Republican Ovide Lamontagne this morning filed the necessary documents with the Federal Election Commission to become a candidate for the U.S. Senate.

Lamontagne’s new web site, ovide2010.com, went online at noon. Lamontagne’s decision to become a candidate to succeed the retiring Judd Gregg was first reported on Sunday on UnionLeader.com and in the New Hampshire Sunday News.

Lamontagne, 52, a Manchester attorney, says in a 90-second Web message that he is running as “an independent conservative, not the establishment candidate. I will never be the establishment candidate.”

He said he will be a candidate and, if elected, a senator who is not “beholden to the Washington party bosses or special interests.”

Lamontagne is in a Republican primary campaign with former New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly Ayotte of Nashua and businessmen James Bender of Hollis and William Binnie of Rye. Magazine publisher and Republican National Committeeman Sean Mahoney of Portsmouth continues to consider whether to run for the seat.

U.S. Rep. Paul Hodes, who represents the state’s 2nd District, is so far the lone Democratic candidate for the seat.

Lamontagne is calling for a constitutional amendment mandating a balanced federal budget, a constitutional amendment to give the President line-item veto authority and term limits for senators and House members.

It is his third bid for public office. He was the Republican nominee for governor in 1996, losing to Democrat Jeanne Shaheen after defeating Rep. Bill Zeliff in a GOP primary. Previously, Lamontagne ran unsuccessfully for the 1st District U.S. House seat in 1992, losing to Zeliff in the primary.

►Ovide Lamontagne to enter U.S. Senate race (24)