5 GOP hopefuls for Gov/Rod Roberts joining race

[Shoush]

The low-key lawmaker and minister from Carroll plans to file papers today to form a campaign organization. He also has scheduled an 11 a.m. news conference at the Capitol to discuss his campaign.

"I think where a lot of people begin to think seriously about a Rod Roberts candidacy is looking at the big picture and at who can go into the general-election campaign after the primary and appeal to a wide swath of voters," the five-term House member said Monday.

Roberts would join four GOP prospects who have filed papers to run for governor, including three who have either run on a statewide ticket or have held top party leadership positions in the Legislature.

...

Roberts, 51, beat Democrat Tom Halbur for the open seat in the Iowa House in 2000 and has been re-elected four times, each time without an opponent. Voter registration in the district favors Democrats.

He described himself as conservative on spending and social issues. He identified as his top concerns the state's declining revenue picture and the Iowa Supreme Court's April decision overturning the state's gay-marriage ban. Roberts opposes gay marriage.

...

The primary election is scheduled for June 8, 2010.

Additional Facts

Five GOP prospects

Christian Fong, Cedar Rapids

Age: 32
Education: Bachelor's degree, Creighton University; master's of business administration, Dartmouth College.
Political: No previous political experience.
Professional: Director of capital markets, Aegon USA, Cedar Rapids.

Paul McKinley, Chariton

Age: 61
Education: Bachelor's degree, University of Iowa.
Political: Elected to Iowa Senate, 2000; elected Republican leader, 2008.
Professional: Former owner, Neely Manufacturing.

Christopher Rants, Sioux City

Age: 41
Education: Bachelor's degree, Morningside College, Sioux City.
Political: Elected to Iowa House, 1992; majority leader, 1999 to 2003; House speaker, 2003 to 2007; minority leader, 2007 to 2008.
Professional: Consultant with Pierce & Associates, Sioux City; former environmental compliance manager for Metz Baking Co., Sioux City.

Rod Roberts, Carroll

Age: 51
Education: Bachelor's degree, Iowa Christian College.
Political: Elected to Iowa House, 2000.
Professional: Minister, director of development for Churches of Christ-Christian Churches of Iowa.

Bob Vander Plaats, Sioux City

Age: 46
Education: Bachelor's degree, Northwestern College, Orange City; master's degree, Drake University; post-graduate work, Drake University.
Political: Candidate for governor, 2002; candidate for governor, nominee for lieutenant governor, 2006.
Professional: Former high school teacher and principal, president and CEO of MVP Leadership, an executive leadership and fundraising group, Sioux City.


http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009907210397

[rurallib]

1. Rants was a environmental compliance officer?

Metz gotta be out of business putting people like that in positions like that. Wasn't he thrown out as leader by the 'pubs?
MAybe he's looking to put Iowa out of business?

[Shoush]

2. He was elected to the Iowa House at 25

...and regardless of how well he monitored the environmental compliance of Metz (even Rants could handle the legality of disposing whatever is left over from baking cakes and pies), he knows this gubernatorial race is a last ditch effort to salvage his political career. If he's unsuccessful, maybe Earthgrains Metz Baking (my research shows Earthgrains - a 1996 spin off of Anheuser-Busch Cos., Inc. - bought Metz in '99*) will consider a rehire? He doesn't have much else going for him...

*http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EUY/is_45_5/ai_57887191/

[rurallib]

3. I think it would be nice if he left Iowa

maybe he could get a job with the Nuss-hole, consulting for Repug candidates. There's two guys that deserve each other.

[progressoid]

4. Rants and Vander Plaats!

I wanna see them duke it out!