Fong suspends camapign, but promises a second act

By James Q. Lynch

The Gazette

The first act didn't end well, “but the play is still being written and I'm looking forward to taking the stage again,” Cedar Rapids gubernatorial hopeful Christian Fong said Tuesday.

Fong suspended his campaign for the Republican nomination for governor, but promised he'll be back.

Fong, 32, who was making his first run for political office, didn't rule out a second act as early as next year as the running mate of the party's nominee. No one has offered the job, he added.

“I think by now most people realize I don't like jobs that don't carry consequences,” he said, adding that being mentioned as a possible lieutenant governor candidate is flattering. “I take away from that that my message was resonating.”

Fong's departure leaves the GOP field to Sen. Jerry Behn and former Gov. Terry Branstad, both of Boone, Rep. Christopher Rants and businessman Bob Vander Plaats, both of Sioux City, and Rep. Rod Roberts of Carroll. The winner of the June primary will face Democratic Gov. Chet Culver.

Other than being too short, Fong has no regrets about his five-month campaign.

“The message was right. My vision for Iowa is unclouded,” he said. The decision to suspend his campaign was purely financial.

“I'm a finance guy, so I, of all people, should be able to write a business plan that can win,” said Fong, who is managing director of capital markets for AEGON USA. He said the business plan was accurate and although he raised $100,000 in the first three weeks of the campaign, he realized there would not be money for the next phase.

He compared it to successfully starting a business, but being unable to raise the funds needed to take it to the next level.

“I made the decision it was not possible to run a winning campaign and I wasn't willing to run a mediocre campaign,” Fong.

He rejected speculation that he was too young and lacked the necessary political experience for a gubernatorial run.

“I don't think my campaign reflected any sense of me being too young or too immature,” he said. “People don't have to wait to make a difference.”

His campaign manager, Marlys Popma, who has been active in Republican campaigns since the mid-1980s, called Fong a “true leader,” “bold and visionary” and “the brightest person I've ever worked for.”

She doesn't know what Fong will do next, but is sure he'll be back on the political stage.

“Politically, he's in it for the long haul, he believes in true service,” Popma said. “Christian wants to serve because he believes he can make things better.”