Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan today released the following statement on the announcement of Sen. Jerry Behn’s decision to enter the race for Governor:

As if the Republicans didn’t have enough naysayers running for Governor, State Sen. Jerry Behn felt the need to add to the already loud chorus of ‘NO!’ today. With Behn’s entry, there are at least seven Republican candidates actively considering a run for Governor.

That means no shortage of opposition to Governor Culver’s leadership in moving Iowa forward, helping us recover from the worst natural disasters the state has ever faced, stimulating the economy during a period of national recession and rebuilding Iowa’s aging roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

Behn was very vocal in his opposition on the Senate floor to the Governor’s I-JOBS initiative. Over and over, he said ‘no’ to Iowans hit by last summer’s floods and tornadoes. He said ‘no’ to Iowa’s veterans when it came to rebuilding our aging Veterans Home. He said ‘no’ to fixing Iowa’s aging road and bridge system. He said ‘no’ to Iowans looking for jobs in these tough economic times.

He’s apparently proud of his record of ‘no,’ because he’s saying more of the same as he launches a statewide campaign. He’s got a rude awakening ahead of him, though, when Iowans find out he has no new ideas, no plan for recovery, no support for economic stimulus and no idea how to lead this state.