This is an odd time to campaign for office in Indiana. The next ballot is over 19 months away, and after a Presidential-Gubernatorial ballot this past November, many voters welcome the unusual situation this state has, omitting a ballot once every four years.

However, the Legislature is in session, and that ballot-free year makes for a year with minimal accountability in the Statehouse, so it's actually a great time to be on the trail, if it is your aim to reduce the size of government, and cut the spending and the taxes.

I am a Libertarian candidate for Secretary of State in Indiana. No Democrat has even filed papers yet. I expect that the Republican incumbent, Todd Rokita, intends to run for re-election.

Wed 4/13. Marion County, Indianapolis District 7. The City-County Councillor for this district, Democrat Greg Bowes, is an author of proposed smoking ban legislation. It would be the most restrictive in the nation, outlawing smoking tobacco in any public place, including outdoor arenas such as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and public parks. It would ban smoking in private establishments such as bars and restaurants, and even private clubs. The Libertarian Party of Marion Co. set up a pub crawl within the District, to show bar owners, employees, and patrons which party supports the right of business owners to set their own policies- and which parties do not. Indy Star column.

40-50 Libertarians made seven stops to bars throughout the district, talking about the proposed ban with all present. Most patrons were unaware of the ban, and most were aghast. A frequent question: Can I go to bars in the other county and smoke? This is, of course, what the bar owners and employees are afraid of. As the night went on, we found that bar owners from around the city joined our pub crawl, and made plans to give testimony the following evening before the Committee considering this bill.

Councillor Bowes did appear at one of the bars and engaged in debate with County Chair Sam Goldstein and myself. I asked Bowes if he wouldn't like to ban smoking in people's homes. He said that he would. He confessed that when writing the legislation, it never occurred to him that the effect might be to hurt business. The bars owners rolled their eyes.

Fri. 4/15. Main Post Office, Downtown Fort Wayne. Fifteen members of the Libertarian Party of Allen County set up shop on the sidewalk where late tax filers would drive up and hand off their returns to postal workers who had several large canvas bins. It was a beautiful spring day, and people in their cars had their windows open. As the traffic piled up, we took the opportunity to hand out literature to those who wanted it and to have quick discussions on taxes.