A local political science professor will put his teachings to the test, launching his bid as a Libertarian candidate for Colorado House District 50.

Tom Kelly, political science department head at American Military University, an online higher education institution, will run in the 2018 election. It’s his first campaign, and Kelly said it’s an opportunity to speak openly and honestly about issues, as well as a chance for Kelly to practice what he preaches.

Kelly, 47, was recruited by the Colorado Libertarian Party to run for the seat, and he’s one of three candidates who will run. Democrats Rochelle Galindo and Jim Reisberg will square off in a primary before the November 2018 general election.

Kelly has lived in District 50, which encompasses most of Greeley, for the past seven years, moving with his family from Illinois because of what Kelly said was oppressive taxation.

It’s one of his big issues, along with education. Kelly is a former special education teacher and public school teacher. He has kids in the Greeley public school systems, and he advocates for more local autonomy in schools. He doesn’t agree with the proposed property tax increase, Greeley-Evans School District 6’s ballot question 3A, calling it a quick fix.

Kelly is against state-run health care, and he has some personal experience with the health care system, including a daughter who survived leukemia, a son with Down syndrome and a wife who is one year removed from breast cancer.

“It comes down to the philosophy that these things are too important for government bureaucrats to be making decisions,” Kelly said.

He’s supportive of the state’s energy industry, but he also supports local control and cities’ rights to ban hydraulic fracturing.

Kelly said water also is a big issue in Colorado, particularly when it comes to new reservoirs and environmental battles.

-Tyler Silvy covers government and politics for The Greeley Tribune. Reach him at tsilvy@greeleytribune.com. Connect with him at Facebook.com/TylerSilvy or @TylerSilvy on Twitter.