Hopefuls try to shake up Georgia races

ATLANTA - Georgia ballots just grew a little longer as another group of candidates joined the race for this year's election.

As Monday's noontime deadline passed, 25 independents and minor-party candidates had submitted their paperwork for inclusion on the November ballot.

Winning is another thing, at least when it comes to getting votes from people such as Atlanta businessman Fred Axelson, the owner of The Flower Garden.

"If I don't think that they have a chance, I would probably forgo voting for them," he said. "I would probably feel voting for them would be a waste of my vote."

Most of the nominees are from the Libertarian Party, which is fielding its longest slate of candidates ever in Georgia. This is the state where the party is strongest, winning its biggest tally during the 2000 presidential election.

Unlike the Republicans and Democrats who will elect their nominees in primaries two weeks from today, the Libertarians picked their nominees during a convention in March.

Libertarians have been exempt from a statewide-petition requirement for the past several elections because once they were on the ballot the first time, they were able to win at least 1 percent of the vote.

But they have never won a statewide race, and they don't expect to this year.

"We're realistic," said Helmut Forren, Libertarian chairman and candidate for insurance commissioner.

Instead of winning, the party sees each election as a chance to build its base of support and to also tilt the outcome.

"At the top level we are positioning ourselves as the king maker," he said. "We're looking to flex our muscle with our divisive vote."

MORE CANDIDATES

Here are the candidates who are running as independents or members of minor parties:

U.S. SENATE

Claude 'Sandy' Thomas

1039 Woodruff Plantation Parkway

Marietta, GA 30067

E-mail: Sandy@sandy2002.com

Party: Libertarian

Age: 59

Occupation: Consultant

Web site: www.sandy2002.com

GOVERNOR

Garrett Michael Hayes

33320 South Cobb Drive #55

Smyrna, GA 30080

E-mail: ghayes@

hayesforgovernor.com

Party: Libertarian

Age: 46

Occupation: Writer and consultant

Web site: www.hayesforgovernor.com

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

Hebert F. (Herbie) Galloway III

3025 Mount Carmel Road

Hampton, GA 30228

E-mail: hfg3@hotmail.com

Party: Libertarian

Age: 41

Occupation: Building engineer

SECRETARY OF STATE

Mike Pitts

995 Douglas Court

Norcross, GA 30093

E-mail: mikephs@ mindspring.com

Party: Libertarian

Age: 29

Occupation: Courier

SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT

Lynn Krogseng

10345 Rivertown Road

Fairburn, GA 30213-2130

E-mail: krogseng@ mindspring.com

Party: Libertarian

Age: 42

Occupation: Self-employed

Web site: www.lynnkrogseng.org

AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER

Doug Morton

3800 Kirkwood Run

Kennesaw, GA 30144

E-mail: dougm@ dougmorton.org

Party: Libertarian

Age: 31

Occupation: Technical engineer

Web site: www.dougmorton.org

INSURANCE COMMISSIONER

Helmut Forren

3928 River Walk Drive

Duluth, GA 30096

E-mail: helmut@forren.org

Party: Libertarian

Age: 43

Occupation: Electrical engineer

Web site: www.forren.org

LABOR COMMISSIONER

William Costa

2045 Attic Parkway

Kennesaw, GA 30152

E-mail: william@ williamcosta.org

Party: Libertarian

Age: 33

Occupation: Food service

Web site: williamcosta.org

Reach Walter C. Jones at (404) 589-8424 or at waltermns@mindspring.com.