Vander Plaats Announces Official Run for Governor

By: Bethany Christenson

Republican Bob Vander Plaats will announce his official run for Iowa governor on Monday. This is Vander Plaats third run for governor. He feels that current Iowa Governor Chet Culver is leading Iowa into the wrong direction and he can lead Iowa back into a more conservative direction.

He previously campaigned in 2002, when he lost in the GOP primary, and in 2006, when Jim Nussle chose him as a running mate. They were defeated by Culver and Lt. Gov. Patty Judge.

Vander Plaats is ready to deliver his message and says we should return to "Iowa values".

What are "Iowa Values" exactly? Vander Plaats says that they include values of marriage and families. He is obviously referring to the 2009 decision to allow same-sex marriages become legal in Iowa.

Vander Plaats is also opposed to the spending done by Chet Culver in his plan to repair roads damaged by flooding or deterioration from years of use.

Vander Plaats used be a CEO of a nonprofit group, but he now heads a planning and development agency in Sioux City. He also head former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee's Iowa headquarters in 2008.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200990906005