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Libertarian Candidate for House District 88 Taking a Stand Against High Taxes

By Hamilton Richardson

November will be an important time for one Prattville resident, who up until a few years ago, never thought he’d run for elected office, but who will be doing just that as a Libertarian in the upcoming General election as he goes up against Jerry Starnes for House District 88. 

“I was born and raised in Dora, Alabama, a small rural town northwest of Birmingham,” said Justin Tyler May, a graphic designer by trade. “I graduated from Dora High School in 2008. I married my wife in 2013 and we moved to Prattville in 2015. I have two daughters, ages seven and five.”

May said he has worked most of his life in the hospitality business but recently left to start his own graphic design business in 2021.

As far as his political aspirations, May said, “I have never held office or run for office. I have had aspirations about running for about six years now. I got tired of seeing people win seats without having to actually run.  I also wanted to give a third option. I’m a true believer that everyone has a little bit, if not a good bit, of Libertarian leanings. I wanted to let those who didn’t fit in on the left or right have a choice.” 

In regards to May’s top priorities as a Libertarian, he pointed to taxes as being central.

“Inflation is taking a toll on everyone, especially at the pump,” he said. “The tax that is levied on gas is unnecessary and needs to be repealed immediately. Inflation is making it hard for everyone to afford the daily items needed to survive. That includes groceries. No one should have to make life decisions at the supermarket.”

May said he believes it’s an ethical issue.

“It’s not ethical and the tax needs to end,” he reiterated. “We didn’t ask for this tax, thus this tax and every other tax is theft. I’m tired of being robbed every time I go to the store or gas station, so I’m running for State House to do something about it.”

Another item on the top of May’s list of urgent issues to address should he win are Marijuana laws.

“The citizens of District 88, and really Alabama and the United States as a whole, deserve to choose what type of medicine they want to use,” the candidate said. “Legalizing Cannabis does a few things. It allows the people to choose their type of medication, it can help end the opiate addiction and it also allows money to be put back into the state’s economy thus helping the State of Alabama. I must say, while legalizing Cannabis is a main priority for me, along with that, I will fight to release all non-violent cannabis offenders and expunge their records. It’s crazy that people’s lives can be ruined because they chose to do something that harmed no one else.” 

Initiative and Referendum is also one of May’s focus points, as he wants to teach residents its benefits.

“As far as I&R (Initiative and Referendum), it allows the voters to add legislation or pass legislation to be on the ballot for a popular vote,” he explained. “Most of the laws passed are passed without the voters getting a say in the outcome. With I&R, this would not be the case. Any legislation passed would be able to be put on the ballot and then citizens would vote on it. That way the legislators are truly the voice of the people.” 

The process of getting on the ballot and securing support has been an interesting one, said May.

“Honestly, it’s been a little crazy,” he said. “It’s been a very fast-paced process. I went from being interested in running, to being on the ballot in less than a month, and it wasn’t two weeks later, I knew who my opponent was. We still have five months to go, but I know we’re going to talk to some great people, get our ideas out to the voters and hopefully secure a victory come November. At the moment, the community support has been great. I haven’t had the chance to really get out there too much but to the people I’ve spoken to, they are very receiving of our message and I think things are going to be looking up for us come November.” 

For those who are unfamiliar with the stances of the Libertarian party, May made some clarifications.

“Most people probably don’t know what a Libertarian is,” May said. “We fight for individual rights, small government, low taxes and upholding the Constitution. I’d have to say we don’t fall to the left or the right on the political spectrum. We are right there in the middle. We take all the good the left and right have and combine them with our own ideals that we think make us a great party to be a part of. We have a saying in the LP (Libertarian Party), ‘No one knows how to run your life better than you do’. That is the key to Libertarianism.”