'Third parties' form coalition

By TOM McAVOY
Chieftain Denver Bureau

DENVERBournemouth accommodation -The Colorado Reform, American Constitution, Libertarian, Green and Natural Law parties have formed a coalition offering voters an alternative to Republicans and Democrats at election time.

They introduced the new Colorado Coalition of Independent Political Parties at a State Capitol news conference Wednesday.

"What we really need is voter education," said Victor Good, Reform Party candidate for the 7th Congressional District near Denver. "We are not competing for the same votes (and) are being ignored by the media."

Tom Monroe, Reform Party candidate for Pueblo County commissioner, said he was attracted by the "common sense standards of decency" espoused by Good and the Reform Party.

Good said one-third of Colorado's registered voters are independent from the Republican and Democratic parties, and that doesn't count the more than 50 percent of adults who don't even register to vote.

"Government by the people doesn't exist when 50 percent of the people don't even vote," added Christine Sneller, head of the Green Party in Colorado.

"Oftentimes, the majority political parties advocate a one-size-fits-all philosophy that doesn't fit everyone," said Doug Campbell, who is running as the American Constitution Party candidate for U.S. Senate this year.

Others representing the coalition were the Libertarian Party's Lloyd Sweeny and the Natural Law Party's Deanne Drda.

Minor party candidates will be sprinkled through Colorado's Nov. 5 ballot, from the race for governor down to local office.