Covering the field

Monday was independents day in Maine, the day for candidates without party to get their names on the ballot and their campaigns rolling. For those interested in expanding the political debate beyond Republican and Democrat, it was a day of no surprises and a few disappointments.

For governor, there is, of course, incumbent Gov. Angus King, a Democrat-turned-independent. And there is Pat LaMarche, Democrat-turned-unofficial Green.

Unfortunately, former state Rep. Ralph Coffman, Democrat-turned-unofficial independent, came up short of the 4,000-signature requirement. Those attracted to a spectrum of views beyond those of former Democrats won’t see environmental activist Nancy Oden or Bill Clarke of the unnofficial Taxpayers Party on the ballot, either. The state’s two congressional races combined could produce only one independent — Eric Greiner (Taxpayers Party) in the 1st District.

Maybe the current robust economy is to blame for this malaise among the misfits. Maybe the going is too good, the status quo too comfy for anyone to bother taking on the powers that be. Or maybe state election law is to blame. Independent candidates need twice as many signatures to get on the ballot as do Republicans and Democrats. Their fund-raising is hampered; individual donors can give only half as much to independents as they can to the two majors. Parties that gain official status by receiving 5 percent of the vote in a gubernatorial race are sure to lose it two years later in a presidential election. If the law was designed to keep the non-rich nonconformists down, it is working exceedingly well.

Until the law is changed, which is likely to be never, those who take on the job of bringing the candidates’ views to the public also must take on the responsibility of including the independents. As long as these candidates contribute to the public discourse, news media should include independents in their coverage. Civic groups and other organizations that sponsor debates and forums should give them a place on stage.

This, of course, does not mean fringe candidates have license to rant and rave. No newspaper, no Rotary Club, no good-government group is under any legal mandate to give repetitive, abusive candidates an airing. In fact, in a case involving Arkansas public television, the Supreme Court recently ruled that even publically funded organizations can exclude an official ballot candidate from a debates if that candidate is deemed too marginal to merit the time and attention.

But until these smallfry candidates prove themselves unworthy, they should be heard, right alongside the big shots. They may bring to the table new and valid ideas on taxation, economic development, education or environmental protection. The grassroots, street level nature of their campaigns may compel Republicans and Democrats (and independent incumbents) to do more than advertise their way into office. They may even bring to the public’s attention issues the major parties would rather they didn’t, like changing state election law.