Republican James Broadwater said if he’s elected governor, he wants Mississippi to eliminate every type of tax except the sales tax because he believes that would be a fair way to fund government.

He also said he would use the National Guard, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, SWAT teams and other law enforcement units to make sure people from other countries are not living and working illegally in Mississippi.

“I think the other guys talk about (illegal immigration), but I would actually do something about it,” Broadwater, 47, said Friday after filing qualifying papers to run for the state’s top elected office. “I would start to enforce the law, not just talk.”

Broadwater is a state Department of Revenue employee, but said he’s resigning Jan. 31 to spend more time on his family’s tae kwon do studio. He has been active in the tea party movement.

Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant and Pass Christian businessman Dave Dennis also have filed to run for governor as Republicans. Pearl River County supervisor Hudson Holliday has also said he’ll run as a Republican.

Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny DuPree and Clarksdale attorney and businessman Bill Luckett have filed to run for governor as Democrats.

Candidates’ qualifying deadline is March 1. Party primaries are Aug. 2, and the general election is Nov. 8.

Republican Gov. Haley Barbour is limited to two terms and can’t run again this year.

Bryant, who was state auditor before being elected lieutenant governor in 2007, has been saying for years that illegal immigration is a problem in Mississippi. As the state Senate’s presiding officer, Bryant is pushing a bill this year that mirrors an immigration law Arizona enacted in 2010. The bill says a law enforcement officer who suspects a person is in the United States illegally could check on the person’s immigration status during traffic stops or other encounters.

Broadwater ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House in the Delta’s 2nd District in 2004, for a state House seat in 2007 and for the U.S. House seat in central Mississippi’s 3rd District in 2008, each time as a Republican.

Broadwater is founder and president of the Byram Tea Party. He said he has organized 10 tea party rallies and spoken at 12.

Bryant and Dennis also have spoken at tea party events.

Online:

James Broadwater campaign: http://www.broadwaterforgovernor.com

Phil Bryant campaign: http://www.philbryant.com

Dave Dennis campaign: http://davedennisforgovernor.com/

Johnny DuPree campaign: http://www.johnnydupree.com

Hudson Holliday campaign: http://www.hudsonholliday4gov.com/

Bill Luckett campaign: http://www.luckettforgovernor.com