GARDINER — Former state legislator Harvey DeVane has announced that he’s running as a Democrat for the House of Representatives.

DeVane, 76, a Gardiner resident since 1981, is seeking the House District 59 seat, which serves Gardiner and Randolph.

Now, the seat is held by state Rep. Stephen P. Hanley, D-Gardiner, who is not running again because of term limits.

Also running are Democrats Gay Grant of south Gardiner, and Phillip Barter of Gardiner.

In a news release, DeVane said he served in the Maine House in the 107th Legislature, from 1975 to 1977, and has worked as commissioner of the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, and director of the Maine State Energy Office.

DeVane also served on the Maine Board of Environmental Protection, the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission and has been active in the Democratic Party, according to the release.

“I’m running because I’m experienced, energetic, empathetic and I have the time to serve,” DeVane said. “I’m an accommodater, a middle-of-the-road kind of guy. The state used to run on middle-of-the-road politics and it seems now to be the extremes.”

DeVane said the Legislature needs more “careful, thoughtful, reasonable people.”

DeVane is a Maine native and a graduate of Cheverus High School and the University of Maine in Orono.

He served in the Korean War and worked as manager in the town of Carmel and the city of Ellsworth.