The Constitution Party is giving voters a third option in some county and municipal races in November.

The Lancaster-based party filed petitions Monday to have five party members listed as candidates in the upcoming general election.

The candidates, which will join Republicans and Democrats on the ballots, are:

• Adele Callahan, running for county register of wills.

Callahan, of Pequea, is the Martic Township auditor and the office manager of a Quarryville company. She ran unsuccessfully for county controller in 2009.

• Troy D. Bowman, running for county prothonotary.

Bowman, of Manheim Township, works in information technology for a Lancaster company.

• Kenneth L. Dinger, running for county treasurer.

Dinger, of Quarryville, works as a cashier. He made an unsuccessful bid to be a state representative from southern Lancaster County's 100th District in 2002.

• John T. Erb, running for Rapho Township supervisor.

Erb, who lives near Sporting Hill, works as a store cashier.

He made county history in 1993 when he and his parents wrote his name in the blank as a candidate for Rapho Township tax collector. With those write-in votes, Erb became the first Libertarian elected to office in Lancaster County.

He resigned from the position in 1996.

• Gary R. Odom, running for Lancaster City Council.

Odom, of Lancaster, is the national field director of the Lancaster-based Constitution Party.

He has not previously sought office in Lancaster County, yet has run unsuccessfully for state attorney general and twice for Congress while in California. He was listed as a member of the American Independent Party during those campaigns, in 1986, 1990 and 1992.

Odom, who said he was traveling in California on Wednesday, said the Constitution Party is attempting to increase its visibility by getting candidates on the ballot.

"A lot of people are afraid to change but they want to," said Odom. Getting names on the ballot will show them there is a viable alternative to the dominance of the Republican and Democratic parties, he said.

Personally, Odom said his focus is getting the party on ballots nationwide for the 2012 presidential election. That will not leave him a lot of time to campaign for Lancaster City Council.

"I don't have a grand vision of being elected," said Odom.

Yet, he added, "if elected, I will serve."

Odom said he expects Callahan, Bowman and Dinger to run more active campaigns.

Callahan, contacted at home, declined to comment for this article. She will release a statement next week after the close of period in which her nominating petitions could be challenged, she said.

Bowman did not return a call for comment. Dinger could not be reached.

Erb said he has no specific issues in his campaign for Rapho supervisor, but that his candidacy is not just about getting out the party name.

"This isn't a phony candidacy," said Erb. "If people elect me I will serve to the best of my ability."

He would strive for an efficient township government in which costs would be contained.

One issue that may come before the supervisors is that of a tax to support fire companies. Erb said he would oppose such a tax.

"I do support the fire companies. I want them to have what they need to do their job, but we can do it without a tax," he said. "A lot of people can't afford another tax."

Odom said the Constitution Party now has five or six members elected to local offices in Pennsylvania. He hopes to increase that number to 20 or 30 statewide to increase the party's credibility.

The Constitution Party, founded nearly 20 years ago as the U.S. Taxpayers Party, favors a limited federal government based strictly on the Constitution.

According to the party's website, members favor abolition of congressional pensions, a return to election of U.S. Senators by state legislatures, repeal of laws requiring parents to send their children to schools, abolition of the federal Education and Energy departments and Internal Revenue Service, phase-out of Social Security, elimination of federal income taxes and return to the use of gold and silver coins for currency.

Other party positions include opposition to abortion, U.S. participation in the United Nations, gun control, government involvement in health care, gay marriage, free trade agreements and undeclared wars such as those in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as a rejection of global warming.

Nationally, the party claims to be the third largest political party in terms of registration, with 367,000 registered voters.

In Lancaster County, voters registered as independents or with third parties compose 14.3 percent of all voters in 2010. Republicans still dominate county registration, with 54 percent of voters, while Democrats stand at 32 percent, newspaper records show.

According to Diane Skilling, deputy chief registrar of the county elections board, Odom needed 100 signatures on nominating petitions to be included on the City Council ballot. Callahan, Bowman and Dinger needed 927 to appear on the county row officer ballots. Erb needed 17 signatures to be a candidate for Rapho supervisor.

bharris@lnpnews.com