Today, State Senator Tom Holland announced his candidacy for Governor in front of Lowman Hills Elementary School in Topeka with his family and supporters behind him. He pledged to fight tooth and nail against Sam Brownback and Brownback’s assumption that this race is already over. Tom Holland is going to give him a run for his Washington establishment money.

Tom acknowledged that Brownback has plenty of support and experience outside of Kansas. But is that what Kansans want? A career Washington politician stopping through Kansas for a stint as Governor on his way to running for President (again)? Or do Kansans want a local small business owner and family man who knows how to create jobs?

Tom ran against and defeated Republican incumbents…twice. He’s not afraid of a fight, and he wasted no time showing he’s no wallflower. “…For the past 16 years, Sam Brownback has been part of the problem…Brownback had a front row seat in Washington while his failed policies made life worse for our families. Now Sam Brownback wants to put his failed Washington politics and divisive agenda to work in our state.”

Tom Holland has served as Kansas’ 10th district State Representative and now as the 3rd district’s State Senator. He initially ran for the Kansas House out of concern for school budget cuts. He’s someone who has his priorities straight and won’t shortchange Kansas’ children for the sake of partisan political aims.

Kansas House Minority Leader Paul Davis is invigorated by today’s announcement. “No one will work harder in this election cycle- or for Kansas- than Tom Holland.  Faced with a devastating budget crisis, we need a governor who will be at work early and stay late fighting for Kansas families.  This is not the type of work ethic Sam Brownback has ever demonstrated amid his perpetual campaigns for higher office.  In fact, Senator Brownback's attendance record in the United States Senate is downright embarrassing."

“Tom Holland is an independent voice for the people of Kansas.  He is a true problem solver, has all of the right credentials and is running for all of the right reasons,” offered Kansas Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley. “The people of Kansas need a leader who will bring people together to work for Kansans not a Washington politician like Sam Brownback who will divide our state and use the Governor’s office as a stepping stone to higher political ambitions.  I believe Tom Holland is the right person for the job of Kansas Governor and I stand behind him as he launches his campaign.”

It’s no secret that this will be a tough fight, but Tom is a fighter. He’s exactly who we need in the Governor’s office, but he will need all of our help to get there. Go to www.tomhollandforkansas.org now and join the fight.