Published: Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014, 10:10p.m. Updated 9 hours ago

HARRISBURG The tone in Ken Krawchuk's voice changes when he talks about the signatures he needs to get on the ballot as a Libertarian Party candidate in the governor's race.

Turning serious, Krawchuk acknowledges it's a sore spot.

Though Republican Gov. Tom Corbett and his Democratic challengers each need 2,000 signatures, Krawchuk by law, as a third-party candidate, must gather 16,639 valid signatures of Pennsylvania residents. The number of signatures that third-party candidates need fluctuates based on top vote-getters' totals in the last election.

They don't want the competition, he said, calling it an onerous requirement.

The party on Saturday nominated Krawchuk, 61, of Cheltenham in Montgomery County as its candidate for governor in the November general election. For anyone who wants less government, he's the guy for whom to vote, he said.

Pennsylvania government has grown at three times the rate of inflation over 50 years, he contends, and taxes are too high because spending is too high. Krawchuk supports ending what he calls the insane war on drugs and would legalize marijuana. He says government should be limited to protecting people's rights, lives and property.

We do believe in defense, police and public safety, Krawchuk said.

Unlike the major parties, there's no primary in May for third-party candidates, of which Libertarians are the largest with about 45,000 registered voters in Pennsylvania: We have more than all the other third parties put together.

The big test is getting those ballot signatures with every i dotted and t crossed to withstand court challenges that Republicans typically file, Krawchuk said.

See more here:

Libertarian Krawchuk wages battle to get on the ballot in primary election