LIBERTARIAN HOPEFUL AIMS TO SLASH GOVERNMENT

Getting government off the backs of its citizens and cutting taxes in the
process is the theme of Libertarian Dennis Hawver's gubernatorial campaign.

Hawver said Wednesday that if elected he would cut Kansas government by 30
percent in his first term and by 50 percent in his second term. If the
taxpayers are left alone, they know better what to do with their money than
the government, he said.

"We need to make government a lot smaller, we need to make government
conform to the precepts of the Constitution," Hawver said.

But cutting the size of government is an uphill battle because Americans
are taught that the government knows best, he said.

"I'm trying to strike a new chord," Hawver said.

Hawver also said the federal government was holding its citizens "hostage"
because it takes citizens' money through the federal income tax, then gives
it back to a state if it adheres to federal requirements.

"I'm ready to tell the federal government to buzz off," Hawver said. "I
don't want them taking Kansas money and giving it back to us with strings."

A big target for governmental downsizing at the state level would be the
Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, which Hawver
called a "bloated, inefficient agency." SRS makes citizens dependent and
robs people who are on welfare of their self-esteem, initiative and
individual rights, he said.

As a lawyer, Hawver said he handled cases in which the children of clients
had been removed from their homes because the residences weren't clean enough.

"I think it's an outrageous abuse of power," Hawver said.

Hawver's views include that:

* Federal government shouldn't be involved in public education, which
should be decided by state and local government.

* Citizens should be armed so they can protect themselves against the
government. "I'm a Second Amendment adherent," Hawver said.

* Nonviolent drug offenders should be released from prison "because I don't
think the state should have the right to tell me or you what we put in our
bloodstreams." If elected governor, Hawver would pardon all inmates
convicted of nonviolent drug offenses on the first day he is in office.

Hawver said he thinks he "could be in the running" to win the governor's
race if he gets his views, which he says resonate with common sense, in
front of voters just once during the 2002 campaign.

Hawver, who views himself as neither a conservative nor liberal, thinks
voters are "sick of the antics" of Republican and Democrat candidates, who
have no differences.

In the 2nd Congressional District race in 2000, Hawver received about 7,000
votes, while Rep. Jim Ryun, R-Kan., received more than 138,000 votes.

(SIDEBAR)

Dennis Hawver

Age: 59

Occupation: Lawyer

Party: Libertarian

Office sought: Governor

Home: Ozawkie

Family: Wife, Jolayne, two grown children and six grandchildren.