Now I’m grateful to learn, from a letter writer to your newspaper (May 27), that I ran as a candidate for Senate in 2004. It’s the first I ever heard of it. I do recall, however, running for state office that year, specifically State Rep for the 48th Legislative District. It was an experience to show up at candidate events as the sole Libertarian and see the startled look of dismay on the face of the big party candidates. When my late mother-in-law heard that I was running for public office she exclaimed, “Miles can’t run for office, he eats meat!” My wife gently explained to her that I was running for office as a Libertarian, not as a vegetarian. It may be I am being confused with a Mr. Guthrie who ran for Senate in 2006. He famously quipped at the televised candidates’ debate that, “I’m the poorest millionaire up here” (on the stage) when referring to his big party fellow candidates.

Perhaps someone should run for state office again as a Libertarian. But the powers-that-be have ordained that no small party candidate be allowed to crash the party. Not even Ralph Nader, due to the “Cajun” system imported from the political swamps of Louisiana. I am informed that Iran has 60-plus political parties and yet we in Washington State think ourselves a democracy in having one party in power and one “I wanna be a party to this, too.”

Miles F. Holden, Kirkland