Anti-government activists in northwestern Pennsylvania -- tax protesters, militia, sovereign citizens who adhere militantly to the U.S. Constitution -- usually surface in court or police standoffs. Sometimes they wind up in prison. For what might be the first time, a resident with extreme views on government and a court record of vigorously resisting the law is on the ballot for a major office in Erie County.
Waterford Township resident Ebert G. "Bill" Beeman's campaign signs wave in all corners of southeastern Erie County. They sport the Republican Party's pachyderm and promote Beeman's candidacy as the GOP's nominee for the Erie County Council seat in the 6th District.
Beeman's platform -- "reduce spending" -- sounds like the party line. But court records -- including those that show Beeman owes more than $2 million to the Internal Revenue Service -- and Beeman's own words reveal him to be an activist who questions government by flouting it.
If elected to office, it appears Beeman does not want to change county government so much as dismantle it. Beeman, 60, said residents are "coming out of the woodwork" to support him. "They agree we can't continue to live beyond our means," he said.
The party on whose ticket he is running is spending its money to ensure Beeman's defeat. Erie County Republican Party Chairman Brad Moore is urging Republicans to support a write-in campaign by incumbent 6th District Councilman David Mitchell, who had planned on retiring from office.
Moore said Beeman admitted in a July meeting with Erie County Republicans that he was a Libertarian and only sought the Republican nomination to appear mainstream.
Moore said Beeman told him he wants to eliminate the services county government is mandated to provide. "We're a big-tent party," Moore said, "but his views of government are not rational."
Turning back the clock
Beeman is one of five candidates competing to represent the 49,000 citizens of Erie County Council's rural 6th District, which stretches from Edinboro to Corry, and Wattsburg to Union City. His philosophy is simple: "Live within our means."
His vision is radical.
Here's how Beeman says he would tighten the county government belt:
- The Erie County Public Library: Sell it. ("You have more information in a computer at home than you do in that entire library.")"I want to turn back the clock," he said.
- Tullio Arena: Sell it. ("Get it on the tax rolls.")
- The Erie County Prison: Empty it of nonviolent offenders like deadbeat parents and pot smokers. ("All the employees running the facility do nothing productive.")
- Airport runway extension: Ditch it. ("No planes land there anyway.")
- Beeman also advocates a 10 percent pay cut for all nonbargaining county employees, because, he said, they produce nothing.