HELENA — Brian Schweitzer, Democratic candidate for governor, interviewed six possible running mates in Helena Friday.

Schweitzer, a Whitefish farmer, has asked people interested in being his lieutenant governor candidate to apply or to nominate potential candidates. So far, more than 140 Montanans have applied, and he's interviewed 60 so far.

‘‘It's exciting to hear the new ideas from people,'' Schweitzer said.

In fact, Schweitzer said he's not just interviewing people for lieutenant governor — he can only pick one person for that post — but he's evaluating people for potential jobs and board appointments if he wins the 2004 governor's race.

The next governor will bring ‘‘1,000 new faces'' into state government, he said. The governor will appoint about 30 department directors and personal staff, but he will also appoint hundreds of people to part-time boards and committees.

On Friday, two of the potential candidates from Helena did not wish their names disclosed, Schweitzer said.

The other four are:

Bob Campbell, a retired state Labor Department lawyer who was a delegate to the 1972 Montana Constitutional Convention.

Vivian Drake, a hydrogeologic engineer who owns an engineering business with her husband. She was lost the race for the Montana House in 2002.

Cindy Harrison, a mother of three children who has lived in Helena three years and works part time at the Real Food Store.

Victoria Lee Wilson, who moved to Helena from Bozeman in 1996, who said she's a homemaker.

Schweitzer is the lone Democrat in the governor's race so far, while four Republicans have announced. They are Secretary of State Bob Brown of Whitefish, investment adviser Pat Davison of Billings, former Sen. Tom Keating of Billings and former Sen. Ken Miller of Laurel.

Brown's running mate is Rep. Dave Lewis of Helena, while Keating's is Public Service Commissioner Matt Brainard of Florence. Davison and Brown have not yet picked a running mate.