AUBURN – Two more candidates, including former Lewiston Mayor John Jenkins, have entered the race for Maine governor.

Jenkins, 54, filed papers on Friday to run as a Clean Elections candidate using public campaign funds. The Auburn resident said he will run as an independent on a platform of controlling government spending, cutting taxes and expanding economic opportunities.

“I have a deep concern for the state of our state,” he said. “I see a different state, one that is safe and secure instead of one where I see families struggle, where I see terror in their eyes.”

Jenkins is a real estate agent and consultant to businesses and organizations teaching leadership, team-building and sales. He was a state senator from 1996 to 1998 and Lewiston’s mayor from 1993 to 1997.

Also filing papers with state election officials on Monday was Jeffrey Sanborn, an independent candidate from Gray. No other information on Sanborn was included in the filing.

Jenkins and Sanborn join a field of three Republicans, two Democrats, an Independent Green Party member and five other independents who have registered with the state to run against Democratic Gov. John Baldacci in November’s election.

Jenkins attempted a run for governor in 2002, but dropped out after falling short in collecting enough signatures to get on the ballot.

Independents need the signatures of 4,000 voters by June 1 if they want to appear on the ballot in November. To get money from the Clean Election Fund, they must collect $5 “qualifying contributions” from 2,500 registered voters.

This time around should be different from 2002, Jenkins said. He has been getting calls from supporters statewide offering to circulate nomination papers and make contributions.

A native of New Jersey, Jenkins moved to Maine 35 years ago and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Bates College.