CLARKSVILLE, Texas - Lou Antonelli says he is running for a seat in the U.S. House as a Libertarian because he wants the party to displace Democrats as the second party in Texas' 4th Congressional District.
In a news release Friday, Antonelli pledged to run "a full-fledged active campaign" as the Libertarian nominee in the district.
His goal in running is to "inject original ideas into the discussion," arguing for Libertarian principles such as reducing bureaucracy and increasing individual authority, Antonelli said.
Antonelli and his wife, Patricia Antonelli, own the Clarksville Times newspaper, where he serves as managing editor after a 40-year career as a community journalist, according to the release.
He has served as an elected school trustee, a library trustee, an animal shelter board member and a condemnation court judge and is president of the Clarksville Lions Club.
Antonelli will run against Democrat Russell Foster and a Republican nominee to be chosen in August for the 4th District seat, which is soon to be vacated by Republican John Ratcliffe. On Tuesday, the Senate confirmed Ratcliffe to become Director of National Intelligence under President Donald Trump.