Election season has winded down once again, as we all ingest the results of the hard-fought local and statewide contests, from casinos to candidates.

Now that we’re heading into the heat of presidential primary season, however, the focus is squarely back on the partisan politics that shape our nation.

A president will be elected in November 2012, only a year away, with President Barack Obama facing one of the nine Republicans now seeking the nomination. That means it’s time once again for another bout of that never-ending championship fight: Democrats vs. Republicans.

Some Americans are all geared up for the big election and the state elections that will accompany it, toeing the party line on every issue, rallying behind candidates who supposedly share their values because there is a D or an R after their name. But then there are those who are looking for another way.

That’s where OneMaine comes in. This newly formed organization, headed up by former gubernatorial candidate Eliot Cutler, is based on a simple idea: That a candidate’s character and approach to the political process is more important than their stance on issues. OneMaine will take a stance on a few issues, as they did supporting a yes vote to retain same-day voter registration this year, but Cutler said the group will not choose candidates based on their positions on particular issues.

Having the option of funding through OneMaine will also allow candidates the freedom to part with the party line on certain issues ”“ and that’s an important part of keeping an open political process.

Soon, OneMaine plans to form a PAC to support candidates and will choose to throw support behind 10-20 tough races throughout the state. OneMaine groups are being developed in each county to identify candidates, raise money and spread the message of party independence. Locally, our own Biddeford City Manager John Bubier and former mayor Bonnie Pothier are on the advisory board, among others.

The organization was launched in September to create a home for unenrolled voters and those who “feel abandoned” by their political party, Cutler told the Journal Tribune Editorial Board in late September. OneMaine also seeks to be a well-funded political organization that can support candidates.

This “third” option will be appealing to many voters, whatever their voter registration card says, who are tired of partisan bickering, tired of seeing both parties fight for their own preservation and power instead of what’s best for the American people. The embarrassing budget debacle only a few months ago nearly led to a government shutdown simply because our representatives in Congress couldn’t find any compromises on spending. For the moderate majority of Americans, it’s easy to feel that both parties have gone too far to the left or right in their policies.

So it seems an appropriate time for OneMaine, but it’s unclear if this approach will work. Those voters who do not go by the party line, when they decide whether or not to support a candidate, usually do so based on the candidate’s position on the issues. Whether a candidate believes in compromise and representing the people or not, it’s unlikely that someone who is passionate about stopping illegal immigration, for example, will vote for someone who has a record of being soft on the issue. Those we elect are put in office to represent us, so we want to know that their views align with ours, at least on what we consider the major issues.

Yes, it’s obviously important to have people in office who are going to work together to do what’s best for the American public, but that fact alone won’t be enough for many voters. It’s tough to judge someone’s character and political values without a good one-on-one chat ”“ and voters don’t get that opportunity. They can, however, check out a candidate’s stance on various issues just by clicking on a website or reading a flyer.

Will we take OneMaine’s word for it that a candidate is a good person who will serve us well in office? That remains to be seen. What is certain is that the two-party system seems to be failing most Americans and disadvantaging candidates who do not fit into the form of either dominant party. Cutler was undoubtedly inspired by his failed independent bid for the governorship, seeing how difficult it is to go up against these two entrenched systems. It would be easy to think of OneMaine as the “independent” party, providing a base and monetary support for independent candidates, but that’s not the idea. The organization plans to support candidates from either party or none, based simply on their commitment to “finding pragmatic, sustainable solutions to the challenges that Maine faces and to working across the aisle and across the state to put them into effect.”

It’s a nice, common sense idea, and it’s the way our political system should work, so we hope they find success. But it seems doubtful that many people will be drawn away from their respective banners of parties that they know stand for certain values they hold dear. Like fans of rival sports teams, there seems to be an inherent part of each of us that enjoys identifying as one team or the other, battling it out and seeing who wins. Sometimes common sense solutions lose in the process.

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Today’s editorial was written by Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Kristen by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via e-mail at kristenm@journaltribune.com.