By David Farmer,Staff Writer
Field now includes 4 independents, 1 is John Michael; Green Independent; 2 parties’ nominees

LEWISTON – The field for this fall’s gubernatorial race came one step closer to being complete Thursday.

Two independents qualified for the ballot on the last day that they could submit their nominating petitions.

John Michael of Auburn and Phillip Morris NaPier of Windham each submitted more than the 4,000 signatures necessary to earn a place on the ballot.

They join independents Barbara Merrill and David John Jones, who already qualified for their spots, and Pat LaMarche, who represents the Green Independent Party.

Those five now await the outcome of the June 13 primary election, which will decide the Democratic and Republican nominees. Incumbent Democratic incumbent John Baldacci faces a challenge from Chris Miller, and former U.S. Rep. Dave Emery, state Sens. Peter Mills and Chandler Woodcock want the Republican nomination.

Michael ran for governor in 2002. He’s a former state lawmaker and used to be a Democrat.

NaPier also ran a write-in campaign in 2002 and is the founder of Felons United, a group that tries to “put an end to all forms of branding, labeling and discrimination of our people by our government, our news media, and our neighbors. People who have been branded/labeled felon and their families are one the largest groups suffering at the hands of discrimination in America.”

Other candidates who had sought a place in the race failed to turn in the required signatures by Thursday’s deadline.

Among them is former Lewiston Mayor and state Sen. John Jenkins, now of Auburn.

Jenkins said he collected “a bit more” than 3,500 signatures, but ultimately fell short.

“Although disappointing, there was a lot of enthusiasm and support” for his candidacy and his campaign goals, Jenkins said.

Today is the deadline for candidates to qualify for to run as Maine Clean Election Candidates. Merrill, Jones and Michael have declared their intent to seek the public funding, which requires them to submit 2,500 $5 contributions to the Maine Clean Election Fund by 5 p.m. If they are successful, they will qualify for at least $400,000 to fund their campaign and possibly as much as $1.2 million.

Sun Journal news staffer Doug Fletcher contributed to this story.