AUGUSTA (AP) – A hearing officer’s report being circulated Thursday would clear independent Senate hopeful Herbert Hoffman, whose eligibility has been challenged by the head of the state Democratic Party, for inclusion on Maine ballots in November.

Still subject to comment by Hoffman and his challenger, the report by Deputy Secretary of State Julie Flynn said there was insufficient evidence to invalidate enough petition signatures submitted by the would-be candidate to bring him below the requisite number of 4,000 signatures.

A final decision by Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap, who was to receive Flynn’s report and the comments from the parties in the proceeding, is expected Monday.

Hoffman’s petitions for candidacy contained 4,112 valid voters’ signatures, as originally determined by election officials. That was 112 more than the 4,000 threshold set by state law.

State Democratic Party Chairman John Knutson of Brooklin and his Democratic Party supporters subsequently claimed some signatures were invalid and raised questions about whether petitions were handled properly.

Flynn’s report recommends disqualifying 74 signatures from Hoffman’s total, with most – 55 – being discounted as duplicates.

If accepted by Dunlap, that would leave Hoffman with 4,038 valid signatures, still above the minimum.

Hoffman, a retired psychologist from Ogunquit and former Democrat who says his would-be candidacy would advocate an immediate halt to the war in Iraq and the establishment of a single-payer universal health care system, issued a statement Thursday all but claiming victory in his pursuit of a place on the ballot.

The Maine Democratic Party, meanwhile, expressed satisfaction with the “factual findings” of the hearing officer and said Democratic officials “believe there are compelling legal reasons” for Dunlap “to find in our favor.”

Hoffman has criticized his potential ballot rivals – Republican nominee Susan Collins, who is seeking a third Senate term, and Democrat Tom Allen, the sixth-term representatives from Maine’s 1st Congressional District – for failing to hold the Bush administration accountable.

The secretary of state’s office has determined that another independent, Laurie Dobson of Kennebunkport, failed to submit enough signatures to get on the ballot.