Aimee Winder Newton, a Salt Lake County Council member, speaks during a debate for Utah’s 2020 gubernatorial race Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, in Salt Lake City. Six candidates vying for the GOP nomination in the Utah governor’s race meet for their first debate. The debate is part of the Silicon Slopes Tech Summit, a conference for the state’s burgeoning tech sector. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Utah governor’s race is filling out, with another Republican candidate choosing a running mate.

Salt Lake County Council member Aimee Winder Newton announced Tuesday that her lieutenant governor pick is State Auditor John Dougall.

“John is a proven conservative leader and I am so excited to have him on my team,” Winder Newton said in a statement. She said his knowledge of tax policy and history of “challenging bloated government programs” would be an asset as the state faces economic instability amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Dougall has been sate auditor since 2013, after serving 10 years as a member of the Utah House of Representatives where he worked on a tax overhaul package. He said he wants to bring more accountability and transparency to state government and budgets.

Winder-Newton is one of several candidates vying for the GOP nomination for governor. Former U.S.-Russia ambassador Jon Huntsman Jr. and ex-GOP chair Thomas Wright have also already named a running mates. Provo mayor Michelle Kaufusi is running with Huntsman and outgoing U.S. Rep. Rob Bishop is running with Wright.

Jan Garbett has selected former public health official Dr. Joe Jarvis.

Other candidates for the GOP nomination include ex-House Speaker Greg Hughes and businessman Jeff Burningham.

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