A Great Falls man has filed to challenge Roy Brown for his party’s nomination for Governor in the June primary. Republican Larry Steele ran unsuccessfully for the state legislature in 2006 and for Mayor of Great Falls in 2007, but feels he is ready for the important office.

Steele says out of control spending in Helena motivated him to throw his hat in the ring.

“The main reason is the 41.1% increase in spending that Brian Schweitzer’s administration has passed,” he said. “Thank goodness Montana hasn’t had the recession that the rest of the country has, but if it does the taxpayers are going to have a lot to account for.”