News (Media Awareness Project) - US VA: William Redpath Admits He Has No Chance Of Becoming |
| Title: | US VA: William Redpath Admits He Has No Chance Of Becoming |
| Published On: | 2001-11-03 |
| Source: | Bristol Herald Courier (VA) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-25 05:36:13 |
WILLIAM REDPATH ADMITS HE HAS NO CHANCE OF BECOMING VIRGINIA'S NEXT GOVERNOR
The 44-year-old Libertarian Party candidate said his bid for election is aimed at promoting his party and publicizing the need for electoral reform.
"I'm not satisfied with two major political parties, and a lot of other people aren't, either," Redpath said Friday during a visit to the Bristol Herald Courier. "We need to have a change in our election process."
He proposes the implementation of "instant runoff voting," in which voters would rank all of the candidates in a race in order of preference.
"I've had a lot of people tell me, 'Gee, I'd like to vote for you, but if I don't vote for Mark Earley, I'm going to help Mark Warner win,'" Redpath said. "I've had others tell me, 'If I don't vote for Mark Warner, I'm going to help Mark Earley win.' In instant runoff voting, if your first choice doesn't win, the vote transfers to your second choice."
Redpath said those who have listened to his proposal for reforming the voting system have not been particularly supportive of it.
"Most of the time they tell me they need some time to think about it," he said.
Tuesday's election marks the first time Virginia voters have had the option of voting for a Libertarian candidate for any office besides president. On the ballot with Redpath is Gary Reams, the party's pick for lieutenant governor. Reams' sole platform is the legalization of marijuana, and Redpath said he also believes Americans should be able to smoke marijuana for medical or recreational purposes. He declined to say whether he uses the drug, however.
"That's none of your business," he said when asked.
Redpath holds a master's degree in business administration from the University of Chicago and is a certified public accountant and chartered financial analyst. He made unsuccessful bids for the House of Delegates in 1993 and for the state Senate in 1997. Despite his acceptance that he will lose the governor's race on Tuesday, Redpath said he could not endorse either Earley or Warner. In fact, if his name were not on the ballot, he would "write in the name of a fellow Libertarian," he said.
The 44-year-old Libertarian Party candidate said his bid for election is aimed at promoting his party and publicizing the need for electoral reform.
"I'm not satisfied with two major political parties, and a lot of other people aren't, either," Redpath said Friday during a visit to the Bristol Herald Courier. "We need to have a change in our election process."
He proposes the implementation of "instant runoff voting," in which voters would rank all of the candidates in a race in order of preference.
"I've had a lot of people tell me, 'Gee, I'd like to vote for you, but if I don't vote for Mark Earley, I'm going to help Mark Warner win,'" Redpath said. "I've had others tell me, 'If I don't vote for Mark Warner, I'm going to help Mark Earley win.' In instant runoff voting, if your first choice doesn't win, the vote transfers to your second choice."
Redpath said those who have listened to his proposal for reforming the voting system have not been particularly supportive of it.
"Most of the time they tell me they need some time to think about it," he said.
Tuesday's election marks the first time Virginia voters have had the option of voting for a Libertarian candidate for any office besides president. On the ballot with Redpath is Gary Reams, the party's pick for lieutenant governor. Reams' sole platform is the legalization of marijuana, and Redpath said he also believes Americans should be able to smoke marijuana for medical or recreational purposes. He declined to say whether he uses the drug, however.
"That's none of your business," he said when asked.
Redpath holds a master's degree in business administration from the University of Chicago and is a certified public accountant and chartered financial analyst. He made unsuccessful bids for the House of Delegates in 1993 and for the state Senate in 1997. Despite his acceptance that he will lose the governor's race on Tuesday, Redpath said he could not endorse either Earley or Warner. In fact, if his name were not on the ballot, he would "write in the name of a fellow Libertarian," he said.
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