A Saint Cloud State Department Chair is stepping up as Representative Larry Haws’ first challenger for his state House seat. Economist King Banaian made the announcement Tuesday morning on March 16 at SCSU where he chairs the economics department. He was joined by House Minority Leader Kurt Zellers of Maple Grove and Representative Steve Gottwalt of St. Cloud.

Banaian criticized Haws for supporting a tax increase in 2009 and said lawmakers must stop treating taxpayers like a source of revenue for state government. He says he wants to go to St. Paul and tell them “The ATM is closed. You have taken enough.” No challengers to Haws have filed raise campaign funds in District 15B, but Banaian says he plans to do so soon. District 15B covers northern and eastern St. Cloud.