Libertarian Fishman announces bid for Kerry’s Senate seat

In last fall’s heated 6th District Congressional race, Libertarian Daniel Fishman positioned himself socially to the left of incumbent John Tierney and fiscally to the right of Republican challenger Richard Tisei.And while Fishman acknowledges his presence may have skewed the close race to Democrat Tierney, he’s undaunted in his next quest to bring what he calls a different way of thinking to the U.S. Senate race to fill the seat just vacated by Secretary of State John F. Kerry.”I think there is an awakening in Massachusetts,” Fishman said of his fiscally conservative, socially liberal platform.The special education software engineer from Beverly announced Tuesday he will attempt to gather 10,000 signatures before April 3 to appear on the state’s June 25 special election ballot for U.S. Senate.It’s a long shot, he admitted in an interview with The Daily Item on Tuesday. But Fishman said it’s still a shot worth taking as he sees more voters become disillusioned with an increasingly conservative Republican party and a “machine” Democratic party.”There’s no question I am a dark horse,” he said. ” ? [But] for the people that I do represent, that I do speak for, there’s nobody coming close to representing them.”In his Congressional campaign, Fishman advocated for a 23-percent sales tax in place of many federal taxes while arguing for legalizing marijuana. He earned 5 percent of the vote in a race that went to Tierney by half a percentage point, fueling speculation Fishman tilted the race for Tierney.Fishman said he accepts responsibility for that accusation.”I accept the anger that was out there for the people who said Rich Tisei should have won and I cost him the election,” Fishman said.But by running again, this time for an office to represent the entire state, Fishman said he hopes his views of less government will gain even more traction.That’s unlikely, said Larry Davis, the chairman of the history, government and economics department at North Shore Community College.”If he got on the ballot and he got 5 percent of the vote, I would eat my hat,” Davis said.Davis said in his Congressional campaign, Fishman was able to ride on the coattails of a popular Tisei, who drew out conservative voters.This time around, more conservative voters are likely to stay at home as high-profile Republicans, like Tisei and former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, have bowed out of the Senate race, Davis said.Still, Davis said he admires Fishman for making a stand for his views.”I’m someone who supports third parties,” Davis said. “I think it’s good for American politics to have a voice, an alternate voice.”Fishman is staying positive. He said he’s already “overwhelmed” by calls of volunteers willing to help gather signatures to get him on the ballot.”It really has been an explosion of people sort of immediately signing up and saying, ‘What can I do?'” he said.Amber Parcher can be reached at [email protected].