Efficiency needed in Missouri government, Libertarian says
JEFFERSON CITY — Compared to his opponents in the race for Missouri Secretary of State, Libertarian candidate Wes Upchurch is young — very young.
"Everybody I talk to is like, ‘Oh, it's the young candidate,'" Upchurch said.
But Upchurch, a 21-year-old Web designer from Columbia, is using his youth to mobilize young voters. He said he has seen an increase in Libertarian Party groups on Missouri college campuses.
Upchurch said he has been well received in younger crowds, but he wants to make sure all voters view him as qualified.
Glenn Nielsen, chairman of the Missouri Libertarian Party, said Upchurch has been particularly active on the Internet through Facebook and MySpace.
"At the Twilight Festivals (in Columbia), young people kept coming up and saying, 'Wow! Hi, I know you from Facebook,'" Nielsen said.
Nielsen said Upchurch has been diligent about the campaign.
"As an individual, he has demonstrated from an early age that he is a go-getter," Nielsen said.
"I was pleasantly surprised that he diligently went and reviewed the duties and responsibilities of the Secretary of State's Office and found exactly how he would run the office differently."
Upchurch said that government is becoming more intrusive and that Missouri needs a smaller, more efficient government.
"The government likes to meddle in what you do, but they don't like it when you look at what they do," Upchurch said.