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Scott Honour announced today that he's running for governor as a Republican. Honour's 

 says he's the chair of a gas transportation company in Minnesota. He also served as an investment banker for UBS Bank in Los Angeles.

Honour announced his run for governor in a 

 posted on his website. In the three minute video, Honour repeatedly mentions the need to "grow jobs" and says he is worried about "growing government."

"We lack leadership in St. Paul, and that's a failure of Gov. Dayton," Honour said in the video. "We lack vision in St. Paul and that's a failure of both parties. It's time to return real leadership to the governor's office."

An official with Honour's campaign said the candidate will not be doing interviews today to discuss his run.

Honour officially filed the paperwork with the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board today. He lists Brian Clark as his campaign chair. Former state Sen. Ted Daley is listed as his campaign treasurer.

Honour is best known in Minnesota politics for hosting a high dollar, private fundraiser for Mitt Romney's presidential campaign in 2012.

Other Republicans who have said they're considering a run for governor include Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson, state Sen. Dave Thompson, state Rep. Kurt Zellers and state Sen. David Hann.

Gov. Dayton has said he intends to run for re-election.

Honour's announcement drew a quick response from the Alliance for a Better Minnesota, an outside group that works to elect Democrats. The group criticized Honour's background.

"Surprise, surprise the first GOP candidate for MN Governor is a corporate CEO with mega-millions," ABM wrote on its Facebook page. "He lives in a mansion on Lake Minnetonka. Not surprising: He's wrong for Minnesota."

 An earlier version of this blog post incorrectly said Honour lived in Wayzata because that is the address he listed on his campaign paperwork. Hennepin County property records say Honour's home is in Orono.

Politics and Government News

Capitol View®

Tom Scheck

Author

The Wayzata businessman announced via web video.

Orono businessman announces bid for governor

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