I know that we have been working on recruiting people. I've heard rumors but I can't substantiate any undeclared Green candidates in our local area.

As I go through the process I'm taking notes and writing up a handbook, "How to Run as a Green Independent for State Representative in Maine."

If you're new to politics (as I am), you can be blindsided by the early deadlines. Most regular people in Maine are not thinking about going door to door in February for a November election. But you need to be out doing that if you want to get your signatures as a Green Independent. We're finding that it takes about 45 minutes per signature here in Brunswick. So that's an investment of almost 20 hours of calling and knocking on doors in order to get your 25 signatures to get on the ballot.

Another thing that Green candidates need is up-to-date mailing lists. We're working on that locally.

In general, this cycle we're still making progress as a viable political party in Maine.

The race in Brunswick's District 66 will be a three-way contest again, with Republican Jonathan Crimmins challenging Democrat Alex Cornell du Houx in a rematch. I'm the Green candidate this time, but just wanted to point out that you've got a typo in your list. My last name is spelled Horch (with an "H").

The Greens didn't have a win in the 2008 cycle, but we're still alive and well as a statewide party! In fact, the number of registered Green Independents may be at a record level. - Fred Horch