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State Auditor Judi Dutcher has officially entered the DFL race for governor. Dutcher says if elected, she would be a fiscal leader and a champion of public education. Meanwhile, another gubernatorial candidate, Republican Brian Sullivan, started running a new round of television ads. Both Sullivan and Dutcher used their news conferences to question the priorities of Gov. Jesse Ventura, who hasn't said whether he's running for re-election.

	Surrounded by a crowd of state legislators, supporters and her family, Dutcher said she would have a different leadership style than Gov. Ventura. Listen to her comments. (MPR Photo/Laura McCallum)

Surrounded by a crowd of state legislators, supporters and her family, Dutcher said she would have a different leadership style than Gov. Ventura. The two-term auditor and former criminal prosecutor says she decided to run for governor after Ventura delivered his State of the State address last year. She says Minnesota looks to the governor to lay out a vision for the state.

"But that's not what we got. Instead, we got a governor who said, here is an inadequate amount of money. Legislature, you deal with that. Media, don't ask me any questions about it, and maybe - maybe - I'll be back before the end of the session to let you know what I think. That is not governing, that is not leadership, and that is why I am running for governor of the state of Minnesota," she said.

Dutcher says if elected, she would work with legislators and local officials to solve the state's fiscal problems. She accused Ventura of making everyone an adversary by battling with legislators and teachers.

Dutcher criticized Ventura's push to have the state take over the cost of general education last year. She says it's led to winners and losers among school districts.

"You're having a disparate educational experience depending on whether you live in a community that has the financial wherewithal to pass those referendums versus those that don't. So my number one concern as governor is that a child who lives in Minneapolis versus Minnetonka versus Edina versus Albert Lea, that they're receiving an educational experience that has parity to it," she said.

Dutcher says she would be an education governor "unlike Ventura," who has sparred with educators over K-12 funding.

Ventura spokesman John Wodele says the governor has never devalued teachers, but has questioned the way education funding is spent. "Judi Dutcher, the auditor, is going to give every tax dollar she can get her hands on to education. Just say 'yes.' No accountability. That's not what the governor's about. He very much would like to have an improved education system, but he's not going to just hand them dollars. He is going to make sure that we get the most value out of every dollar that we put into education," Wodele said.

	Brian Sullivan says the state can solve its budget crunch without raising taxes, and he released two new television ads running statewide. Listen to his comments. (MPR Photo/Laura McCallum)

Dutcher says as auditor, she's worked to make sure taxpayer dollars are used wisely.

While Dutcher was attacking Ventura's tax reform proposal for its impact on education, another gubernatorial candidate was criticizing Ventura's tax priorities. Republican entrepreneur Brian Sullivan says instead of cutting property taxes last year, he would have cut income and commercial/industrial taxes.

"I'm all for tax reductions. I would have focused on a different way of delivering tax relief that would have had more impact on the economic health of the state long term," Sullivan said.

Sullivan says the state can solve its budget crunch without raising taxes, and he released two new television ads running statewide.

This is Sullivan's second television ad buy. No other candidate has started running television ads, but Sullivan says he needs to increase his name recognition. He says he also wants to get people interested in the precinct caucuses coming up on Mar. 5.

Ventura spokesman Wodele says both candidates are starting their campaigns - and their attacks on Ventura - far too early.

"To go out there and to get people interested, I think is pretty much a waste, because I don't think people are interested right now. I think what they want is constructive solutions to the problem at hand," Wodele said.

Dutcher says she doesn't have a plan to balance the budget yet. She wants to wait until after the next budget forecast is released. Sullivan says he'll have more specifics later in the campaign. Both candidates are pledging to abide by the endorsement process.

Dutcher is seeking the DFL endorsement along with state Sen. Becky Lourey, DFL-Kerrick, and artist Ole Savior.

Sullivan joins two other Republicans - House Majority Leader Tim Pawlenty and accountant Michael Vekich. And the field could grow even larger by the time of party conventions in May and June.