A small group of about ten people attended a candidate meet-and-greet Saturday morning in Jefferson.

Libertarian Rick Stewart is running for U.S. Senate and says he’s running as a Libertarian because he believes in the principles of the party, which are also reflected in the founding principles of the state of Iowa and is the state’s motto: “Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain.” Stewart mentioned that he is intending to run for governor in two years, and realizes for the Libertarian Party to regain major political party status with at least two-percent of the gubernatorial vote, it starts with him spreading the message of liberty and rights for Iowans.

“Libertarians might be the foundation of Iowa, but most Iowans have forgotten that. And they just are beginning to become aware of the fact that the Republicans and the Democrats are simply the two powers of a duopoly. But the only party, which is actually addressing issues, and speaking rationally about public policy that benefits everyone and not just a select few, is the Libertarian Party.”    

Stewart also addressed the challenges facing the Libertarian Party to regain major party status, the Patriot Act and the U.S. Senate confirmation hearings for the next appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court. The other featured speaker was the Iowa Campaign Manager for Libertarian Presidential candidate Jule Ofenbakh.