FOR

IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 5, 2013 Contact: Gregg Peppin 612.209.9351 | gregg@JohnsonForGovernor.org

NEWS RELEASE JEFF JOHNSON ANNOUNCES CAMPAIGN FOR MINNESOTA GOVERNOR

HAMEL, Minnesota -- Hennepin County Commissioner and Republican National Committeeman Jeff Johnson today announced that he is running for governor. Minnesota is the greatest place to live in America, Johnson said. But under the people in charge of our state government right now, we are heading in the wrong direction. If we do not correct our coursesoonI am afraid that the greatness of Minnesota is in serious jeopardy. I am running for governor because I want to leave our state an even better place to live for our kidsand their kidsthan our parents left for all of us. Johnson, who is also a former three-term state representative, will focus his efforts on three issues as governorjobs, education and making government work. ON JOBS: We will make Minnesota the best place to start or expand a business in the Upper Midwest. Whether that means reducing the burden of regulations, setting competitive tax levels, discouraging lawsuit abuse or ending corporate welfare that picks winners and losers, Minnesota needs to be a place where small businesspeople and entrepreneurs actually choose to do businessnot just because of our quality of lifebut because it actually makes economic sense for them to be here. ON EDUCATION: Its time for someone to finally have the guts to tackle the shameful achievement gap in this state between white students and students of color. We have a proud history in Minnesota of providing a great education to most -- Continued --

>>Johnson: Minnesota is the greatest place to live in America, but Im afraid our government is headed in the wrong direction<<

-- Page 2: Jeff Johnson Announces Campaign for Minnesota Governor -- of our kids, but we should be providing that to all of our kids. Minnesota has the worst achievement gap in America and has for decades. Enough handwringing about it; we have to take whatever actions necessary to give all parents the option of sending their kids to a great school. If I need to be a bull in the education establishments china shop to get that done, then so be it. Enough talk. ON MAKING GOVERNMENT WORK: Minnesotans are very generous people and most of us are absolutely willing to pay taxes to help the less fortunate among us get on their feet. The problem is, a lot of the programs we fund do not produce that result. On my first day as governor, I will start the process of a line-by-line, top-to- bottom audit of every single program funded by Minnesota taxpayersstarting with our human services programs. The ones that can show they change peoples lives for the better, we will celebrate and bolster. The ones that cannot, we will end once and for all. Johnson will seekand abide bythe endorsement of grassroots activists at the 2014 Republican Party of Minnesota State Convention. Among the several reasons why he is the strongest Republican to challenge Mark Dayton, Johnson said two jump out. First, I can win, Johnson said. I am a reliable, principled conservative who can energize our enthusiastic Republican base. But we cannot win statewide in Minnesota with Republican votes alone. We need a candidate who is actually liked by Minnesotans who do not consider themselves Republicans and who is able to relate to the vast middle class in our state. I am that candidate. Combine this with my solid electoral base in Hennepin County, my roots in Greater Minnesota, my strong fundraising track record and my positive, common sense message, and I will not just run a great raceIll win. But winning is not enough, Johnson said. We need a governor who will actually accomplish what he sets out to do, and I have the track record to prove that Ill do that. I served six years in the Minnesota House in a time of politically divided government and was able to take common sense, free market, conservative ideas and turn them into law. I was the chief author of laws to cut taxes, increase public safety through the most comprehensive anti-meth statute in the country, improve our business climate through lawsuit reform and restrict the power of government to take private property through eminent domain. I will do more than talk and seek headlines. I will get results. Johnson will announce his campaign team and introduce more detailed policy positions as the campaign for governor progresses. In the meantime, for more information on his background and beliefs, Johnson encourages people to watch the interactive video on his campaign website at www.JohnsonForGovernor.org. # # #

ABOUT JEFF JOHNSON

ROOTS Born and raised in Detroit Lakes; parents, sister and her family remain in Detroit Lakes today Graduated from Detroit Lakes High School in 1985, Concordia College in Moorhead in 1989 and Georgetown Law School in Washington, D.C., in 1992 FAMILY Married Sondi, a Crookston native and fellow Concordia College graduate, in 1993 Two sonsThor (15) and Rolf (11)and one bulldog, Chester (3) CAREER Worked for law firms in Chicago and Minneapolis before joining Cargill to handle employment and labor law matters Left Cargill in 2001 and formed small businessMidwest Employment Resourcesproviding employment law and human resources training, workplace investigations and lawsuit mediations POLITICS Elected to the Minnesota House in 2000 and served three terms; elected by colleagues as assistant majority leader, and served as chairman of the Civil Law & Elections Committee and the House Republican Steering Committee While in the Legislature, was the chief House author of laws to: Considerably limit the power of government to take private property through eminent domain Reform Minnesotas joint and several liability systemthe most significant tort reform in Minnesota in decades Aggressively combat the methamphetamine epidemic with the most comprehensive anti-meth statute in the United States Cut the Minnesota capital gains tax rate Elected to the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners in 2008 and re- electedrunning unopposedin 2012 As a fiscal conservative on the County Board, has advocated strongly for more government accountability, prioritization of spending and a requirement that county programs actually produce measurable results Elected in 2011 by Republicans in Minnesota to represent them on the Republican National Committee; re-electedrunning unopposedin 2012 COMMUNITY Tutor at homeless shelters in Minneapolis and Chicago Church Sunday School and confirmation teacher Youth football, baseball and soccer coach (16 teams in the past 12 years)

Prepared and paid for by the Johnson for Governor Committee | 3500 Vicksburg Lane N., #416 | Plymouth, MN 55447