1. I am not someone that believes that you can be all things to all people. One must make clear choices in life. One cannot be wishy-washy. Others need to know where they stand with you, and the stands that one takes need to be principled, intelligent, and informed.
2. I am not partisan. I will work in a genuine spirit of cooperation with anyone that has their heart and true intentions towards making Maine better. Some people, to be honest, are more concerned with winning battles or taking credit. I am focused on results.
3. I am not afraid of conflict and hard knocks. I know that sometimes the things that life brings us can be painful, but can strengthen us and make us more sympathetic and empathetic to the burdens of others if we let them. I was in the hospital almost a month, from Nov. 16 – Dec. 14 of 2005 following being hit by a pick-up truck while a pedestrian, and jumped right back into this race.
4. I am not too inexperienced. I will understand if the voters decide I need more seasoning before they wish to most seriously consider me for the position of Governor, but I do not believe that one must be a career politician to be effective in this role. Effective governors in Maine and elsewhere are elected at a younger age than my 40 years (41 before election day).
5. I am not afraid of success, because I am not afraid of failure. I love Maine, and the responsibility of protecting and working with others to build this great state would be felt by me constantly in a serious manner I assure you. There are many individuals who strive to do the very right and best thing in life, both in large and small endeavors. I am one of those people.

And then some things that I am:

1. I am a “practical optimist”. Someone who believes that life has constant challenges but is good. Someone who believes as they say that “life is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration”. But it’s that 1% that positively compels us to complete the 99.
2. I am detail and success oriented. A job not done right isn’t done.
3. I am a communicator and a doer. I relate from a sense of genuineness and self-knowledge and admire the same. We all have our individual strengths, and these should be respected. And we all have weaknesses, we are human.
4. I am competitive and ambitious, and work hard to channel it most productively into shared positive results. I live in a world of high yet attainable standards, and seek to inspire confidence, hope, will and desire in others to accomplish the same. Maine is, can, will and should be great. If elected this will constantly be in my thoughts and actions.
5. I am an individual that possesses a healthy respect for history and tradition, recognizing their extreme importance while at the same time not being beholden to them exclusively to the detriment of one’s future. Moving up in life is not the same as moving on, and going forward incorporates also some holding on.

I am thankful to the pioneers that blazed the way for an Independent to be elected Governor of this state. And I am mindful of all those who contribute, and have contributed, on whose shoulders we all stand.

But I am my own person.

With my own way.

They say that “there is nothing new under the sun”. This is true.

But there is always a new day.

Alex Hammer is an Independent Candidate for Governor residing in Bangor. The Campaign’s website is www.Hammer2006.com.