Mihos's website hints at 2010 run

He has a website ready, blogs are buzzing, and several media outlets have proclaimed he is ready to challenge Governor Deval Patrick in 2010. But wealthy businessman Christy Mihos says he is just getting his toes wet and has not taken the plunge.

Mihos, a Cape Cod convenience store owner, garnered 7 percent of the vote running as an independent in the 2006 gubernatorial race. He came up with some of the best one-liners in the debates, but never gained enough traction to alter the race. As he recovers now from prostate and skin cancer, he said he is contemplating another race.

"Running for governor of my home state was one of the best things I've done in my life. Will it happen again? Who knows," he said. "That just isn't even on the radar screen right now."

His new website, christy2010.com, broadcasts, "Christy Mihos: Independent for Governor of Massachusetts," but he said he only purchased the site to make sure no one else did. Most of the site right now is leftover material from the 2006 race, including free bumper stickers that read, "Don't Blame me . . . I voted for Christy."

Mihos said he plans to launch another website on July Fourth, ChristyforMassachusetts.com, that will chronicle what he views as increased fees, fines, and bureaucratic problems under the Patrick administration. Despite the lack of a full-fledged campaign, Mihos is already trying out some attack lines.

"People are tired of drive-by governors who could care less about the Commonwealth," he said.

Asked if that was a reference to Patrick, he paused and then added, "The answer is yes. Absolutely."

Patrick has said repeatedly that he plans to run for a second term.

When asked what he would do differently in this race, Mihos said, "If I did it again, I'd get in a lot earlier than I did last time."

He announced his candidacy nine months before the election in 2006.

Matt Viser can be reached at maviser@globe.com.