Gary Reams
Encyclopedia
Gary Reams is a telecommunications industry manager and was the 2001 Libertarian
candidate for Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia
.
This candidacy followed an unsuccessful 2000 election bid for United States Senate
. Reams dubbed his campaign the "Reams Reeferendum," declaring that it was a referendum on cannabis
prohibition. He debated Democrat
Tim Kaine
on public television, persistently linking every question to the marijuana issue, which he regarded as relevant to all other political issues, including taxes, law enforcement, the environment, foreign policy, and public safety. Republican
Jay Katzen declined to participate in the debate, but participated in other debates from which Gary Reams, as a third party candidate, was barred. Reams garnered less than 2% of the statewide vote, although he polled several times that percentage in Charlottesville, Virginia
, where he had campaigned extensively.
Reams attributed the poor showing to the media blackout
of his campaign resulting from the September 11, 2001 attacks
, which focused attention on anthrax
, terrorism and other issues of survival. Reams' strategy depended on free media coverage, since he lacked a large campaign fund.
Libertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
candidate for Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
This candidacy followed an unsuccessful 2000 election bid for United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. Reams dubbed his campaign the "Reams Reeferendum," declaring that it was a referendum on cannabis
Cannabis
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three putative species, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. These three taxa are indigenous to Central Asia, and South Asia. Cannabis has long been used for fibre , for seed and seed oils, for medicinal purposes, and as a...
prohibition. He debated Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Tim Kaine
Tim Kaine
Timothy Michael "Tim" Kaine is a Virginia politician. Kaine served as the 70th Governor of Virginia from 2006 to 2010, and was the chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2009 to 2011...
on public television, persistently linking every question to the marijuana issue, which he regarded as relevant to all other political issues, including taxes, law enforcement, the environment, foreign policy, and public safety. Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Jay Katzen declined to participate in the debate, but participated in other debates from which Gary Reams, as a third party candidate, was barred. Reams garnered less than 2% of the statewide vote, although he polled several times that percentage in Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
, where he had campaigned extensively.
Reams attributed the poor showing to the media blackout
Media blackout
Media blackout refers to the censorship of news related to a certain topic, particularly in mass media, for any reason. A media blackout may be voluntary, or may in some countries be enforced by the government or state. The latter case is controversial in peacetime, as some regard it as a human...
of his campaign resulting from the September 11, 2001 attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
, which focused attention on anthrax
Anthrax
Anthrax is an acute disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Most forms of the disease are lethal, and it affects both humans and other animals...
, terrorism and other issues of survival. Reams' strategy depended on free media coverage, since he lacked a large campaign fund.