FARMINGTON Maine

A retired history and political science professor is entering the race for Maine's 2nd District congressional race in hopes of unseating 3rd-term Democratic Rep. Michael Michaud.

Republican John Frary, 66, a former chairman of the Franklin County Republican Party, announced his candidacy at a state GOP committee meeting Saturday.

Frary, who taught for 32 years at Middlesex Community College in New Jersey, acknowledged that beating an incumbent and raising enough campaign money for the 2008 race will be challenging.

A conservative who writes newspaper columns on public policy issues, Frary labeled Michaud as a party-line voter and said his candidacy can offer voters a clear choice in the election.

Frary "is conservative and has a lot of support from those who know him," said Julie O'Brien, executive director of the Maine Republican Party. "And as more people get to know him, they will be very intrigued by him. This will be a stark contrast in style."

No other Republican has announced their candidacy for the seat, which covers all of Maine except the southern coastal and interior area.

Frary said he does agree with Michaud on some issues, such as a woman's right to have an abortion.

Michaud spokeswoman Monica Castellanos said her office anticipated Michaud would face a Republican challenge even though he won 71 percent of the vote in 2006, when Michaud was challenged by Republican Scott D'Amboise of Lisbon.

Michaud was first elected in November 2002 with 52 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Kevin Raye of Perry. In 2004, he was re-elected with 58 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Brian Hamel in the general election.

Information from: Morning Sentinel, http://www.onlinesentinel.com/