Libertarian candidates explore gubernatorial race

Eric Cooper of Ames and Nick Weltha of Des Moines have formed an exploratory committee to seek the Libertarian Party's 2010 nomination for governor and lieutenant governor in 2010.

“We think that our candidacy will provide an alternative to the major parties for Iowa citizens who want a smaller government,” Cooper said. “We believe we will attract support from fiscally responsible Democrats, socially liberal Republicans and independents who are tired of the ever expanding size of the Iowa government.”

Cooper, 43, is an associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at Iowa State University, and is currently the vice chairman of the Libertarian Party of Iowa. He has run five times for the Legislature as a Libertarian and was the Iowa College Coordinator for the Ron Paul presidential campaign prior to the 2008 Iowa Caucuses.

Weltha, 30, is a systems administrator for the Iowa Judicial Branch and served as vice chairman of the Libertarian Party of Iowa from 2006 to 2008.

Key issues in their campaign will be encouraging the legalization of marijuana in the state of Iowa, allowing greater school choice for both K-12 and Iowa college students, and repealing the Iowa fireworks ban.

For more, visit:

www.coopersmallergovernment.com.