In a campaign cycle in which the tea party is the new face in Waco and the country, it might seem like a tough time for Libertarians, the traditional stalwarts on all things limited government.

But two local state House candidates say not much has changed for Libertarians, and they’re happy to stack up their brand against the Democratic, Republican and tea parties.

The local Libertarian Party has never commanded a legion of members or won at the ballot box, but its members are a persistent lot.

Derek Johnson, who is vying with state Rep. Jim Dunnam, D-Waco, and Republican Marva Beck for House District 57, said he hopes voters will recognize the Libertarian Party as the real McCoy when it comes to reducing the scope of government.

“We out-fiscal conservative the Republicans,” said Johnson, after calling the tea party movement “a Republican front.”

The 39-year-old Marlin engineer and former Marlin Independent School District teacher said he does admire one GOP U.S. House member — Ron Paul.

“I was willing to get out of the race depending on one issue,” Johnson said.

He said he put the question to the Beck campaign: “Do you have any history supporting Ron Paul — a small government Republican — or are you more of a John McCain Republican?”

Not satisfied that Beck is a Republican in the Ron Paul mold, Johnson said he pushed ahead with his campaign, though he doesn’t have money for TV ads and is mostly interacting with voters on an individual basis.

Johnson said lately he’s been talking to people at construction sites and said, “I meet disenfranchised Democrats as often as I meet disenfranchised Republicans.”

He faults Democrats and Dunnam for, among other things, not working to pass drug legalization measures.

District 57 includes a number of heavily Democratic precincts in McLennan County, as well as all of Falls, Leon, Madison and Robertson counties.

Neill Snider, 45, a Waco mechanical contractor with a booming voice, and a candidate for House District 56, shares many of Johnson’s positions, and similarly has little in the way of campaign funds.

Snider is running against Republican state Rep. Charles “Doc” Anderson and former Rep. John Mabry, a Democrat, in a district that includes much of McLennan County.

Snider took on Dunnam in the last two election cycles. But after moving into Anderson’s district after the 2008 election, he shifted targets.

Though the opponent has changed, his message remains intact, Snider said.

“The bill I want to introduce would eliminate property taxes for homesteads” and eventually “run the whole state government off sales taxes.”

Snider took digs at both Anderson and Mabry at Tuesday’s League of Women Voters candidate forum, and he said he would support making all of Texas’ schools and universities private.

Several other local Libertarian candidates will be on ballots next month.

David Meine is running for the Precinct 4 county commissioner seat against Republican Ben Perry and Democrat Will Stevens. Clinton Chase is running against Democratic Justice of the Peace Jean Laster for the Precinct 7 post.

Finally, Richard Kelly, a nuclear health physics technician from Bosque County, is up against U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, and Republican candidate Bill Flores, of Bryan. Several attempts to reach Kelly this week were unsuccessful.

mshapiro@wacotrib.com

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