Paul Kohls

Republican state Rep. Paul Kohls is the latest to enter the 2010 race for Minnesota governor — joining a roster of candidates that has grown quickly since GOP incumbent Tim Pawlenty announced on June 2 that he will not run for a third term .

Kohls, who is in his fourth state House term and sits on the chamber’s finance and tax committees, announced his candidacy on Thursday. He said in a statement that his campaign will focus “on issues of fiscal responsibility and limited government.”  

“We need to do a much better job setting priorities,” said the resident of Victoria, located in the western exurbs of Minnesota’s Twin Cities.