Repya announces Independence Party candidacy for governor

Retired U.S. Army Lt. Colonel Joe Repya announced on Wednesday that he will run for governor as a member of the Independence Party. Repya left the Republican Party of Minnesota in 2009 citing lack of transparency and financial mismanagement.

“It is time to hear the people of Minnesota,” Repya said in a statement. “It is time to put an end to political party divisiveness in St Paul. I am not a career politician, driven by the desire to be re-elected. Being a Politician does not necessarily give one the experience to be a leader, as demonstrated by our current budget crisis. My motivation for being governor is simple: I want to do what is best for Minnesotans—they are the only special interest group I am representing.”

In 2009, Repya, who had been an active member of the GOP and ran for chair of the party in Minnesota, announced in the Pioneer Press that he was leaving the Republican Party to become a member of the Independence Party.

“After years of ineffective party leadership resulting in a record number of defeats, lack of transparency in party dealings, alleged financial impropriety by former party employees, and numerous Federal Election Commission problems, can you really blame the electorate for abandoning the Minnesota GOP?” Repya wrote. “In my opinion, the new party leaders are rabid, power-hungry ideologues and the former attack dogs of the previous party chairman. They will not provide a message of inclusiveness or willingness to discuss contrary opinions. Honest, open and transparent party operations will not exist.”

In addition to Repya, former Republican staffer Tom Horner said on Monday that he will be leaving the Republican party to run under the Independence Party banner. Also filed to run for governor under the IP, Rob Hahn of St. Paul, John Uldrich of Minneapolis, and Rahn Workcuff also of Minneapolis.