HARRISONBURG — There’s a third candidate running for Virginia governor and he’s not a longtime politician or lobbyist.

He’s a Northern Virginia attorney named Cliff Hyra, and he’s the Libertarian candidate.

Hyra unofficially started his campaign Tuesday at a table in the back of the Harrisonburg O’Charley’s, making his case for the executive mansion to eight people at the Rocktown Libertarian monthly social. It was the 35-year-old’s first event since submitting to the Department of Election the 10,000 signatures required under state law to make the ballot.

State law requires third party candidates to obtain signatures from registered voters to appear on the ballot, unlike Republicans and Democrats, who are automatically added after being nominated by their party.

Hyra is still waiting for word from the state that he made the ballot, but said he submitted more than the required number of signatures and expects official acceptance next week.

In the Nov. 7 general election, Hyra will face Republican Ed Gillespie and Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, who won their party primaries earlier this month.

Because Virginia and New Jersey are the only states electing governors in 2017, the race in the commonwealth has drawn a national spotlight as something of a referendum on Donald Trump’s presidency. Nearly all attention is focused on the Democrats and Republicans, so Hyra hasn’t made a splash.

But Hyra, who lives in Mechanicsville with his wife and three children, has a plan to make a change in Richmond. If elected governor, he wants to focus on “low-hanging fruit” to make an impact on the average Virginian.

“We could really improve a lot of people’s lives,” he said. “There’s a lot of problems, but the good news is I feel like they can be addressed by common-sense solutions.”

On The Issues

Hyra describes himself as “a socially inclusive, fiscally responsible, mainstream Libertarian” and spoke on a range of issues, including economic growth, criminal justice and health care reform, school choice, marijuana decriminalization, immigration and regulation.

He advocated for cutting regulations on businesses, focusing on “absurd business regulations” the government uses to “micromanage the economy,” such as restrictions on alcohol sales at restaurants.

In Virginia, at least 45 percent of gross sales must come from food and nonalcoholic beverages for a restaurant to keep its mixed-beverage license. Hyra said businesses cannot advertise “Happy Hour” specials, offer discounts or give a 2-for-1 sale.

“What is the purpose of these regulations?” he said. “The only purpose I can think of that they actually achieve is just to harass business owners, and make it more difficult for them to do business in Virginia.”

Among Hyra’s other proposals was a call to eliminate state income tax on the first $60,000 of income.

“It would be $3,000 back in the pockets of the average household,” he said. “And there’s so much more a family can do with $3,000 more a year, starting a business investing in expanding a business, saving up for your children’s education, paying off a car loan ... getting that money out of the government’s hand and back in the hands of the people would turbocharge the economy.”

A big chunk of the discussion focused on decriminalizing marijuana. Hyra said if the General Assembly doesn’t move toward some form of legalization, he would direct law enforcement to “deprioritize” the drug, cutting down on arrests for possession.

He would also pardon prisoners held on possession charges. Removing drug users from prison, he said, will reduce incarceration costs and allow those people to contribute to the economy.

“They can go back to their families and they can get one of the good, high-paying, stable jobs that will be generated in the private sector,” he said.

Hyra also touched on illegal immigration, saying immigrants are an asset to the community, but “I’d like it to be done legally.” He said it makes sense to check someone’s immigration status if they are committing a crime, not if they are reporting it.

Looking ahead, Hyra will officially start his campaign the first week of July after taking vacation next week.

His campaign, he said, offers voters another choice in a polarized political environment.

“I’m really the only alternative on the ballot,” he said.

Even if Hyra wins in November, which everyone present Tuesday admitted was a long shot, he doesn’t plan to change careers.

“I’m not a politician and I have no desire to be a career politician or anything like that,” he said. “I’m a businessman, I have a busy law practice. I have three children and a fourth on the way.”