AUGUSTA — A Maine independent candidate says he won’t accept donations from political action committees in his bid for governor in 2014.

Crystal Canney, a spokeswoman for Eliot Cutler’s campaign, says people in Maine will benefit because Cutler won’t be bought by or beholden to special interest groups. Canney says PAC money drives the agenda in campaigns and that Maine people deserve better.

The year-end fundraising filing deadline for the governor’s race is midnight Tuesday.

A spokeswoman for Democratic candidate U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud says the decision seems more politically motivated than a real effort to keep money out of politics. She says Cutler hasn’t been backed by any major organizations, so he likely wasn’t getting much PAC money anyway.

Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s campaign declined to comment.