From zany to dull to over the rainbow, the carefully crafted Web sites of the four people vying to be the next Massachusetts governor reflect their personalities -- for better and for worse.

By Moe Lauzier
This morning's Boston Herald has a story telling us Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey wants Christy Mihos out of the future debates with Deval Patrick.

Why?

Because Christy Mihos did a good job in the debate.

Between the politics of fear and the politics of hope, Christy Mihos made it abundantly clear Monday night that there is plenty of room for the politics of passion.

Room enough, in fact, to drive a figurative 18-wheeler over the only two gubernatorial candidates who are supposed to matter.

Like some inspired character actor, Mihos simply stole the Boston Herald/FOX25 debate away from its two stars, Deval Patrick and Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey.

A funny thing happened at the forum last night.

Republican Kerry Healey spent the evening trying to highlight differences with Democrat Deval L. Patrick -- but as she did, she found independent candidate Christy Mihos nipping just as determinedly at her own heels.

In response to a strong performance by Independent gubernatorial candidate Christy Mihos at Monday night's gubernatorial debate, Republican candidate Kerry Healey is trying to back off on her commitment to include all candidates from future debates.

"Kerry Healey needs to abide by the debate schedule that she agreed to and give the voters of Massachusetts the right to see and hear from all the candidates for Governor. She should not be trying to deny the candidates an equal opportunity to participate in all debates. She does not get to set or change the rules," Mihos said following Healey's announcement Tuesday.

At the MIT Environmental Forum held in July, Independent gubernatorial candidate Christy Mihos called for the relocation of the LNG terminal in Everett. Mihos is renewing that call due to ongoing security issues surrounding the facility, including a recent incident this past weekend.

Independent candidates haven't fared well in Massachusetts politics. In the past century, not one has been elected governor of the state. But Christy Mihos wants to change that.

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"From Mihos comes an attack on Beacon Hill elites -- in this case including Republicans for a change -- imposing their standards on local schools, and on the Republican administration and the Democratic legislature for raising standards while cutting aid."

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Thanks to your support, Christy is officially on the ballot! "The people of Massachusetts have spoken, and their message is loud and clear," Christy said after turning in petitions this afternoon. Of the 26,000 signatures submitted to the Secretary of the Commonwealth this afternoon, 18,193 were certified. Christy and John only needed 10,000 certified signatures to have their names on the ballot in November.

"I'm honored to be on the ballot this November with John Sullivan, and I know the two of us can make this Commonwealth a better place for all residents," Christy said. "I'm excited at this opportunity to represent Massachusetts, and I'm looking forward to meeting more residents, visiting more towns and discussing more issues this fall."

The candidates have appeared together numerous times, including in Williamstown on Aug. 7 at a gathering of the Massachusetts Teachers Association. Their familiarity with each other and their stances was evident last night, as they addressed each other by first name and maintained an air of collegiality.

In his opening remarks, Mihos, as befits the convenience store magnate that he is, offered a sales pitch complete with advertising slogan -- "Christy: Unbossed and Unbought" -- and a brand name -- Christy's Proposition 1 -- his local aid proposal that would send more state dollars to cities and town, and would cap home assessments so people wouldn't feel as strong a pinch from regressive property taxes.

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Mihos, a former Republican and businessman who has his own chain of convenience stores, experienced corruption firsthand, he said, and if elected governor in the fall, vows to makes sweeping changes in the government.

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Christy Mihos will clear the hurdle of 10,000 signatures he needs to submit to local elections officials by tomorrow's deadline, his spokeswoman said today.

"We are confident we will be on the November ballot," Mihos' spokeswoman Nicole Nionakis told me today. The signatures must be certified and then submitted to the Secretary of State's office next month.

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The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority chairman, under fire since 12 tons of falling concrete killed a woman in a Big Dig highway tunnel, resigned Thursday after weeks of pressure from the governor.

In an agreement with the state, Matthew Amorello has until Aug. 15 to clean out his office, but he will continue to be paid his $223,000 annual salary through February.

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Play the sound files below to hear Christy comment's on the Big Dig leadership crisis with WRKO's Howie Carr, July 26th, 2006.

Part One:
Part Two:

This past weekend, Christy appeared with CBS4 Boston's Jon Keller. Christy spoke with Jon about his campaign, accountability on the Big Dig, and his plans for the Turnpike Authority and the Commonwealth to move forward in the wake of the tunnel collapse tragedy.

Click here to watch Christy on Keller @ Large!