A former Republican legislator who has been out of electoral politics for five years is his party’s first declared candidate for governor.

Bill Haas said he’ll seek his party’s endorsement next spring, bowing out if he doesn’t get it. He’s the first in what promises to be a full field of GOP candidates now that Gov. Tim Pawlenty has ruled out a third term.

Haas served a decade in the Minnesota House, representing the Champlin area until 2004. He was the city’s mayor before that.

He now runs a small business advising companies on health insurance and is a registered lobbyist for some northern Minnesota Indian tribes.

Haas said he’ll be committed to running a positive campaign, swearing off one where he’d attack his opponents.