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Tuesdays special election in Texas House District 123 offers an array of eager candidates vying to replace 14-year state Rep. Mike Villarreal.

Hopefuls include Green and Libertarian contenders, three Democrats and one Republican, all faced with an abbreviated campaign schedule during the holidays, no less to seek support in a potentially low-turnout election.

Villarreal, D-San Antonio, was re-elected Nov. 4, but with lawmakers set to convene Jan. 13, he doesnt intend to serve. Instead, hes giving up the seat to run for mayor.

His departure set up the special election scramble, which could result in a runoff if no candidate captures a majority. Early voting concludes today at 14 polling sites.

Also on the short ballot is a five-candidate race to replace state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, whos also exiting the Legislature to run for mayor in May.

Candidates for the House seat are relying largely on social media to win voters attention, but some have extensive door-to-door campaigns underway and a few have issued numerous direct-mail pieces.

The Libertarian candidate is salesman Roger V. Gary, 68. He served six years on the board of the San Antonio River Authority before running for the Texas Railroad Commission in 2010 and for president of the United States in 2012. He said hes been a watchdog of local water-management policies and opposes current plans for a new water pipeline, as well as toll roads.

Representing the Green Party is clinical psychologist and sleep disorder specialist Paul Ingmundson, 62. He was Villarreals only opponent in November, garnering 14 percent of the vote. Responding to a League of Women Voters questionnaire for that race, he said he was active in progressive politics and an advocate for clean energy, Medicaid expansion, better regulation of water and protection of voter rights.

Republican Nunzio Previtera, 61, an insurance agent and small-business owner, is making his first run for office. A member of the State Republican Executive Committee, Previtera said he wasnt politically active until a few years ago when he decided the country was going in the wrong direction.

Rather than gripe about it you can get involved, he said.

The rest is here:
Diverse field in sprint for Texas House seat

Published January 01, 2015

A federal judge has ruled that the Libertarian Party can proceed with its challenge to a New Hampshire law it claims could prevent its candidates from getting on the ballot.

A third party can have its nominees placed on the New Hampshire general election ballot by winning at least 4 percent of the vote for either governor or U.S. senator in the most recent election or by collecting signatures equal to 3 percent of the total votes cast during the prior election. Under a law that took effect in July, parties can't begin gathering those signatures until Jan. 1 of the election year.

The state argues that the change ensures that signatures on nomination papers are valid, but the Libertarian Party sued, arguing that it would make it difficult, if not impossible, for the party to petition its way onto the ballot.

The state asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit, but U.S. District Court Judge Paul Barbadoro refused. In a ruling this week, he noted that the right to vote must be balanced against the state's interest in conducting orderly elections, but said whether or not the new restrictions are reasonable depends on factors that have yet to be explored.

"The state offers a number of arguments in favor of dismissal, but none are persuasive," he wrote.

In 2012, the Libertarian Party ran candidates for president, vice president, Congress and several state-level seats after collecting the necessary signatures, but it began the collection process in 2011. For the 2016 election, it would need to collect 14,864 signatures.

"This signature-collection process is like a marathon that's hard enough just to finish, and now the state is essentially demanding that the Libertarian Party run the marathon in less than two hours. This is unfair and unconstitutional," said attorney William Christie, co-counsel on the case along with the New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union.

Attorneys for the party argue that the time limit also effectively prevents the party from meaningfully participating in the general election because it would have to use its limited resources collecting signatures instead of on campaigning and fundraising.

Assistant Attorney General Laura Lombardi, who is representing Secretary of State William Gardner, did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday. In court filings, she argued that the new time limits are both nondiscriminatory and reasonable and would impose only a minimal burden on third parties.

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Judge allows Libertarians' court challenge in New Hampshire to proceed

CONCORD The state Libertarian Partys lawsuit against the state over a third partys ability to get its candidates on the ballot can continue, U.S. District Judge Paul Barbaroso wrote Tuesday in a decision rejecting the states request to dismiss the lawsuit.

The Libertarian Party is challenging a state law, passed this year, that requires third parties to collect the number of signatures equaling 3 percent of the total votes cast in the previous election in order to get its candidates on the ballot.

The law further requires that signatures can only be collected beginning in that election year.

The lawsuit claims the requirements are onerous because it forces third parties to spend resources collecting signatures, including during the second half of winter, rather than being able to campaign.

The result is to foreclose the third party from meaningfully participating in the general election and to substantially burden ballot access, the American Civil Liberties Union, which is representing the Libertarian Party, wrote in a press release.

See the article here:
Libertarian suit over ballot access gets federal court's OK

Voters in Red Oak cast ballots for Iowa Senate District 12

DES MOINES, Iowa- Voting is underway today in Senate District 12 to find a successor to now U.S. Senator-Elect Joni Ernst. The Red Oak Republican resigned in November from her Iowa Senate seat, after she was elected to the U.S. Senate.

Seeking her seat are three candidates, including Republican Mark Costello of Imogene, Democrat Steven Adams of Red Oak and Libertarian Party candidate, Don Brantz of Glenwood.

Voter turnout is described as light today. Ringgold County Auditor Amanda Waske said as of mid-afternoon they had a total of 140 people voting county-wide. Waske said voters told her due to the short window for this election, they just dont feel like they know the candidates.

Democrat Candidate Steve Adams, of Red Oak spent part of the day campaigning in Red Oak. I feel like voters in the 12th District need to have an option, for 20 years weve had a Republican- led majority I just think we need another voice, another option, maybe some different ideas, said Adams.

Republican Mark Costello has served two years in the Iowa House of Representatives. He says staying on budget is important. I believe in being responsible that way, and Im pro life, any pro-life legislation Id be behind, said Costello. Id kind of like to see some income tax reform, added the cattle rancher from Imogene.

Libertarian Candidate, Don Brantz of Glenwood said he got interested in running thanks to Libertarian Governor Candidate, Dr. Lee Hieb. I had always been frustrated with the Republican Party, said Brantz. They seem to be RHINOS ( Republican in Name Only) and for every regulation that came down the pike most of them, said Brantz.

Senate District 12 is made up of six counties in southwestern Iowa. The counties where voting is taking place today include; Mills, Montgomery, Page, Taylor, Fremont, and Ringgold.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

One of the candidates is facing charges from an incident back in October.

Read more:
Vote Underway to Fill Joni Ernsts Iowa Senate Seat

Let #39;s end the libertarian straw man
Let #39;s put an end once and for all to the strawman of the libertarian Molotov cocktail thrower! Molotov cocktail video credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

By: Rollo McFloogle

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Let's end the libertarian straw man - Video