WATERLOO - Iowa's 1st District congressional race is getting a little more crowded.

Two independent candidates - one an Eldridge man claiming to represent the Pirate party, the other a Waterloo resident who once ran for Congress as a Libertarian - have joined the race.

Both men filed nomination petitions over the past week. The deadline for independent filings was Friday.

James Hill, 42, of Eldridge, says he wants voters to reject the influence money and lobbying have on politics. He said he would outlaw most forms of lobbying.

"The money can be taken out of it, but it involves the voters having the fortitude to vote for the guy with the least money," he said.

Hill said he doesn't plan to solicit any money for the race, but plans to use some of his own savings.

Hill declared himself a member of the Pirate party on his nomination papers, saying the invention is inspired by the idea pirates captains found incompetent could be banished to lower stations on their ships or marooned.

"I thought it would be nice if we could do that," he said.

Hill said he's been spreading the word of his candidacy since April. He also has a Web site at jameshillforcongress.com.

Hill, who said he is on disability after severely injuring his back in 2002, will consider his campaign a victory if even a couple of hundred people are inspired to "research candidates."

Before his accident, he said, Hill worked as a sales and service representative.

Albert Schoeman of Waterloo also filed papers. Schoeman is 55, according to Black Hawk County Auditor's records.

In 2000, Schoeman ran for Congress in what was then the 2nd District, garnering nearly 2,300 votes out of about 252,000 cast. He was listed as a Libertarian Party candidate.

Schoeman could not be reached for comment.

The two major party candidates in the race have already spent months campaigning and raising money in the 1st District race, which is considered one of the most competitive in the country. Incumbent Rep. Jim Nussle, R-Iowa, is vacating the seat to run for governor.

Democrat Bruce Braley of Waterloo won a four-way nomination scrap in June, while Republican Mike Whalen of Bettendorf won a three-way fight.

Neither man's campaign had any comment on the new candidates.

Contact Ed Tibbetts at (563)-383-2327 or etibbetts@qctimes.com.