Speaking in Issaquah a few minutes ago, former GOP candidate for governor Dino Rossi said, yes, he'll run again against Democratic incumbent Chris Gregoire.

"Washington State needs new leadership for a new era," he told cheering supporters and family members. "And that journey starts today."

Rossi said his goal is "as state government that remembers it exists to serve the people and not serve itself."

In a pre-announcement interview with the Associated Press, Rossi said his campaign will focus on Gregoire's "trail of broken promises," including tax hikes and not doing more to cut through the state's bureaucracy. He said he'd turn that around to a more customer-oriented approach. He blasted state government as "more expensive and less effective" at solving people's problems.

"The governor for the government has had her turn," he said in remarks prepared for his kickoff announcements in Spokane and Issaquah. "We can do better."

I'll try to catch Gregoire for a response after a lunch appearance before a dairy group in Olympia.

NOTE: This post has been updated.

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