AUGUSTA (AP) – Pat LaMarche, who ran on the national Green Party ticket for vice president in 2004, announced her candidacy for Maine governor on Thursday.

At a news conference in the State House, LaMarche said she has started the process to qualify for public financing for her Blaine House campaign under the state’s Clean Elections Act.

A capital-area radio personality known for her past political activity in the state, LaMarche listed jobs, education, health care and reforming Maine’s tax structure as the top issues.

“Maine is losing young people to better jobs outside of Maine,” said LaMarche. “We are losing whole industries – not just businesses – due to the unacceptable business and tax climate in Maine, and we are losing the ability to keep families healthy and well-fed.”

The 45-year-old Yarmouth resident ran for Maine governor in 1998 on the Green Independent ticket, winning 7 percent of the vote and helping her party to gain official state recognition.

La Marche joins five other candidates who have launched campaigns to oust Democratic Gov. John Baldacci in next year’s election.

At her announcement Thursday, LaMarche put more emphasis on her effort to run as a Clean Election candidate than on her affiliation with the Green party. Her written announcement doesn’t mention her Green background until the fifth paragraph, and the blue letterhead doesn’t mention her party at all.

But LaMarche said she intends to run as a Green with her party’s nomination, and noted that she remains active as a co-chair of the Green Party of the United States.

“I believe that the Green party (in Maine) will never have its status at risk again,” said LaMarche. “It’s fair to infer that I’m playing up all of the other aspects of my life.”