Sioux City businessman Bob Vander Plaats announced his decision to challenge Iowa Governor Chet Culver in the 2010 election. He also wants to rid the state of marriage equality:
"Vander Plaats, 46, ran for governor in 2002 and lost in the primary and
ran in 2006 before being chosen as Jim Nussle's running mate. They lost
to Chet Culver and Patty Judge. He said Tuesday that this time feels like a new beginning and he's going after Chet Culver's base.Vander Plaats said he wants to make his position clear on a couple of issues.He said he wants to issue an executive order, put the gay marriage issue in the hands of the legislature and the voters of Iowa."
At a press conference yesterday, Vander Plaats pledged to sign an executive order on his first day in office to stay
future same-sex marriages until Iowans have an opportunity to vote in a
statewide referendum on the definition of marriage. You may remember that Vander Plaats was vocal after the state's Supreme Court decision striking down the same-sex marriage ban:
"At the rain-drenched rally, Republican candidate for governor
Bob Vander Plaats demanded Culver immediately intervene rather than
wait as gay-marriage opponents work to get a constitutional
amendment on the ballot."
No doubt the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) plans to get behind this guy, as they've begun meddling in Iowa's elections already.
