DeKalb Libertarian Party acting chairman Chris Barber said he expects the party’s standard bearer, John Monds, to make a big splash in the Georgia governor’s race next year.

“We’re predicting a runoff between Monds and the Republican candidate,” Barber said.

Founded nationally in 1971, the Libertarian Party has had an active chapter in DeKalb County for about 20 years.

Though there are only about 100 active members in the DeKalb party, Barber said he believes many DeKalb voters have Libertarian beliefs.

“Getting us all together is much like herding cats,” Barber said. “At any given time we think there are tens of thousands of Libertarians in DeKalb.”

In the 2008 election more than 8,000 DeKalb voters cast ballots for Libertarian Senate candidate Allen Buckley.

“We’re growing. We’re seeing more inquiries than ever,” said DeKalb Libertarian Party member Shane Bruce. “Our principles resonate with the electorate.”

He said some DeKalb Libertarians are considering statewide offices but no local offices. He added he did not want to disclose any names until closer to the 2010 elections.

The two basic principles of Libertarian belief are that the government should be small and taxes should be low.

Bruce said the government should be “bound by the Constitution” with the primary responsibility of defending citizens.

He also said he is for elimination of the federal income tax, which was established in 1913.

“The country did pretty well prior to the creation of the income tax,” he said.

The DeKalb Libertarian Party meets the last Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. at The Village Corner Restaurant, 6655 James Rivers Drive in Stone Mountain.

Membership is $25.

Information: www.lpdekalb.org.