U.S. Senate candidate John Brunner looks to bring a business perspective to Washington, D.C. — and pledges to serve no more than two terms if elected.

Brunner and seven other candidates are vying for the Republican nomination in the Aug. 7 primary with the goal of facing Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill and Libertarian Jonathan Dine in the November general election.

Besides Brunner, Republican candidates include U.S. Rep. Todd Akin of Wildwood, former Missouri Treasurer Sarah Steelman of Rolla, Jerry Beck of La Monte, Mark Memoly of Lee’s Summit, Mark Patrick Lodes of St. Louis, Robert “Bob” Poole of Macon and Hector Maldonado of Sullivan.

Brunner visited the Call’s office last week for an exclusive interview about his candidacy.

“I’m in this race here really because I’ve seen a lack of leadership and experience in getting things done in Washington, and the best way to put it, I was pretty much inspired by the Ron Johnson story up in Wisconsin, Sen. Ron Johnson,” Brunner told the Call.

Johnson, a Republican, ran a family owned manufacturing company, PACUR, for 31 years, before running for office for the first time in 2010. He defeated a primary challenger in September 2010 and bested a Democratic challenger in November 2010 to be elected to the U.S. Senate.

Brunner told the Call he will not vote to increase taxes.

“I think the issue is that will more taxes solve our problem, or (will) allowing Americans to keep more of their money solve the problem? Which way is going to help solve the problem?” he asked. “And I’ve never seen someone approach a problem or see a problem (and say) if we just had more government, that would get us out of the problem.”

Brunner continued, “I’ve never seen government be that effective of a solution to the problems that are out there … and that’s why I was saying no more taxes until the system is fixed.”

As far as economic recovery, Brunner cited four “key, basic areas” — energy, taxes, red-tape regulations and tort reform.

He also said economic recovery has to do “with creating an environment where people feel confident they can invest.”

“A budget is nothing more than setting priorities, but what they don’t have (in Washington) is they don’t have people who’ve been in business who understand what it takes to grow the business …,” Brunner said. “The whole thing’s a vicious circle downward, so where does it all start? Here it talks about a government creating greater and greater costs and burdens for the business, which just pushes everything back down, when the desire is for everybody to grow and expand … It’s a lost confidence in big government out of control…”

Brunner said he believes a good, dynamic government that “stays in tune to the people has to be led by people that are close to the people.”

“If you’ve been up (in Washington) as a career politician and you can vote yourself a pay raise … you know you got a healthcare program better than anybody else, and you know you’ve got a pension coming up for you and you’ve been in office for 25 years,” he said. “Your kids have gone to college courtesy of the federal government. How close are you to the laws and issues that you’re passing?”

Similarly, the Senate hopeful said people will not follow others who are “out there for themselves.”

“They follow those who are out there for the greater good, for the company, the organization, the country,” Brunner said, “and that’s what we need in terms of different kinds of people up there in the U.S. Senate.”

Brunner said politicians must be forward thinking, that “hope is not a plan” and he is “absolutely convinced” he can help the country.

“My number one motivation now is to get out across Missouri and just let people know that there’s a choice,” Brunner said.

Brunner’s campaign has been endorsed by Johnson, Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.