CHINA -- Christopher Mark Doyon of China has announced that he is a Democratic candidate to oppose District 55 Republican incumbent H. David Cotta in the Maine House of Representatives.

Doyon, 43, is a graduate of Cony High School and Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., where he majored in philosophy and religious studies. He is a computer scientist, founder of the Machine Life and Artificial Intelligence Foundation.

Doyon said he is running for the Legislature because the incumbent doesn't represent his views. He calls himself a Jeffersonian Democrat, which he defines as fiscally conservative, socially liberal and libertarian, all within the Democratic mainstream, he said.

He said he is in favor of states' rights; the right to bear arms, both for hunting and for self-defense; strengthening Maine's information-technology infrastructure as a means to stimulate the economy; and protection of the environment and natural resources, locally and statewide.

In his announcement, Doyon praised Gov. John Baldacci and the Democratic majority in the state legislature for their "truly heroic job of managing the current financial crisis."

He said he supports the Governor's fiscal approach, and if elected would oppose raising taxes or using the Rainy Day Fund to compensate for revenue shortfalls.

Cotta and Doyon are the only two party members to file for the District 55 seat by the deadline, so neither will have a June primary opponent.

Unenrolled candidates may still file, until June 2. District 55 includes Albion, China, part of Benton and Unity Township.

Cotta was elected to the seat in 2006 over incumbent Democrat Judd Thompson.