Emery becomes first to challenge Baldacci (Maine 2006 governor's race)

Portland Press Herald ^ | June 16, 2005 | MARK PETERS

[Fido969]

Thursday, June 16, 2005

Emery becomes first to challenge Baldacci

By MARK PETERS, Portland Press Herald Writer

Copyright © 2005 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc. E-mail this story to a friend

AUGUSTA — Former U.S. Rep. David Emery announced plans Wednesday to challenge Gov. John Baldacci in 2006, becoming the first Republican candidate to emerge from a crowd of possible contenders. Emery, 56, who represented Maine's 1st Congressional District from 1975 to 1983, told reporters that he will run as a fiscal conservative focused on improving the business climate in Maine.

Emery, of St. George, is starting his gubernatorial run more than 16 months before Election Day in part to rebuild his name recognition among voters.

"I do have a base. I know people in all 16 counties," said Emery, who ran for the U.S. Senate in 1982, losing to George Mitchell, the incumbent Democrat.

Emery's announcement, and his formation of an exploratory committee to build a campaign, comes as several other Republicans consider challenging Baldacci. The Democratic governor has said that he plans to run for re-election next year.

The crowd of potential candidates includes Peter Cianchette, who ran against Baldacci in 2002; former Maine Senate President Richard Bennett; Senate Minority Leader Paul Davis, R-Sangerville; state Sen. Peter Mills, R-Cornville; and state Rep. Darlene Curley, R-Scarborough.

All confirmed on Wednesday that they are considering running for the Blaine House, but said they have not made final decisions.

"(Emery's announcement) certainly could be a wake-up call to other GOP candidates sitting on the sideline," said Patrick Colwell, chairman of the Maine Democratic Party.

Polls show that Baldacci's popularity is slumping. A recent poll by Critical Insights, a Portland-based firm, gave Baldacci a job-approval rating of 43 percent, down from 54 percent a year earlier. The telephone poll of 600 Mainers had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Baldacci also faces criticism over his handling of the state budget and his continued opposition to expanding legalized gambling into Washington County. A plan to borrow $450 million to balance the budget has been the subject of a GOP-led veto campaign involving Emery.

Baldacci declined to comment on Emery's candidacy, saying he is too busy with the final days of the legislative session to get caught up the 2006 election.

At a lunchtime news conference, Emery listed what he said is a string of problems with the state and accused the governor of failing to provide strong leadership to fix them. Emery said the state trails most states in business climate, while leading the nation in tax burden.

"When I am governor, Maine will again be open for business," Emery said.

Emery owns a consulting firm that does public opinion research. Although he has not held elective office for more than 20 years, he has remained active in state politics.

He served in the Reagan administration as deputy director of the U.S. Arms and Disarmament Agency. He lost a race for the 1st District congressional seat in 1990 to Democrat Thomas Andrews.

He now is working for Republican leaders in the Maine House of Representatives, helping to recruit future candidates.

- The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Staff Writer Mark Peters can be contacted at 623-1031 or at:

mpeters@pressherald.com

[Fido969]

Don't underestimate the 'rats in the next election - they've managed to hold onto control of the Maine government for 'bout 20 years now, despite spectacular incompetence.

[Brilliant]

Agreed, but if ME is still talking about the bad economy at this point in the national economic cycle, then that is INCREDIBLY horrific performance.

[JohnnyZ]

Interesting. I thought Cianchette did ok last time around considering how far back and unknown and underfunded he was after the primary. Baldacci could be ripe for defeat, especially if the Greens run a candidate again, which they need to do for ballot status, no?

[JohnnyZ]

Maine's economy has been poor for years. Even when there's growth it's growing from a base that's much smaller than it should be. Terrible tax policies, I suspect poor business policies as well, and the enviros are trying to make it worse, and the gays want to take over as well.

[bilhosty]

This really a blast from the past. If I remember correctly this person won in the watergate year defeating an incumbent Deomocrat(one of the very few). I think he was considered to be not the smartest tool in the shed. But, would clearly be an improvement over any Dem. I suspect the Maine Gop will come up with a stronger candidate.

[TNCMAXQ]

Didn't Emery totally blow that Senate race in '82? Maine was still considered a GOP leaning state at that time and the very liberal Mitchell, who had been appointed to his seat, was vulnerable. Emery started out with a large lead but Mitchell bounced back and managed to win, unfortunately.

[PermaRag]

Emery, 56, who represented Maine's 1st Congressional District from 1975 to 1983, told reporters that he will run as a fiscal conservative...

"Fiscal conservative": a liberal on almost every issue, who may try not to raise taxes quite as much as somebody who ADMITS they are a liberal. But maybe that's as good as we can do in a state like Maine these days (sigh...).

[JohnnyZ]

The last fairly conservative politician elected was Jim Longley, who lasted one term in Congress, but even he was weak on some social issues, a la Bob Ehrlich in Maryland.

The last honest-to-goodness conservative elected to a major office in Maine was ..... ?

I'm not saying we should nominate "moderates", just commenting that conservatives in Maine are in a REALLY long dry spell (which I hope will end .... at some point).

[Fido969]

"I thought Cianchette did ok last time"

I like PC, I voted for him, I could stand having him as a governator, I guess. My issue was I thought the 'pubs were strong then, and stronger in '04, but they keep losing elections. Cianchette got hammered, actually. It's that Portland and south-coast brain dead voter that keep giving us this crap.

[mlmr]

Emery is still alive? Is this the best we can do?

[Fido969]

Errr... The Republican party in Maine is a shambles. They have had opportunity after opportunity handed to them on a silver platter, and have not been able to get off the starting line. When it occurs to you that Rick Bennett is one of the leading Republicans in the sate, it becomes clear that the party has no backbone at all.

[mlmr]

What about Chianchette? Was he beaten badly?

[Fido969]

I liked Peter Chianchette, (I like some of the other 'pubs in the primaries better,) I thought the 'pubs had a lot gong for them in 2002, but Chianchette only got 41% of the vote - a very weak showing. Baldassi got 47% and most of the rest went to the nuts and berries party.

All of the problems the state has now existed in 2004 and I thought the 'pubs could sweep the legislature - but they only picked up a few seats, it was a very disappointing showing.

Now, of course, the disaster is obvious, and again the 'pubs have the situation handed to them on a silver platter - but we will see what they can do. They just have such a long history of being weak and ineffective - even though they try to be the "gentleman's" (and gentlewoman's) party, they just end up standing still while the 'rats pummel them and use them as punching bags for every woe in the state - even though the 'rats have held absolute power here for some time.

It's pathetic, really.