By Matt Smith/msmith@trcle.com
April 27, 2008 02:39 pm
—
U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, already faces a Republican and two Libertarian candidates in his Nov. 2 re-election bid. Cleburne resident Bryan Malatesta, a writer and radio host, hopes to become the fourth contestant in the race.
Malatesta filed Jan. 2 to run as a Constitution Party candidate. Although allowed to file, Malatesta must still earn a spot on the ballot by collecting enough signatures by May 27. Malatesta and other Texas candidates hoping to run on the Constitution Party ticket — 12 state candidates hope to run — must collect 47,000 signatures each from registered voters who did not vote in the March 4 Democratic or Republican primary.
It’s “more like 50,000,” Malatesta said, “because we’re expecting the secretary of state to try to throw some out. Things like if someone doesn’t sign exactly as their name appears on their voter registration card.”
Party members intend to collect as many signatures as possible, said Dorothy Pate, a Constitution Party coordinator.
“We’re out and about with the focus right now on signatures,” Pate said. “Because without the signatures, there’s no race. So we’re attending big events throughout the state to gather signatures and tell people who we are.”
Malatesta and Pate both called this year’s effort frustrating and challenging but rewarding as well. Constitution Party candidates’ last successful attempt to get on the ballot in Texas was 1996.
“Doing the petitions, I’ve found that a lot of people don’t know we exist,” Malatesta said. “We tell them our basic beliefs, and some are receptive right away because they’re looking for a change. Others are just not interested, and some think it’s too late.”
Both derailed what they call the impossible and unconstitutional requirements of putting a fourth party on the ballot but also said they remain optimistic.
“It’s been slow [collecting signatures],” Pate said. “Because a lot of conservatives, who might not have voted otherwise, crossed over to vote Democratic [Party] in the primary.
“I’m a little worried, but people have been joining all the time. Some I’m hopeful from that point.”
The party stresses limited government, states’ rights, the sanctity of life, American sovereignty and other principles.
Malatesta, who serves as the Constitution Party of Texas chairman, said a desire to bring government back in line with constitutional principals prompted his run.
“I think the federal government is out of control with regulations and programs,” Malatesta said. “You watch the presidential debates going on now, and they seem to think government is the solution to all our problems, and I don’t think most people believe that.”
On the Net:
www.constitutionparty.com
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.