PORTLAND (AP) – Mike Chitwood, who stepped down as Portland police chief four months ago to accept a police job in a Philadelphia suburb, is contemplating a run for governor of Maine in 2006.

“People have called me and asked me if I would be interested,” Chitwood said. “I’m flattered by it. That’s all I can say.”

Rumors of a Chitwood candidacy surfaced after Portland’s WGME-TV aired portions of a telephone interview in which he confirmed that he was considering the idea but had not made up his mind.

Chitwood said he was encouraged to run as either a Republican or an independent against Gov. John Baldacci, a Democrat who is seeking a second term. He did not identify those who wanted him to run.

Peter Cianchette, the Republican front-runner, dropped out of the race last month and his former campaign manager said people are eager to see a newcomer who can capture the public’s imagination enter the race.

“It is a great name to throw out there,” Roy Lenardson said of Chitwood.

“This is a guy who has accomplished something, he has name identification. It is exactly the type of name you would expect to hear in this type of vacuum.”

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