Campbell announced his candidacy and filed paperwork with the Division of Elections to run for lieutenant governor.

He's the first person to formally file.

The Republican in a press release said he's running to ensure that conservative values continue to have a strong voice in the governor's office and to ensure individual liberties and freedoms are not threatened by state government. He called himself a budget hawk.

"I want to make sure Alaska residents never have to pay an income tax, or statewide sales tax, to receive the services that government is obligated to provide to the residents," Campbell said.

There are no proposals before the Alaska Legislature to institute an income tax or a statewide sales tax.

Campbell is a 35-year veteran of the military, mostly as a traditional member of the Alaska National Guard, serving one weekend a month, and two weeks a year.

He has worked privately as an aviation consultant developing airport plans.

He spent nine years on the Anchorage Assembly.

Former Gov. Frank Murkowski appointed Campbell commissioner of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and head of the Alaska National Guard in 2003. Gov. Sarah Palin kept him on and promoted Campbell to the rank of lieutenant general.

When Palin last summer made the surprise announcement that she was quitting, she also said Campbell would replace Sean Parnell as lieutenant governor when he became governor on July 26.

Palin in February had designated Corrections Commissioner Joe Schmidt as second in line of succession after Parnell and the Legislature had confirmed him for that spot. Days after Palin picked Campbell, Schmidt said he wasn't interested in the No. 2 job.

The Legislature confirmed Campbell during a one-day, $100,000 special session during which lawmakers also overrode Palin's veto of federal stimulus money for energy efficiency projects.