Statement about running for governor: “It is time to hear the people of Minnesota. 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.”

Party: Independence Party

Occupation: Retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel who served for 30 years; a veteran of Vietnam, Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Age: 63  

Home: Eagan

Website: Repya for Governor

E-mails: Send a message here.

Key issues and priorities: Fiscal restraint, financial responsibility and a balanced state budget; growing jobs; quality education and family choice; public safety; transportation; health care reform; providing essential services and a safety net; and energy and the environment.

Political/community experience: In 2003, Joe and wife Debra launched the Support Our Troops grass-roots lawn sign campaign that in 10 weeks distributed 30,000 lawn signs and rallied an estimated 20,000 people at the State Capitol to support troops heading to Afghanistan and Iraq. He twice served as a delegate to Republican National Conventions, in New York and in St. Paul. Repya ran unsuccessfully for chairman of the Minnesota Republican Party in 2007 and switched to the Independence Party in 2009.

Background articles: MinnPost: "Joe Repya, the IP race for guv, and some weird background"