Rants ends his gubernatorial bid

DES MOINES – Sioux City lawmaker Christopher Rants today announced that he is ending his quest to become governor of Iowa.

“Today I am ending my campaign for the office of governor,” Rants said in an email he entitled as his “last Rants & Raves” column. “I've enjoyed meeting and learning from so many Iowans I've encountered on my 54,346 mile journey around our state.

“It has been a rewarding experience for me, and I hope that I've given my fellow Republicans some ideas to consider as they shape an agenda for the 2010 election,” he added.

Rants, who is in his ninth term as a state representative, conceded this gubernatorial bid was a long shot in thanking his supporters.

“I continued out of a belief that campaigns should be about issues and ideas, and it was worth the effort to shape the public debate around issues that concern my supporters and me,” he added. “It is now clear that those opportunities for such a debate are not materializing, and I cannot in good conscience accept or solicit support for an effort I know will be ultimately unsuccessful.”

Rants becomes the third Republican to exit the 2010 race. Republicans Christian Fong of Cedar Rapids and state Sen. Jerry Behn or Boone previously left the GOP field – Fong suspended his campaign and Boone ended his altogether.

Former four-term Gov. Terry Branstad, Sioux City business consultant Bob Vander Plaats and state Rep. Rod Roberts of Carroll remain in the 2010 Republican gubernatorial field. Democratic Gov. Chet Culver has indicated he will seek a second term this fall and Jonathan Narcisse of Des Moines has expressed interest in running for governor as a Democrat or as an independent candidate.

Rants, a former House speaker, has indicated this year will be his last in the Legislature and that he does not intend to seek re-election in House District 54.

“At the start of this campaign I said it was “up or out.”  That hasn't changed.  I honestly don't know what the future holds for me, except that there will be no more missed school concerts, plays or gymnastics tournaments,” he said.

“I regret that I leave the Legislature this year feeling more troubled about the future of our state that I can remember,” Rants said in his column. “I describe it as a perfect storm descending upon our state of school equity challenges, a declining business climate, and massive property tax increases on the horizon.

“I wish my fellow gubernatorial candidates, and returning legislators the best of luck in protecting Iowans from the dangers that will befall them if nothing is done,” he added. “As always, the first step is to recognize the danger.”