TWO LIBERTARIANS SEEKING BALLOT SPOTS

Two prospective candidates for governor and lieutenant governor,
representing the Libertarian Party of Virginia, have filed petitions
with the State Board of Elections to try to get their names on the
ballot.

William Redpath of Fairfax County, a financial consultant, is the
candidate for governor and Gary A. Reams of Fairfax County is the
candidate for lieutenant governor.

Redpath filed more than 19,000 signatures with the State Board of
Elections on Monday. Reams filed more than 12,000 on Friday. Each
submitted more signatures yesterday - the last day for candidates to
file for statewide office.

The State Board said it will notify the candidates by mid-July whether
they qualify after checking the signatures.

State law requires 10,000 signatures of registered Virginia voters,
including at least 400 from each congressional district.

Reams, a consultant, said he would run on one issue - legalizing
marijuana. He said he hopes to make the election a "referendum" on
reforming the marijuana laws.

"Prohibition does not work," he said.

Redpath, who is vice president of consulting for BIA Financial
network, said he wants to get Libertarian public policy positions into
the gubernatorial debate.

His platform calls for minimizing taxes and hence government spending.
He also wants to bypass the General Assembly by putting issues on the
ballot in public referendums.

"Anything that is peaceful ought not to be illegal," his Web site
says.

Because the Libertarian Party is not recognized as a political party
in Virginia, both men would be listed as independents if they qualify.