TLAPEK SEEKS CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY CLERK SEAT

Greg Tlapek, resident promoter of the Libertarian party, has filed for Cape Girardeau County Clerk.

He will face incumbent Rodney Miller in the general election. Miller is a Democrat.

"I think Rodney does a great job," Tlapek said. "He's a great county clerk. I really hate to put him to the trouble of running a campaign."

But Tlapek said County Clerk is one county job that fits the philosophies of the Libertarian party.

"I am mostly interested in promoting the Libertarian Party," Tlapek said. "I didn't want anything to do with tax collecting, and I'm very interested in the elective process."

In addition, a libertarian already appears on the ballot for Congress, Senate and the Missouri auditor.

"Now we are down to the county level," Tlapek said. "I look forward to the day when every person will have to face a Libertarian candidate. Even though I think Rodney is a great county clerk, I wouldn't mind beating him."

Tlapek ran for 8th District congressman in 1996 and 1994. He said he was running to bolster Libertarian views.

For eight years Tlapek managed a discount brokerage house in Cape Girardeau. Then he decided to make a "major life change."

"I got sick of paying taxes and decided I would rather spend my effort trying to fight taxes as opposed to paying nearly half my income in taxes," he said.

He promotes the Libertarian Party full time in an unpaid position.

The party philosophy promotes a person's right to live life as he chooses as long as he is peaceful and honest.

"We are morally opposed to taxation and view it as theft," he said.

Tlapek is unmarried.