COEUR d'ALENE - Idaho Gov. Butch Otter on Wednesday made four stops statewide to make his re-election bid official.

One of those stops was AGC AeroComposites in Hayden, where the Republican governor said his administration has accomplished a lot in the past seven years and that work remains to be completed.

"There are some efficiencies that we put into place in the last seven-and-a-half years that we want to institutionalize and make it a way of life for government in Idaho," said Otter, who turns 72 in a month.

He promised to be "very, very selfish" about any new government regulations on the "productive sector."

Otter touted the state's record of not increasing taxes, and balancing the budget during a terrible recession. He said the state has cut $300 million in taxes in the past couple of years, including corporate, personal income and personal property taxes. He said the sales tax exemption on food has been increased on his watch.

"Because we redefine for government in Idaho the difference between nice and necessary," he said. "And there were a lot of tough decisions that we had to make that upset a lot of people."

He believes Idaho provides other states a great example of a constitutional republic.

"We want to be able to sustain our way of life," he said.

With another four years, he said, he could work to complete work on education and continue efforts to maintain Idaho's business-friendly environment.

He said Idaho's economy is projected to be at $62.4 billion next year. In 2008, he said, he vowed to expand the state's economy to $60 billion from $51.5 billion.

In the May 20 Republican primary, Otter faces state Senate Majority Caucus Chairman Russell M. Fulcher of Meridian, Walt Bayes of Emmett and Harley D. Brown of Nampa.

"I need your vote in the primary, in the Republican primary," Otter told those gathered for his visit. "And then we'll move on to November."

In November, the winner of the Republican primary will take on the winner of the Democratic Party's primary contest between A.J. Balukoff, of Boise, and Terry Kerr, of Idaho Falls.

A press release from Otter's campaign on Wednesday showed he is endorsed by 18 of 28 Republican state senators and 35 of 57 Republican House members.

Coeur d'Alene's John Goedde, one of those Republican senators, said it will take a couple more years for Otter to help complete work on his education task force's 20 recommendations.

"He has done a wonderful job so far, and I look forward to another four years under his direction," Goedde said after Otter's announcement.

"If there is one thing Otter has proven, it is that he's very focused on the economy, and the jobs that come with a healthy economy and keeping government out of the way of business," said state Rep. Luke Malek, a Coeur d'Alene Republican.