{news} Pat LaMarche is governor candidate in Maine

[David Bedell]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2005/12/08/former_green_vice_presidential_candidate_runs_for_governo

Former Green vice presidential candidate runs for governor

By Glenn Adams, Associated Press Writer  |  December 8, 2005

AUGUSTA, Maine --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. The national Green ticket received 
less than 1 percent of Maine's statewide vote in last year's presidential 
election.

La Marche joins five other candidates -- including four Republicans and an 
independent -- who have launched campaigns to oust Democratic Gov. John 
Baldacci in next year's election.

The chairman of the state Democratic Party, Pat Colwell, called LaMarche's 
entry "a reckless misguided decision" because Baldacci's record makes him 
the best candidate.

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."

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