BRUNSWICK — Former Maine Street store owner Frederick K. Horch announced Wednesday that he intends to join the race for House District 66 under the Green Independent Party banner.

Before a March 15 deadline, David Frans filed as the candidate for that party’s slot on the November ballot.

In a letter to The Times Record, Horch wrote that he plans to return from a sabbatical in Japan with his wife, an associate professor at Bowdoin College, and children to vie for the Green Independent nomination during a party caucus this summer.

In 2010, Horch made his first bid for that office as a publicly financed candidate against incumbent Democrat Rep. Alex Cornell du Houx and Republican challenger Jonathan Crimmins.

In that tight three-way race, Horch earned 1,230 votes to Crimmins’ 1,035 and Cornell du Houx’s 1,425.

In 2008, the field featured the same Democratic and Republican candidates, with Green Independent candidate David Frans. Frans took just 591 votes to Crimmins’ 1,698 and Cornell du Houx’s 2,209.

This year, Horch would again face Cornell du Houx, who has filed to run for reelection.

According to state filing records, John J. Bouchard will be this year’s Republican Party candidate for the House 66 race.

Should Horch become the local nominee for his party, he wrote, he would also seek public financing for his campaign through the state’s Clean Elections law.

In order to qualify, Horch will need to raise 60 “qualifying contributions” of $5 from voters registered in the Brunswick district before an April 20 deadline.

In 2010, Horch used some of his public campaign funds to host a series of debates.

In his letter, Horch said that Cornell du Houx would decline to participate in a similar series of forums this year unless they are hosted by a nonpartisan group.

In an email to The Times Record, Cornell du Houx wrote that “this is standard practice across the state and nation.”

“There are a host of environmental, educational, health and other organizations, that would like to have an opportunity to highlight their message with the candidates,” Cornell du Houx wrote. “If a candidate wishes to donate their funds to help with the event, there is nothing stopping them.”

Prior to leaving for Japan, Horch sold his Brunswick storefront F.W. Horch, which specialized in sustainable home goods and foods. The storefront is now owned by Corie Washow and Rob Schulz under the name Shift Sustainable Home Goods.

Horch wrote that he plans to dedicate more time to campaigning in 2012, without the need to manage that store.

dfishell@timesrecord.com