Ed Thompson Filed Declaration of Candidacy

Ed Thompson, Tommy's brother and the 2002 Libertarian gubernatorial candidate, filed a declaration of candidacy last night in the governor's race, making him a registered write-in candidate.

State Elections Board spokesman Kyle Richmond said Thompson filed an EB-1 after 5 p.m. yesterday. Richmond said an e-mail was sent to municipal clerks early this morning informing them of Thompson's late filing.

Thompson said he decided to file the form after talking to supporters who informed him that his write-in votes would officially be counted only if he registered with the SEB. Thompson said his call to voters to write him in as governor was meant as a spoof on the election but said he regrets not getting into the fray this time around.

"Now I'm sorry I didn't run a campaign," said the Tomah supper club owner. "Now is the time to do it. People are so dissatisfied, now would have been the time to do it."

Thompson said he might get a couple of hundred protest votes.

"I don't expect to keep our (Libertarian) seat on the Elections Board," he said. The party got a spot on the board four years ago because Thompson got 10 percent of the vote.

Thompson said he has his eye on the next election.

"I might run for something in 2008. I'm not sure yet. We're looking at different things, but that's a long way off," he said.

With his brother looking into a White House run, could we see a Thompson-Thompson ticket in 2008?

"Do you think Tommy would consider being vice president?" Thompson laughed. "It would have to be on the Libertarian ticket."

-- By Greg Bump