by Christopher Cousins

Full story at BangorDailyNews.com
Excerpts:

Now that Mills is one of seven Republicans vying for the party’s nomination to run for governor, his record of independence is seen as a liability among some. Others see that record as making Mills the most electable Republican in the field.

“I have always fought for what I think is right, regardless of political gain or loss,”said Mills during his speech last weekend at the Republican State Convention in Portland. “That’s what Maine people expect in a leader.”

Ronald Schmidt, a political scientist at University of Southern Maine, said Mills may well be the most electable Republican against a Democrat. But his most formidable challenge is the June 8 primary, when he faces only Republican opponents and only Republican voters.

“Mainers tend to like politicians who can be seen as independent from their party,” Schmidt said. “Primary voters are different from general election voters. They’re a lot more partisan.”

…

Mills has a lot going for him, not the least of which is near-universal respect from legislators of all stripes.

His reputation at the State House involves a legendary work ethic and a passion for the legislative process. Most of the times he carries a tote bag bulging with hundreds of pages of documents and reports, and he spends days on end sitting through legislative committee hearings — whether he’s on the committee or not.

During his 16 years in the Legislature, he has been the ranking Republican on the tax, labor, judiciary, appropriations, insurance, education and health and human services committees.

He has led on a variety of major issues, including reform of the state’s workers compensation program and more recently the creation of a “Fund of Funds,” which invites pension managers to invest in business development in Maine.

During a recent interview, Mills said now is not the time for a governor who lacks legislative experience.

“I don’t need to conduct any audits to figure out how we can save money,” said Mills. “I’ve got actual experience in solving some of these problems.”

Mills favors most of the initiatives being discussed by most of the GOP candidates for governor, such as the creation of an incentive program to help people remove themselves from welfare.

For just about any problem facing the state, Mills has a lengthy response that usually involves the intricacies of Maine law or the nuts and bolts of the latest legislative proposal.

During a recent round-table discussion with business owners in the Hampden area, Mills answered a question about economic development with a detailed description of the state and federal barriers to business development — and recent attempts by other legislators that Mills said would exacerbate the situation.

“We need a Republican governor who would say that all of these proposals for a new and larger regulatory environment will not be entertained,” said Mills to the group. “It would immediately change the political posture of this state. Businesses would no longer have to put up with vagueness in the rules that makes everything contestable and ultimately deferrable.”

Asked whether his experience as a legislator is a liability when most of the other Republicans are referencing their “outsider” credentials, Mills said Maine needs someone who understands the issues, right down to the wording of the actual laws.

“I like finding things that other people can’t see,” said Mills, who claims to be reading all of President Barack Obama’s more than 1,000-page health care reform bill. “We could all be good legislators if we’d focus on the words and not the politics.”

Mills said he would use his power as governor to forge consensus among legislators, even on the issues where there is the widest disagreement. He said his favorite thing to do is battle it out in the halls and chambers of the State House — especially during the most difficult times.

“I have never felt more alive than I do in those last three weeks of the legislative session,” said Mills. “Those are the finest times of my life. A lot of governors isolate themselves. I think the governor should be out there and engaged in the debate.”

As a student at Harvard, Mills once took a test that was supposed to indicate his calling in life. The answer wasn’t Navy veteran, attorney or legislator — all of which Mills has been in his life.

Instead the test gave him universally high marks across numerous professions, which Mills said might account for his interest in a variety of issues. But one profession scored slightly higher: Archeologist.

“Maybe I should be out digging for Native American relics,” said Mills with a laugh. “I do like digging, but I’d rather dig for stuff in statutes and laws.”