Newsgroups: alt.politics.libertarian
Date: Fri,  6 Nov 1992 14:41:31 -0500 
From: Karin Brennan <kb4c+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: GOOD NEWS IN PA!(Fwd:State gains two new official political parties)
	<pa-elxn-partiesU2N51245pe@clarinet.com>

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	HARRISBURG, Pa. (UPI) -- Going into Tuesday's elections there were
only two officially recognized political parties in Pennsylvania, but
now there are four.
	Iris Crumbly, a spokeswoman for the state Bureau of Elections, said
that preliminary tallies indicated that both the Libertarian Party, and
the Pennsylvanians for Perot Party rolled up enough votes to gain 
``minor political party'' status.
	A party needs to capture 2 percent of the total vote for a statewide
office plus 2 percent of the vote in 10 counties to qualify.
	The Perot Party's namesake, Ross Perot, got 18 percent of the state
vote for president. Five Libertarian candidates got 2 percent or more in
statewide races, including U.S. Senator and auditor general.
	By holding minor party status, the Libertarians and the Perots will
now have their names listed on voter registration forms as an enrollment
option alongside Democrat and Republican.
	The parties will also be permitted to name candidates for any special
elections that may be called, including the one that will be needed to
fill the Bucks County state Senate seat being vacated by Republican
James Greenwood, who was elected to Congress on Tuesday.
	However, minor parties do not automatically qualify candidates for
regular general elections through primary elections the way that major
parties do. Minor parties must still get their candidates on the ballot
by petition.
	In order to move up to ``major political party'' status, the
newcomers must now sign up 15 percent of all registered voters.
	The Pennsylvanians for Perot party was hatched just this year when
the Texas billionaire jumped into the presidential race. Perot himself
recently suggested that he may be back for another try in 1996.
	Carolyn Disbrow, a spokeswoman for Perot's Pennsylvania organization,
said the group will meet this Saturday to decide what to do next.
	``We are going to make a party,'' Disbrow said. ``We probably will
run candidates for other political offices.''
	Disbrow said the party will probably be called United We Stand and
not Pennsylvanians for Perot.
	In contrast to the suddenly emergent Perots, the Libertarians have
been around since the early 1970's. State party chairman Hugh Odhner
said that achieving minor party status was his organization's goal this
year.
	Odhner said the party's strong showing was due to a combination of
factors.
	``Our name is becoming known around the country,'' Odhner said, ``And
people are attracted by our message.''
	Odhner said the core philosophy of the party is a belief in ``limited
government'', and a commitment to ``individual freedom.''
	``We are very hesitant to pass any laws that regulate individual
behavior,'' Odhner said.
	In fact, the party is so deeply committed to individual freedom that
it briefly disowned its top vote-getter this year, U.S. Senate candidate
Jack Perry, who took approximately 5 percent of the vote on Tuesday.
	Perry caused dissension when he began airing anti-abortion television
ads. The party eventually welcomed Perry back into the fold, but the
incident upset many members.
	Odhner said that the party's next goal is to achieve ``major party''
status. When asked what his next step will be, Odhner replied, ``Start
organizing.''


Newsgroups: alt.politics.libertarian