WERNER'S POSITIONS SET HIM APART

Illegal immigrants in Texas and those who wish to join them would be
free to look for work under an open-border policy proposed by
Libertarian gubernatorial candidate James Werner.

"It's important that there be a rational process to enter -- they need
to get a criminal background check -- but then anybody who has the
desire to work ... is welcome in my state," said Werner, 44, who
acknowledges that that position irks conservatives. "But once here,
they could not be the recipient of government handouts -- and that's
what gets liberals mad."

Werner's position on immigration is one of several that don't fit into
liberal and conservative categories. It's also one that sets Werner
apart from his rivals.

Werner calls himself "the only pro-immigrant candidate" in the race.
He's also the only candidate calling for the repeal of state drug
laws. He says that the state should get out of the business of
prosecuting other so-called victimless crimes, such as prostitution
and gambling, and that Texans should have easier access to firearms.

Political analyst Ross Ramsey said that while Werner has no realistic
shot of winning, his candidacy may nonetheless shake up this year's
race.

Libertarians typically draw 4 percent of the vote or less, explains
Ramsey. But that vote could come out of the political hide of another
candidate -- Republican Gov. Rick Perry, Democrat Chris Bell or
independents Kinky Friedman and Carole Keeton Strayhorn.

"If [Perry] remains in the 35 percent range [for voter approval] and
if one of the other challengers can break out of the pack a little bit
- -- then this could become a competitive race and [Werner] could be a
spoiler," said Ramsey, editor of the Texas Weekly political
newsletter. "If the numbers are very close, then 2 or 3 or 4 percent
could swing the election."

This is not Werner's first foray into politics. In 2004, he ran for
Congress in an Austin-based district. Before that, he worked as a
Libertarian party activist.

He has lived in Texas for eight years -- all in Austin -- and
identifies himself as a software developer and marketing executive
with an out-of-state company. He declines to identify the company,
saying it hasn't endorsed his candidacy: "I have kept their name out
of it." He's single but has a longtime girlfriend.

He calls himself a fiscal conservative who would eliminate all
business and personal taxes in Texas and replace them with an 8
percent to 10 percent sales tax on consumer goods and services.

He has a one-word description for the war on drugs:
"failure."

He says it's a threat to personal liberty and public safety because it
robs law enforcement of time and resources to track down violent criminals.

"It's time to take the drug problem out of the hands of politicians,"
Werner said.

The only other gubernatorial candidate with a similar position is
Friedman, who calls for decriminalizing marijuana possession and
legalizing medical marijuana.

Werner also said he would "end the cumbersome process of obtaining a
concealed carry permit in Texas."

IN THE KNOW

James Werner

Age: 44

Occupation: Software marketing executive

Experience: Twenty years as a fundraiser, mostly for nonprofit causes;
unsuccessful bid for Congress in 2004.

Issues/priorities: Scrap Texas tax code and create a single consumer
sales tax on all new goods and services; eliminate laws against
"victimless" crimes such as drug possession and gay marriage; give all
children education vouchers to be used at public or private schools.