Tomah Mayor Ed Thompson announced Tuesday he will run as a Republican for the 31st District state Senate seat now held by Kathleen Vinehout.

Thompson cited concerns about government growth, high taxes and a poor job climate as his reasons for attempting to oust the Alma Democrat in 2010.

“I guess I just can’t sit idly by while Madison turns the state upside down,” Thompson said Tuesday. “With taxes and budgets, we are seeing the biggest increases in history, and I am just fed up with it, and I hope to make a difference.”

Thompson, the brother of former Wisconsin governor Tommy Thompson, is in his second nonconsecutive term as Tomah mayor. He served from 2000-02 before mounting an unsuccessful campaign for governor in 2002 as a Libertarian against Gov. Jim Doyle and then-governor Scott McCallum.

He then recaptured the mayor post in April 2008 by nearly a 2-to-1 margin over the incumbent, Charles Ludeking.

Thompson said he has pondered a bid for the state Legislature for several years and has received encouragement and support to run. While declaring as a Republican, Thompson said he would make independent decisions.

“I am running as a Ron Paul Republican. If you follow (Paul’s) record in (Washington) D.C., he has strictly followed the Constitution, not voting the line with either party,” Thompson said. “Individual freedom and responsibility was my battle cry when I ran for governor, and if I win, I will use all I have to do just that.”

Paul is a Republican congressman from Texas.

Thompson added he is concerned with the state’s job losses, citing local cases of layoffs at the Toro and Cardinal IG plants in Tomah last year.

Vinehout said she is eager to debate the issues with Thompson.

“Ed is a great guy, and I look forward to being on the campaign trail with him,” she said Tuesday.

“I read Ed’s (campaign announcement) and ... I thought to myself that I really hope he is going to move past the familiar talking points of the Republican Party and Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce. We need to get beyond the talking points and engage in a serious discussion about specific solutions to these problems. I’m sure, with Ed, that will happen.”

Vinehout said her priorities continue to be health care, school funding and the economy. “We have made some progress, but there is a lot of work left.”

The 31st District includes all of Trempealeau, Buffalo, Jackson and Pepin counties, and parts of Monroe, Pierce, Dunn, Eau Claire and Clark counties.