In order to help set state policy and offer more voter options, an ISU faculty member is running for the state Legislature in the Nov. 7 election.

Eric Cooper, associate professor of psychology, is running for a spot in the state House of Representatives in the 61st district, which encompasses about 85 percent of the Ames community.

Cooper, running on the Libertarian ticket, is against Republican Steve Halloran of Ames and incumbent Jane Greimann, D-Ames. He said he is another voice to consider that will expand the race’s scope for voters.

“I want to popularize Libertarian ideas and provide an alternative for the people who aren’t satisfied with the choice between Republicans and Democrats,” Cooper said.

Cooper said he is concerned with two major issues — the education system and the legalization of drugs.

“I want to get the government out of the education system. I have a plan to privatize public school,” he said. “I also believe we should legalize all drugs.”

Cooper said the Libertarian philosophy says it is wrong for individuals and the government to initiate force against another person or their property. The role of the government, according to Libertarianism, is to protect the people from the initiation of force by others.

He said the similarities between the two mainstream parties is causing a decrease in interest in the political system.

“The choice between Republicans and Democrats is not a real choice,” he said. “They nearly have identical positions, and I think the voter apathy in the nation is due to the fact that voters feel their choices are constricted.”

Cooper said campaigning is difficult because of regulations placed on third-party candidates. The two mainstream parties have made it hard for other candidates to get their names out, he said, which darkens the future for third-party candidates.

“I don’t see third parties winning elections, but they can have an effect on public policy,” he said. “If a Libertarian candidate can swing 10 percent of the votes, it can change the election and force the major parties to adopt more Libertarian stances.”

Aaron Fister, producer of ISU-9’s Politics Unlimited, said the purpose of third parties is to change the two major parties.

“If a third-party candidate defines himself or herself with a group [party], it will be harder to get elected than if they ran as an independent with a set of ideas because people will vote against the party, not the man,” said Fister, junior in management information systems.