I have dedicated the last 16 years to help bring about political alternatives to Maryland. I've done this by running under the Libertarian banner for Baltimore City Council in 1999 and 2004, and for Lieutenant Governor in the State of Maryland in 2002.

The current problem facing the United States is the destruction of civil liberties, as it applies to all areas of life: economic, political, or social. Our federal government is using crisis situations or the appearance of crisis situations to increase its power and ability to intrude into the lives of law-abiding citizens. The war on drugs is a subsidy to terrorists and criminals, and does nothing to help people who are substance abusers. That is an individual medical problem. Currently, law enforcement agents plea bargain with thugs to get names of people who may or may not be dealers, so that they can break into their homes in the middle of the night, in flagrant disregard for the Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable search and seizure. Instead, they should focus on holding people accountable who drive or operate heavy equipment while impaired, regardless of the cause of their impairment (antihistamines, alcohol or drugs).

The so-called "War on Terror" (e.g. Iraq and the Department of Homeland Security) is not too far behind the war on drugs. This is the antithesis of our Bill of Rights and the clearly defined provisions of our constitution. The so-called "War on Drugs," the so-called "War on Terror" are driving our deficit spending, which devalues the dollar, and leads to sky-rocketing energy prices. What kind of security is this? The incumbent, Ruppersberger, is part and parcel of this problem. Sure, he can provide pork for many, but it's time we shifted to lean proteins and more fiber to eliminate the waste.

I am qualified for this as someone who works for a living, and who has spent his own time and money for 16 years helping to break down the legislated regulatory barriers that have kept alternative parties as well as independents from being offered as viable choices to the citizens and voters of Maryland. It is time that we elect people who are not connected with the monopoly power - people who understand that government service is just that - government service, and not a career opportunity.

The first step is to have people in Congress who are free and unburdened by years of feeding off a system that uses them at the same time that they use it. This first step also requires congressional representatives who are predisposed to being accountable, and who will insist that others be accountable as well.

I am convinced that I am one such individual, and I want to serve you, my fellow citizens of the Second Congressional District, as your Congressman.

Watch this website for more policy and issue details.

Often questionnaires on the health care issue sent out to candidates are set up to reply either in favor or against the federal government's running health care, so the statement below should cover them all.

The federal government has messed us up in Iraq. The federal government has messed up the Veteran's Administration. Two friends of mine were grossly misdiagnosed by the VA and only survived by the grace of God. So, what we need to do is get the federal government out of the whole health care thing. After all, the federal government is probably the most incompetent administrator of health care - so why do we want to give it power over our health care?

Let's have America's working people keep the most money possible in their pockets and purses and encourage non profit health coops for the working poor and the middle class so that they can put money aside tax free to get check-ups and health care for themselves. Let's have genuine tax free accounts for catastrophic health situations. Let's look into ways to provide for the truly needy in truly charitable ways that do not make bureaucrats wealthy but actually help those in need.

I find many proposals for health care to be the antithesis of help for the poor, instead promoting wealth for the health care provider.

Where do I stand on Iran? I happen to think that talks with the government of Iran should have begun 15-20 years ago, so as far as the suggestions from former Secretaries of State regarding unconditional dialogue are concerned, to me it's a no brainer. I find the sabre rattling regarding invading Iran symptomatic of middle aged and old men who willy nilly go for wars that are going to be fought by young people - a centuries old disgusting spectacle.

I'm not a pacifist. If self defense is needed, I believe in self defense. Preemptive action such as attacking Iran is out of the question - obscene, really.

The theme of my campaign is "Civil liberties is everything" (or "everything is civil liberties"). The so-called war on terror is farcical. Terror is an emotion. You fight terrorists who are criminals, who commit criminal acts. You seek them out as you would a serial killer. You don't invade countries. (A caveat: Afghanistan was where the terrorists were residing at the time, but we lost that advantage because we were in Iraq.) Invading Iran would only make matters worse.

The Iranian young people who are sick and tired of the oppression of the corrupt, so-called mullahs need to know that the government and people of the US are their friends, not the ones who are going to bring further misery and pain.

First of all, I reject the notion that government defines marriage. In my view, marriage is defined by faith and the agents of faith, for instance, churches. I happen to think that the entire discussion of so-called homosexual marriage or heterosexual marriage approved by government is a canard hoisted against the ability of consenting adults to enter into legal contracts.

Let churches decide who or what constitutes a marriage. Let secular government uphold contracts between or among consenting adults. The issue is far greater than who marries whom. I think that the reason why we are in this whole ridiculous discussion in the first place is because of things like my own personal situation. My wife Susan (a woman) and I live with my mother. Why cannot my elderly mother be part of the same health care insurance plan that my wife and I share? Instead, she has to be stuck with the phoney-baloney Medicare.

It is absurdities of this sort that fuel the fictitious argument of government approved marriage. Government has no business approving marriage, unless people are forced into marriage or any kind of union, in which case government must defend the rights of the person who is being forced.

Lorenzo Gaztaņaga was born in Havana, Cuba in 1949 and received his early education in Christian Brothers schools. He came to the United States with his family on October 21, 1961, locating in Baltimore in June 1963. In 1973, he became a United States citizen. He attended parochial school in Baltimore City, finishing high school in the third graduating class of Cardinal Gibbons School. After high school, he attended Loyola College and Towson State University, majoring in history and political science, returning to college again in the 1980's to study psychology at the University of Baltimore.

He has held jobs ranging from language teacher (during five years in Haiti), car salesman, and director of development for his old high school. He is currently working in the security business to support his activities as a citizen politician. He is fluent in English, Spanish and French, and conversant in Haitian Creole. A Maryland Libertarian Party officer, he worked with the Coalition for a Democratic Maryland and Marylanders for Democracy to ease the stringent ballot access requirements that have effectively kept independent and third party candidates off the ballot for the last 25 years. He is a founding member of the Human Values Network and former member of the Board of Directors of the Environmental Crisis Center, which provides food and shelter to the homeless of Baltimore City. He is active in the Cliftmont Community Wesleyan Church, where he has mentored young people of the Belair-Edison community.

Gaztaņaga shares his life with his mother, his wife of 33 years, New York City native Susan Jacobson Gaztaņaga, and his black, 20-pound cat, Lord Baltimore.