Darin Price of McKinleyville is the first to admit his chances of becoming California's next governor are slim -- and that's an understatement.

After all, he's one of more than 200 people across the state who've thrown their hats into the state's recall election against embattled Gov. Gray Davis. On top of that, Price represents the Natural Law Party, one of the smallest third parties in the state, and he lives in Humboldt County, one of the state's most isolated and rural areas.

But voters have grown surly in this time of huge fiscal deficits, economic slumps and political cage matches in Sacramento. Given that climate, Price said he's not really focused on winning. Instead, he sees his candidacy as a chance to spread his party's message and get North Coast issues into the state's political discourse.

"A lot of people like me are fed up with these career politicians not getting the job done," Price said Wednesday morning in a cell phone interview just off the coast, where he was taking a campaign break to catch some fish.

"And they're tired of this idea that the state line ends at San Francisco," he said. "We have water issues, timber issues, agricultural issues. I'd really like them to become part of the discourse."

Price, in his mid-40s, has lived in Humboldt County for about two decades. The Southern California native was a high school dropout and rebel in his youth. A self-described late bloomer, he moved to Humboldt County in 1981, where he eventually completed degrees in math, chemistry and physical science. After teaching at Anderson Valley High School in the early 1990s, Price moved back to Humboldt County and has taught chemistry at Humboldt State University the past decade.

Price said he also has extensive experience in student government as well as experience in managing budgets, such as during his tenure as a member of the HSU Bookstore Committee.

"We need to make good decisions and spend money efficiently," he said. "If we do then the $99 billion the state collects is enough to lower taxes and not cut programs and have decent public education."

"Whenever you have a problem, the answer always lies in creativity, and that's something I have," he added.

Price, who describes Natural Law politics as "fiscally conservative Greens," advocates for sustainable organic agriculture practices and mandatory labeling and testing of genetically engineered foods. He said he also supports a balanced approach to dealing with logging, fishing and environmental issues here on the North Coast.

Right now Price is focused on a more practical issue: making sure he can meet Saturday's filing deadline. He needs 65 signatures and must pay a $3,500 filing fee to qualify for the ballot.

But Price can skip that hefty fee if he can gather at least 150 valid signatures by Saturday. As of Wednesday, Price had gathered about 60 signatures, from people whom he persuaded to register under the Natural Law party. Price also got a bit of a break this week when he was able to access information on registered Natural Law party voters in Humboldt and Mendocino counties -- of which there are 73 and 57, respectively.

Price said he's had calls from his HSU students offering to support him in the campaign. But he also said he will spend his own money because he doesn't want to feel beholden to special interests.