Chung resigns GOP post to actively back Fong

CEDAR RAPIDS - Cedar Rapids Republican David Chung has resigned from the party's state Central Committee in order to support gubernatorial hopeful Christian Fong, also of Cedar Rapids.

The Fong campaign welcomed Chung's "wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm."

"Every supporter is important," Fong spokesman Brian Dumas said. "A grassroots campaign is built one person at a time.  David's ability to encourage the many political friends he has made as a party activist to take a serious look at Christian's candidacy will be of great value."

The field of those seeking the GOP nomination is growing. In addition to Fong, candidates include Reps. Christopher Rants and Rod Roberts, Bob Vander Plaats, Sens. Jerry Behn and Paul McKinley.

Chung had promised that as Central Committee member he would remain neutral in the race for the GOP nomination for governor.

"However, last week everything changed" when Fong entered the race for the Republican nomination, Chung wrote in a resignation letter to 2

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District Republicans. He called Fong a social conservative, a visionary and a community leader.

"He is exactly what Iowa needs," Chung said. "With Christian in the race I now believe that I can make the biggest difference for our state, our district, my community and my family by working as a volunteer to help him win the GOP nomination and beat Chet Culver in 2010."

So far, Wes Enos of Des Moines are the only Central Committee members to publicly back a candidate. Enos is backing Vander Plaats.

And in what may be an effort to convince skeptics of the viability of his camapign, Fong announced via Twitter he had raised $35,500 Thursday.