LIBERTARIANS

Libertarians meet with speaker's staff

Libertarians enjoy overtures from Republicans who worry that third-party candidates could be a factor in close races.

Libertarians continue to enjoy overtures from Republicans who, at least in some circles, worry that third-party candidates could be a factor in close legislativeraces this fall.

Just days after former state Rep. Suzanna Hupp, R-Lampasas, urged Libertarian candidates to quit key Texas Houseraces, three members of House Speaker Tom Craddick's staff met Monday afternoon with Libertarian leaders.

In the past, Libertarian candidates might get only 5 percent of the vote, but that's enough to determine the winner in a close legislative contest. With the House closely split between Republicans and Democrats, a handful of legislative races could affect the partisan outcome and Craddick's chances to remain the speaker.

Both sides described Monday's meeting, which the speaker's office arranged last week, as an effort to look for common ground. Both sides said they did not talk about specific legislative races during the 20-minute meeting.

"We were talking about issues where we have agreement," Craddick spokeswoman Alexis DeLee said.

Those areas of agreement apparently do not include the fall campaigns.

Pat Dixon, the Libertarian Party's state chairman, said he is urging the party's candidates to stay on the November ballot.

"We're committed to having our candidates do their best to grow the party," Dixon said.

The only Libertarian candidate to drop off the ballot in Central Texas so far is Alan Hultgren, who was running against state Rep. Valinda Bolton, D-Austin, and Republican Donna Keel.

Hultgren said Monday that he quit because he is starting a business and was worried that he might help Bolton by staying in.

"I can honestly say there was no external pressure," he said. "I just thought the lesser of the two evils would be the Republican Party."

lcopelin@statesman.com; 445-3617