LOUDONVILLE — A Loudonville native is running for Congress.



Brandon Lape, a 2000 graduate of Loudonville High School, is running for the Ohio Seventh Congressional District seat on Congress, a seat currently held by Republican Bob Gibbs of rural Lakeville.



Lape is running as the Libertarian Party candidate.



The son of Mona McMullen and the late Jeff Lape, and stepson of Rotary Vice President John McMullen, said his conversion from being a Republican to being part of a third party came from his brother Josh telling him about the Libertarian Party, "and that got me thinking about why we only have two choices on things political. On studying the Libertarians, I realized my views aligned with theirs."



He said Ohio has a strong Libertarian presence, as it is the fourth largest Libertarian state in the union, and it is the third largest party in Ohio.



"Libertarians espouse the concept of limited government, and follow the philosophy of author Ayn Rand," Lape said. "We are the party of principles, and oppose any government interference in our private lives. Our goal is to reduce government to minimum levels.



"Our 2018 party platform seeks a world of liberty, and not force us to sacrifice our values," Lape said. "We must be respectful of individual rights, and feel that only through freedom can peace and prosperity be achieved. Our goal is to set the world free in our lifetime. Our principles are smaller government, less intrusion and fiscal responsibility."



He added "our national debt is unsustainable. That is why I am running for Congress."



"Our economy, now, is booming, yet our national debt continues to rise. It was $14 trillion when my opponent, Bob Gibbs, was elected, and in the time since it has risen to $23 trillion. As we spend more money, we come closer to bankrupting the budget."



Among his other points:



— Social Security should be funded through private investment, not through the government. The government should not be in business to sell insurance.



— Likewise, for Medicare and Medicaid. Government should get out of health-care services as well. The Amish Community covers its health care and retirement through self-insurance of savings. "We should all do it this way," he said.



— Lape said it was relatively simple to get his name placed on the ballot as an independent. "I just have to obtain 25 valid signatures on a petition," he said.