LEBANON — Harrison Thorp announced Friday that he plans to run as a write-in candidate for Maine House District 20, which represents Acton, Lebanon and Shapleigh.

Thorp ran against Karen Gerrish of Lebanon in the Republican primary in June. According to unofficial results reported by the three towns, Gerrish beat Thorp 69-41 in Acton, 30-11 in Shapleigh and 211-155 in Lebanon.

Thorp said he’s running as a write-in, because he wants to give voters who want to end the gridlock in Augusta a chance to have their voice heard. He said he considers himself a fiscal conservative and a social moderate.

“I will be focused like a laser beam on ending the fraud and misuse of our welfare system,” Thorp said. “The way things are now with the job market, people on welfare can’t afford to get a job, because they’re getting $50,000 a year in entitlements.

“I want to help write the legislation that encourages them to get back to work and off of these programs. I know that is their goal as well, and I want to help them achieve the American dream, which isn’t a lifetime of food stamps and public housing.”

Thorp is publisher of The Lebanon Voice, an online newspaper covering the Town of Lebanon.

Thorp’s website for his write-in candidacy is harrisonforrepseat20.com.