THOMPSON TO FORMALLY ANNOUNCE CANDIDACY

TOMAH, Wis. - Team Thompson is in place, and it plans to take Wisconsin by
storm Thursday.

Tomah businessman Allan "Ed" Thompson will formally announce his candidacy
for governor of Wisconsin on the Libertarian ticket at 8 a.m. Thursday on
the steps of the State Capitol in Madison.

From Madison, Thompson will board a private airplane to jet around
Wisconsin, visiting Milwaukee, Green Bay, Wausau, Superior and Eau Claire.
Thompson and his campaign advisers are expected to arrive at the Club Oasis
in Sparta at about 6 p.m. for a rally/prime rib dinner for $25 a plate.

Thompson said the statewide tour will provide an opportunity to meet with
media sources that might not be aware of his campaign. It also will provide
a forum to build name recognition heading into the governor's race in
November 2002.

Thompson equates his campaign with that of "Fighting" Bob LaFollette, who
was elected governor of Wisconsin in 1902 as a member of the Progressive
party. Thompson is prepping for a fight he plans to win.

"I have never been in a fight that I haven't won," Thompson said. "Don't
take us lightly. We are in it to win."

Adam Dick, a New York attorney, is running Thompson's campaign headquarters
from Tomah. The office is near the TeePee Supper Club, which Thompson has
owned since 1990.

Dennis Clinard is Thompson's campaign chairman. Clinard is a lobbyist from
Tennessee who worked on gubernatorial campaigns in Tennessee for the
Democratic party, Thompson said. Bob Collison, Milwaukee, chairman of the
Libertarian party, and Gene Cisewski, a Hurley businessman, also will be
key people, Thompson said.

Thompson has raised around $80,000 to date and said he feels $500,000 is
the magic number to propel his campaign.

"It's coming in, $5 and $10 at a time," Thompson said. "It's coming in from
all over Wisconsin. This is a grassroots effort. I have had a lot of people
tell me they were going to wait until I announced to make a campaign donation."

Thompson said he is confident he will have equal political appeal from
traditional Democrat and Republican voters.

One of his goals if elected is to get Wisconsin off the top 10 list of
highest taxed states.Other issues Thompson said should be addressed include:

Legislators taking a serious look at legalizing marijuana for medicinal use
only.

School districts having more local control when it comes to making
decisions. Thompson said spending caps are not working to improve public
education.

Enacting term limits. Thompson said he believes in "two terms and out."

Bob Kliebenstein is a reporter for the Tomah Banner Journal.