By Bonnie Washuk,Staff Writer

AUGUSTA – Gov. John Baldacci will announce a few initiatives that will surprise people when he gives his State of the State tonight, he said Monday. One will be about conserving energy. A few others will involve new items in his budget and proposed bonds, he said, offering no further hints.

Much of his biggest speech of the year will be familiar territory: He wants Maine to be a national leader in protecting the environment, and in providing individuals with access to affordable health care and opportunities in business and education, Baldacci said.

Pages of his not-yet-done speech were on his desk Monday. The text had ample editing marks. He has been working on the speech for days, he said, including Sunday when the New England Patriots played the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The governor tried, but could not work on the speech during the game.

“I was in the kitchen going over it when my son (Jack) said: It’s 10 to nothing, Dad.'” The speech had to wait until the Patriots advanced to the Super Bowl.

Baldacci said Monday he is nervous about facing the cameras and delivering the speech he will be judged on. He said he doesn’t consider himself the best orator, but that the speech is his chance to tell Mainers directly why it’s important that state government, schools, county governments, town and city halls be restructured. Services must be delivered smarter so taxes can stabilize or be lowered and Maine’s economy can be strengthened, he said.

“This is a unique opportunity where I can talk directly with people, unfiltered,” Baldacci said. Residents see media reports about budgets and programs. His speech will “put things in an overview, show the game plan: Here’s what we’re doing and why,” Baldacci said. “We cannot afford to continue to use the structures and systems of the past. We’ve got to be more flexible and serve people better.”

Government hasn’t been reorganized and restructured “since Ken Curtis’ administration. These are significant times we’re living in.” A few Lewiston-Auburn people could be spotlighted in the speech, Baldacci said.

The governor has people writing the speech, but he decides what he’ll say. “It comes right down to what I feel most comfortable saying. I’m the one that has to look in the camera, look in the eyes of people and talk. So it has to be from me.”

Baldacci acknowledged he has to overcome his tendency to talk too long, that he’s working on tightening up his speech and being more succinct. “I don’t want to go on until The Tonight Show.'” But he has six or seven big areas he wants to comment on, Baldacci said.

The State of the State is Baldacci’s third big speech. He gave his inaugural speech in 2003, and his first State of the State last year.