> On Mon, Aug 10, 2009 at 07:59:41AM +0000, Google Alerts wrote:
>
> === Google News Alert for: chris miller maine ===
>
> New candidate enters race for Blaine House
> SunJournal.com
> John Baldacci is seeking re-election and is being challenged in the
> Democratic primary by Chris Miller. Baldacci and Miller are running
> traditionally ...
>

AUGUSTA -- Taking his cue from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Maine Governor John E. Baldacci said today he will seek a third term as governor, despite the wording of the Maine Constitution which limits governors to two consecutive terms of office. Baldacci said his legal advisors had found a loophole in the Constitution which will allow him an immediate third term.

"It's important that my administration continue," Baldacci said, "there are a number of municipal and county government functions we haven't consolidated yet. plus there are some state natural resources yet to be sold off and several potential landfill sites that have yet to be exploited."

The governor added that he also needed more time to wrest complete control of Sears Island away from those who would "deny the citizens of Searsport an opportunity for unparalleled economic growth and expansion. I do not want my legacy to be like that of Gov. Baxter, who locked up a lot of prime industrial land owned by the state. From today's perspective we can see that Gov. Baxter's decision to do so in the Millinocket area has cost that region a lot of jobs. What good is a Pine Tree Zone if it only contains pine trees?"

As to the Constitutional issue, Baldacci said his legal adviser, David Flanagan "has carefully reviewed and researched the wording of the Maine Constitution and the legislative intent behind it. He has pointed out that Part One, Section Two of the Constitution reads 'The person who has served 2 consecutive popular elective 4-year terms of office as Governor shall be ineligible to succeed himself or herself.' As Mr. Flanagan has pointed out, I've clearly not been popular for two consecutive terms, so this part of the Constitution doesn't apply to me."

Four years ago, the Governor faced a primary election against Gray political activist Chris Miller, who walked away with 25 percent of the vote after spending 1/200th as much money in the primary as did Baldacci. When Miller heard that Baldacci will seek a third term he declared, "I guess I'll have to take him on again. The news that he's running for a third term really sucks."

When it was pointed out to Miller that in order to run against Baldacci in another primary he would have to re-enroll as a Democrat, Miller said, "now that really, really sucks."

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