LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATES OFFER IDEAS FOR REFORM

Four candidates who share a common goal of reforming the offices they
seek told Lubbockites differing ideas on how to accomplish that during
a Tuesday night Libertarian forum.

Four of eight local Libertarian candidates were represented, including
Dr. John M. Turnbow, running for the 19th Congressional District;
David "Inky" Scott, Precinct 3 county commissioner; Russell King,
Precinct 1 county commissioner; and Brad Clardy, 13th Congressional
District.

"My issues are smaller government," said Turnbow, who is running
against U.S. Rep. Larry Combest, R-Lubbock. "If you pick up my flier,
it will ask you if you think the federal government is too big, too
nosy, too bossy, too costly. If you think that, I agree with you."

Clardy, the second congressional candidate who spoke at Tuesday's
forum, talked about the importance of personal relationships and
freedom in life.

He referred to the nation's war on drugs as an excuse to take away
personal freedoms.

"More and more, people are beginning to wake up and realize this
country isn't as free as they say it is," said Clardy, who is running
against U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Amarillo, and Democratic
challenger Curtis Clinesmith.

He called the war on drugs a witch hunt, saying it is "probably the
most important, fundamental issue in our society today, and we have to
deal with it."

"Witch hunts are characterized by fear, hysteria and intolerance,"
Clardy said. "That's what the war on drugs is. ... There's nothing too
extreme that can't be legitimized by the war on drugs."

Scott, who is opposed by incumbent commissioner Gilbert Flores, a
Democrat, and challenger Frank Gutierrez, a Republican, said Idalou
and New Deal tend to be ignored by the commissioners court.

"I want to change that," he said. "People pay their taxes rather
exorbitant ones and don't see much of it (in return)."

He also talked of red tape and $2,000 in fees that he had to go
through recently to purchase Mad Hatter's House of Games. He said such
regulations are what "kills businesses."

"It's very frustrating to realize the government that was designed to
protect us, to make our lives easier actually makes our lives harder
because of layer after layer," Scott said. "If we could remove these
sticky fingers of the commissioners court out of the everyday lives of
the people, out of the everyday lives of business, things would be
easier."

King, who is running against County Commissioner Kenny Maines in his
first opposed November race, said he believes in individual rights, a
civil society and free markets.

"I believe that for too long, Lubbock has been a community that
accepts the status quo," he said. "We have resigned ourselves to
settle for second best. I have a vision for Lubbock, but we must look
beyond the status quo.

"Lubbock can be a place where people take care of people and the
government takes care of essential services. Our local government
should protect and respect our property ownership."

The local Libertarian party is planning more forums before election
day in November.