In June 2006, when Chandler Woodcock of Farmington secured the Republican nomination for governor, a good deal of the credit went to religious conservatives.

The Maine Right to Life Committee provided a phone message for the Woodcock campaign to send to voters. The Maine Jeremiah Project, headed by Bob Emrich, worked to contrast Woodcock's conservative views on issues like abortion with the positions of his more socially moderate Republican opponents.

Now a similar coaltion of religious conservatives is going to bat for Dean Scontras of Eliot in his race for the 1st District congressional nomination.

Scontras, who opposes abortion rights and civil unions for gay couples, rolled out his campaign's Faith and Values Coalition today. The 25 names on the list represent a Who's Who of religious conservatives in Maine.

Their grassroots efforts on Scontras' behalf will be a key factor in the race for the Republican nomination. His opponent, Charlie Summers, favors abortion rights and does not oppose civil unions for gay couples.

Here are the members of Scontras' Faith and Values Coalition:

* Pastor Bob Emrich of Plymouth Baptist Church; founder of the Maine Jeremiah Project

* Michael Heath, executive director of the Christian Civic League of Maine

* Paul Madore, executive director of the Maine Grassroots Coalition

* Teresa McCann-Tumidajski, executive Director of the Maine Right to Life Committee

* Paul Davis, former Senate minority leader

* Carolyn Gilman, former Republican state senator

* Pastor Dallas Henry of Hosanna New Testament Church in Oxford; board president of the Christian Civic League of Maine

* Pastor Jeff Tarbox of New Life Church in Biddeford

* Pastor Sandy Williams of First Baptist Church of Freeport

* Pastor Jim Ledoux of Sebago Church of the Nazarene

* The Very Reverend Lester E. York, dean of the Anglican Cathedral of Saint Paul in Portland

* Pastor Jack Daniels of Free Baptist Church in Limerick

* Pastor Eric Hanson of Hosanna New Testament Church in Oxford

* Fr. John Clifton of Church of the Prince of Peace in Sanford

* Pastor Peter French of God's House on the Hill in Sanford

* Pastor Jerry Hubbard of Twin Bridges Pentecostal Church in Harrison

* Rev. Stephen Espling of New Gloucester

* Tim Russell, deacon of Kennebec Valley Baptist Church in Waterville

* Rita Feeney, former executive director of the Maine Right to Life Committee

* Lisa Roche, former executive Director of the Maine Right to Life Committee

* Richard Traynor, former executive director of the Maine Right to Life Committee

* Bob McClure, Maine state director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes

* Paulie Heath, Christian Singer/Songwriter

* Justin Horsman, director of The Maine Student Project

* Chuck Spencer, founder of Youth Challenge of CT., Inc.

– Kevin Wack

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