AUGUSTA – Former U.S. Rep. David Emery took a step Wednesday toward a possible run for Maine governor as he announced the formation of an exploratory committee for the 2006 Blaine House campaign.
“Six months ago this was the furthest thing from my mind,” the former 1st District GOP congressman said. But Emery, standing in front of two dozen supporters, said he was prompted to run at the urging of friends and associates throughout the state.
“Maine must make fundamental changes,” Emery, who is 56, said in the State House a few steps from the governor’s office. “Maine must learn to live within its means.”
Saying he will run as a fiscal conservative, Emery sounded themes that have been raised repeatedly by minority legislative Republicans: Maine needs to control spending, control taxes, and should not rely on borrowing to balance the state budget.
“When I’m governor, Maine will be open for business,” said Emery, who served in the U.S. House from 1975 to 1982. He ran for one of Maine’s U.S. Senate seats in 1982, but was defeated by the incumbent Democrat, George Mitchell. After the election, Emery served in the Reagan administration as deputy director of the U.S. Arms and Disarmament Agency.
In 1990, Emery lost a race for the 1st District congressional seat to Democrat Thomas Andrews.
Prior to his congressional service, Emery served two terms in the Maine House of Representatives, from 1971 to 1974.
Consulting firm
Emery, of St. George, has remained active in politics and owns a public opinion research consulting firm. He has also served on state legislative redistricting panels.
Democratic Gov. John Baldacci has said he intends to seek re-election next year.
Baldacci’s GOP opponent in 2002, Peter Cianchette, has not ruled out becoming a candidate in 2006.
Cianchette, a Republican National Committeeman, said Wednesday that that if there is sufficient support for his candidacy, he will consider running again.
Nancy Oden of Jonesboro, who worked for independent Ralph Nader’s presidential campaign in Maine last year, filed paperwork with state officials in March to start the process toward becoming a publicly financed candidate for governor next year. Oden filed as an unenrolled candidate.
Also filing with the state Ethics Commission for public funding was Stephen Stimpson of Bangor.
Candidates seeking eligibility to appear on ballots for the 2006 Blaine House race can begin circulating petitions on Jan. 1, state election officials said. Party-affiliated candidates must submit at least 2,000 voters’ signatures by March 15, and nonparty candidates must submit at least 4,000 signatures by June 1 of next year, state election officials said.
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