich is also pro-choice on abortion, while Ms. Palin is pro-life. And he is not very good on gun rights, which is a top tea party issue.

The supposedly nonpartisan, three-way contest for two Howard County Circuit Court judgeships has produced no debates over courtroom issues -- but is highlighting a quirk in the state's electoral system that appears to give the nonincumbent challenger an edge in Tuesday's primary. Ellicott City lawyer David A. Titman has battered appointed sitting judges Louis A. Becker and Richard S. Bernhardt with charges that they are compromising their integrity by accepting campaign donations from lawyers.

For many years I've considered myself to be among a minority in America. Not a racial or ethnic minority - I am a run-of-the-mill, middle-aged white guy - but a political minority. I am fiscally-conservative and socially-liberal, which results in my feeling orphaned by the two-party political establishment. Republicans appear increasingly adamant about insisting that government should dictate our society's mores and behaviors. They don't trust women to make their own reproductive decisions or want gays to enjoy the same rights that the balance of the populace does, and have generally evolved into a party of pompous, "thou shall do as I say" hypocrites.

The Green and Libertarian parties are launching new petition drives to get their candidates for president and other offices on Maryland's November ballot after losing a battle before the state's highest court. The Maryland Court of Appeals ruled Monday that state elections officials were correct to disqualify thousands of signatures on petitions previously circulated by the two parties. Many signatures were thrown out as illegible or not consistent with the voter's official registration card.