Independent candidate Dexter Kamilewicz said the war in Iraq is a major reason why he’s running for the 1st District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Kamilewicz is running against state legislator and Republican Darlene Curley and incumbent Tom Allen, a Democrat.

He said he became vocal in his opposition to the war after his son, one of five children, joined the Vermont National Guard.

“As I spoke out and wrote, I was approached by a number of people who asked if I had ever considered running for public office,” said Kamilewicz.

Kamilewicz, 62, was a longtime Yarmouth resident before moving to Orr’s Island. He was born in Maine and grew up in the Greater Portland area. From 1984 to 1997, Kamilewicz owned Acadia Bay Co., a property management company. Now, he is a senior vice president at CBRE Boulos Property Management in Portland.

He graduated from high school in South Portland and earned a degree in English from Northeastern University. He also taught English at Oxford Hills High School.

Kamilewicz is frustrated with the continuing war and how both the Republicans and Democrats have run the government.

“I lay all of the deaths right at the door of the president and the administration, but also at the feet of the Congress,” said Kamilewicz. “There’s something ominous about the way the president and Congress approach running this country. We entered Iraq with no plans and no real discussion. Our government seems to approach a number of things that affect a great number of people that way.”

Health care, said Kamilewicz, is also important to him.

“It’s very clear that universal health care is the solution for every American,” said Kamilewicz. Small towns and small businesses, he added, are being ignored, and they suffer most without affordable health care.

“Where are the lobbyists for the everyday American?” said Kamilewicz. “There are many people without health care, and that’s not right for the richest country in the world. You can blame that directly on the Congress.”

The money being spent on the war, said Kamilewicz, can be redirected toward funding health care and research for alternative energy methods.

“Since the oil embargo in the 1970s everyone knew we had a problem with fossil fuels,” said Kamilewicz. “And what did we do? Nothing. Congress sat on their hands for 35 years, and now we’re fighting a war related to energy. That’s bizarre.”

For example said Kamilewicz, money now spent on the war could be spent on incentives for places like Bath Iron Works to manufacture equipment for wind-powered energy. Not only would this help solve energy problems, said Kamilewicz, but it also could bring industry back to towns and help boost the economy.

Kamilewicz said he hopes he can bring a third view to Congress beyond the Republicans and Democrats. Both parties, he said, have failed Americans.

“I don’t see any difference between the Republicans and Democrats,” said Kamilewicz. “They’re too wrapped up in themselves.”

“I’m old enough to not want to make a career out of being in Congress,” he added. “I’d like to be a pain in the neck in Congress.”

“I have a positive vision,” he said. “People like to tag me as anti-war, but I’m for peace. I’m for bringing hope.”

Independent Dexter Kamilewicz is running for the District 1 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.