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Third-party candidate to visit campus tomorrow

Ann Arbor residents and University students who have yet to decide which candidate to cast their vote for in this year's presidential election will have an opportunity to meet another candidate who is also running for the executive office this year. Mike Tompkins, the vice-presidential candidate with the Natural Law Party, is scheduled to visit Ann Arbor tomorrow afternoon. Tompkins' tour around the country is part of his drive to have his name and the party's presidential candidate, John Hagelin, placed on the ballot in all 50 states.

Tompkins said his party emphasizes scientifically proven solutions to America's problems.

"We're committed to preventive medicine to lower Medicare costs, balancing the budget, and alternative energy," Tompkins said. "We're very interested in having a sustained American environment, so America will still be strong in 20-30 years." Tompkins said the party is also interested in "effective crime-prevention programs and improving education through programs to develop students' creativity and intelligence." When asked about the party's stance on affirmative action, Tompkins dismissed it as "dust and smoke" surrounding more pressing issues.

"I'm in favor of (affirmative action) but we're getting into reverse discrimination now," he said. "Instead of wasting time on trying to level the playing field, we should focus on improving education by awakening the inner geniuses of students." Tompkins also said he wanted to see less abuse of the welfare system, and wanted to encourage people to find work. He said, however, that welfare is a "whipping boy" for societal problems, and instead, programs such as Medicare and social security should be redesigned.

The party's stance on same-sex marriage, an issue on which the Republican and Democratic parties disagree, is one of "equal rights before the law." "We should consider rights of the children," Tompkins said. "The law and constitution are blind to sexual preferences."

Thus far, the Natural Law Party, which was founded in 1992, has succeeded in getting its candidates on the ballots of 24 states, including California, Ohio, and Texas. In order to have their names placed on Michigan's ballot, he will need 30,000 signatures. Tompkins said this year it plans to be the first third party in United States history to be on the ballot in all 50 states. It plans to run 1,000 candidates for federal, state and local offices.

Tompkins is scheduled to be on the Diag at noon tomorrow.