After promising for months he would run, Jefferson City resident Leonard Steinman filed just after noon Tuesday as a Democratic candidate for governor.
The incumbent - Jefferson City resident Jay Nixon - filed for the same race four hours later, but will be listed first on the Democratic primary ballot, because he drew a lower number in the first-day random drawing.
Steinman said he would bring a different perspective to the governor's office.
"I've been around - I've not lived in this state all my life," he told a reporter while standing in the candidate line just inside the entrance to the State Information Center, 600 W. Main St. "I can get the things accomplished (because) I'm a fighter. ...
"I understand what politics is all about. I can create opportunities instead of jobs."
Steinman said he'd donate 64 acres of property he owns near Ashland "to build the first refinery in the state of Missouri, instead of pipelining it through to Texas, where it can go overseas. If we're going to do the people's oil, let's do it in the mid-(continent area) so it doesn't get shipped someplace else."
A Vietnam veteran, he said his training to investigate things would help him tackle issues.
"If I become governor, the commissioners of the state of Missouri will be gone," he said, citing the Public Service Commission and Highways and Transportation Commission as examples. "The reason why is, taxation without representation.
"They go around and tell you what you're going to do for the economy ... they never listen to you, to the public."
He acknowledged many of those commissions are created by the state Constitution, but said he would encourage lawmakers to propose amendments to eliminate the commissions.
Three Republicans - John D. Weiler of Pevely, Dave Spence of St. Louis County and Bill Randles of Liberty - also filed Tuesday for the governor's race.