  Many extended extragalactic radio sources require a local {\it in situ\/}
acceleration mechanism for electrons, in part because the synchrotron lifetimes
are shorter than the bulk travel time across the emitting regions. If the
magnetic field in these sources is localized in flux tubes, reconnection may
occur between regions of plasma $\be$ (ratio of particle to magnetic pressure)
$<<1$, even though $\beta$ averaged over the plasma volume may be $\gsim 1$.
Reconnection in low $\beta$ regions is most favorable to acceleration from
reconnection shocks. The reconnection X-point regions may provide the injection
electrons for their subsequent non-thermal shock acceleration to distributions
reasonably consistent with observed spectra. Flux tube reconnection might
therefore be able to provide $in\ situ$ acceleration required by large scale
jets and lobes.
