In

its first year of existence, the Fayette County

Libertarian Party will spend most of its effort

spreading the word about Libertarian beliefs and

lobbying for more favorable election laws, said

William Norris, chairman.

Party

officials said it's unlikely they'll offer any

candidates in the 2000 elections.

The

group received its charter last month, and last

week conducted its first meeting. About 25 local

residents, ranging in age from early teens to

70s, attended.

Mark

Mosely, a state Libertarian Executive Committee

member, told the group that third-party

candidates face an uphill battle in Georgia.

"The

Georgia election code creates a different set of

rules depending on your status as a political

group," said Mosely. "Republicans and

Democrats get a different set of rules than we

do."

Libertarians

currently are lobbying for passage of House Bill

672, the Voter Choice Act, which would reduce the

petitioning requirements for third party

candidates to get on the ballot.

Local

candidates must provide petitions signed by 5

percent of the voters, and statewide candidates

have to get 1 percent to sign, in order to get

their names on the ballot.

HB

672 was introduced last year but not acted on. It

reached the House floor this year, but was

tabled, said Mosely. Unless the bill is taken

back off the table and voted on this week, it

will be dead for another year. A recent motion to

take the matter off the table failed 85-80, he

said.

"One

of our primary functions in the first year will

be to lobby," said local Chairman Norris,

who is a student at McIntosh High School.

Keynote

speaker Jack Cashin, who has run as senatorial

and gubernatorial candidate on the Libertarian

ticket, told the group their biggest challenge

will be getting people to understand what they're

all about.

"For

a long time we Libertarians have been thought of

as kooks," he said. "We're considered a

fringe group way to the right or left, when

really we're right in the middle," he said.

When

he ran for Senate in 1996, Cashin said, he knew

his chances of being elected were slim. "My

job was to illustrate and personify the fact that

Libertarians really are reasonable people,"

he said, drawing a chuckle from the audience.

"We

are reasonable people," he said. "We

have something to say. We have beliefs that are

deeply rooted in the Constitution of the United

States."

During

his campaigns, Cashin said, many people liked

what he had to say, but declined to vote for him

because they feared their votes would be wasted,

since he had little chance of winning.

"Until we get over that barrier, we don't

have a chance," he said.

He

urged the local audience to remain involved and

work to change perceptions. "Get in

there," he said. "You can't get a hit

until you come up to the plate."

Vice

Chairman Danny Lucsko said he is pleased with the

party's first meeting. "This is a great

start... I'm really excited," he told the

group.

Members

of the local party will participate in the state

party convention March 18.

Party

leaders hope to establish a monthly Saturday

breakfast meeting, said Norris, adding that dues

will be $10 a year.

For

information on the party, phone Mark Antieau at

770-442-1857 or go to www.lp.org or www.ga.lp.org .

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