DAMARISCOTTA – Out on the sidewalk in front of a local restaurant, Christopher Miller readied himself for his next campaign appearance.

“I have to make myself presentable,” the Gray Democrat said as he put on a sport coat and a fish-shaped tie he pulled from the front seat of his Honda Civic parked nearby.

Miller is running for governor. Making himself presentable in his upcoming primary contest against sitting Gov. John Baldacci is less about appearances, he said, and more about selling Maine Democrats on his platform.

One of his latest opportunities to persuade voters waited just across the street at an evening health care forum at Lincoln Theater.

Miller acknowledged he’s no expert on health care policy. He did, however, address the issue in broad terms at the forum, which drew about 30 people – most of them affiliated with a local hospital.

For Miller, energy and local control are paramount concerns. At an interview before the forum, he pulled from his briefcase a chart showing oil production peaking and demand continuing to rise. The situation if left unresolved, he said, is a recipe for social and economic collapse.

“We’re not preparing for this,” said Miller, whose platform calls for a 10 percent reduction in fossil fuel use each year and for the state to be fossil fuel-free by 2020.

“This sounds entirely unrealistic,” he continued. “Yes it’s unrealistic, but on the other hand, it’s necessary because we’ve waited so long.”

Also unrealistic, Miller suspects, are his chances of winning the June 13 primary against Baldacci, a “master” campaigner, in Miller’s words, whose political career has spanned nearly three decades.

By any comparison, Miller, a 51-year-old Web site developer, is virtually unknown in political circles. A divorced father of two teenage boys, he came to Maine in 1984 to design solar-heated homes after graduating from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

He is a lifelong Democrat and has worked behind the political scenes at times. Most recently he was a field organizer in Cumberland County for Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich’s 2004 presidential campaign.

Miller said his own bid for governor – his first try for public office – was originally designed as a way to focus attention on energy conservation and the need for alternative energy sources.

Miller’s talking points also include drastically reducing state government and passing many of its tasks on to local leaders.

“But it seems to be bigger than that,” added Miller, who said he has found that many Democrats he has met share his frustration with the party, which he contends has abandoned its progressive beliefs.

“So many people are disillusioned with [Baldacci], there has to be somebody else there,” said Miller, although acknowledging he is a long shot to win. “There should be somebody else as a matter of course.”

Amy Fried, a political scientist at the University of Maine, said it was unlikely Miller’s primary candidacy would gain much traction against an incumbent whose approval numbers appear to be rising.

“There just doesn’t seem to be that level of dissatisfaction among Democrats,” said Fried, who predicted a low turnout for the June primary. “In fact, I would say there are probably many Democrats who don’t know this fellow is running.”

Should Miller make a stronger showing than expected – winning perhaps 30 percent of the votes – pundits say, it should serve as a wake-up call for Baldacci.

“It would mean he needs to court the progressive community,” Fried said.

Shlomit Auciello of Warren counts herself part of that community, and will support Miller in the primary.

“I want a Democratic Party that stops trying to find the middle,” said Auciello, 53, who writes a column for the local weekly newspaper on the midcoast and also edits one of Miller’s Web sites. “I’m tired of progressive Democrats being asked to build the party and then being told to stand in the corner.”

After the Damariscotta forum, Miller might have found a few more potential supporters. One couple in particular, he said, was receptive to his message, and Miller was happy to provide them with bumper stickers.

“I think a couple people got it,” he said.

Christopher F. Miller

AGE: 51

ADDRESS: 208 Portland Road, Gray, ME 04039

E-MAIL: campaign@dryki.net

WEB SITE: www.mainecommonwealth.com

FAMILY: Two sons, Maxwell and Griffin; ex-wife, Nancy King

EDUCATION: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1978

OCCUPATION: Web site developer and operator

EXPERIENCE: Energy, business and general contracting

TOP THREE PRIORITIES IF

ELECTED:

? Energy

? Community

? Order Maine National Guard soldiers to return home