Former Overstock.com CEO Jonathon Johnson announced his candidacy for Governor at the Utah Republican Party organizing convention on Saturday.
Johnson wasted little time during his nine minute speech before sharing his intentions.
“I am ready to lead the state of Utah. I am making it official. I want to be Utah’s next governor,” said Johnson.
Johnson then invited the more than 2000 Republican delegates in the room to get to know him over the months between now and the 2016 nominating convention.
“I propose to help you evaluate me and our current governor that we hold a series of debates. Job interviews for our next leader, if you will. Let’s begin them in October. Let’s hold them early, often and throughout the state. Before the clammer of the Presidential election gets any louder and before the legislative session,” said Johnson.
Governor Herbert spoke before Johnson at the convention and touted more than five percent growth in the state’s economy.
“For the fifth month in a row, we are the number one growing economy in America. Not three, not two, but we are in fact number one. We’re on the road going in the right direction. Now the challenge for us was to become number one, the challenge for us going forward is to stay number one,” said Herbert.
Both Johnson and Herbert donated twenty-five thousand dollars to the Utah GOP for their speaking spots at the convention. Senators Mike Lee, Orrin Hatch and the company Energy Solutions also donated at that level.