Pegasus: What drew you to run for office?

Smith: The other candidates for State Representative in District 98 include the current Republican incumbent and the previous Republican incumbent (now running as a Democrat). I decided to run for office because I felt that the voters in my district deserved a broader range of options. Like many voters, I have been disappointed with the performance of Republicans and Democrats alike, both of whom seem to believe that their job is to expand government whenever possible. I, on the other hand, want to protect the private property rights of the residents of my district by opposing the growth of government across the board.

Pegasus: What are the platforms of your campaign?

Smith: Protect private property rights. Reduce government spending. Repeal the margins tax and oppose any new taxation.

Pegasus: What are the concerns of the people in your community that you represent?

Smith: The concerns of the people of my community are as varied as the individuals themselves, but I think it’s safe to say that the most common concerns revolve around the overall health of the economy and their families’ financial security.

Pegasus: What are the sources of conflict in your election contest?

Smith: This election pits the two previous incumbents, who offer voters more of the same, against a Libertarian offering a new approach to key issues.

Pegasus: How do you differ from your opponents?

Smith: Ultimately, it is a difference of philosophy. As a Libertarian, I believe that the proper role of government is to protect individuals from acts of aggression by other individuals. I oppose any attempts to exceed that limited mandate. As State Representative, my sole concern will be to protect the property rights of my constituents. My opponents will offer a laundry list of new government programs that they would like to implement, but these efforts will only serve to consolidate more power in Austin. I, on the other hand, wish to decentralize as many functions as possible, placing more power in the hands of the citizens of Texas and less power in the hands of bureaucrats and politicians. To this end, I have taken the Small Government Pledge, in which I commit to reducing the size of government. Details of the Pledge are available on my website, www.smithfortexas98.com.

Pegasus: Do you have a favorite Presidential candidate?

Smith: I support Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party candidate for president.

Pegasus: How do you feel about the following issues from the area:

*Dallas Convention center hotel

Smith: How can the Dallas city council run a hotel when they’re already so busy banning smoking and saggy pants? Leave the hospitality industry to the private sector, not to government.

*Switching freeways from free to toll-based

Smith: I oppose tolls on any highway built with tax dollars or through the use of eminent domain or condemnation.

*HOV lanes

Smith: HOV lanes seem to be a reasonable effort to improve traffic flow.

*DART rail

Smith: If there is a market demand for light rail transportation, the private sector can provide it. Government efforts to impose light rail in various cities across the country are grossly inefficient and wasteful, and have never delivered the environmental improvements or reductions in traffic congestion that they promise.

*Barnett Shale drilling

Smith: I support eliminating all government barriers to energy development and production. I oppose all government subsidies to energy development and production.

*Cellphone use in cars

Smith: We already have laws on the books against inattentive driving. We do not need to single out any particular distraction.

*Open internet access in public libraries

Smith: Once the government uses taxpayer funds to build a library, it has no authority to restrict speech within that library.

*“Green” buildings

Smith: I applaud private developers’ efforts to construct more environmentally-friendly buildings. I oppose any state mandates to micromanage what materials private property owners may or may not use in the construction of their own projects.

Pegasus: How do you feel about the following national issues:

*War in Iraq

Smith: Oppose.

*Immigration

Smith: My wife is from Bolivia, and as someone who has had to deal with the immigration process, I can vouch for the fact that immigration laws in this country are already tough enough. Indeed, this is precisely the reason why there is so much illegal immigration in this country. It is virtually impossible for a low-skilled worker to enter the United States legally, yet there is significant demand in the United State for low-skilled workers. Illegal immigration is the inevitable result. The state has no right to dictate whom an employer may or may not hire. That is an infringement of the liberties and property rights of American citizens, and is antithetic to a free society. On the other hand, the state has no obligation to provide social services to non-residents. By restricting the provision of state services to legal Texas residents, the state can remove the major source of friction associated with the issue of illegal immigration.

*Energy sources (oil vs wind vs solar)

Smith: Only market forces can determine the appropriate mix of various forms of energy. The legislature should have no role in dictating which sources of energy should be used or in what percentage. The state does have a role, however, in reducing the barriers to entry that exist as a result of previous legislative attempts to subsidize certain forms of energy or penalize other forms. As artificial constraints on supply are eliminated, market forces can then determine the optimal mix of fossil fuels, nuclear, or other forms of green/renewable energy.

*The current state of the economy

Smith: The problems in the housing market and their knock-on effects in the financial sector are the result of the federal government’s intervention in these markets. Sadly, the unintended consequences that we are now suffering will no doubt be used as an excuse by government to justify even more regulation and interference in the future. Neither Republicans nor Democrats seem willing to address the root causes of the crisis, and both parties’ economic plans will only make things worse.