GOP candidates criticize Culver

SAC CITY – Four competing GOP candidates invaded Sac County Saturday with a unified goal – to sack Democratic Gov. Chet Culver in 2010.

Republican Sen. Jerry Behn of Boone, Reps. Christopher Rants of Sioux City and Rod Roberts of Carroll, and Sioux City businessman Bob Vander Plaats took turns hammering Culver's economic, social and education policies during a joint appearance at a Sac County GOP fundraising event.

The quartet of GOP gubernatorial hopefuls criticized Democrats who control the Statehouse for overspending, growing government and promoting “job-killing” labor changes at a time of economic anxiety for many Iowa families.

“People are ready for new ideas and a new direction,” Roberts told nearly 70 GOP loyalists who gathered at a fairgrounds pavilion. “Iowa can do much better and we need someone who can lead in the position of governor.”

Roberts, a five-term representative speaking in his home district, offered himself as a fresh voice who could attract independent and disenchanted Democratic voters while standing “rock-solid” on conservative fiscal and social principles.

“Friends, we can win next year, we can put a Republican back in the governor's office, but we need to be as thoughtful and considerate about the messenger who carries our message and the message itself,” he said.

Vander Plaats touted his background as an educator and “turnaround CEO” in vowing to shift the focus from growing government to making Iowa's tax and regulatory structures more competitive.

“We need to stop being the party of no,” said Vander Plaats, the party's 2006 lieutenant governor candidate who noted he is not a product of the Legislature – like his three rivals – at a time when people are looking for “citizen leadership.”

“You've got to tell people what you're for, give them a vision about what you're for, and then when you get elected you'd better deliver on the vision,” he said.

Vander Plaats said he is running as a Republican who can inspire the party's base and attract other voters “by not selling out who we are” on social issues like defending marriage as between one man and one woman while challenging Culver.

“He (Culver) said he would do whatever it takes to keep Iowa one man and one woman, but as soon as the Supreme Court made their opinion, he washed his hands like Pontius Pilate and walked away from the issue.”

Rants, a nine-term representative and former House speaker, said he would be the GOP nominee who could appeal to fiscal and social conservatives with a proven legislative record “planted squarely in both camps.”

As governor, Rants said he would set a goal of making Iowa a top 10 state for starting or operating a business and work to “reign in the size and scope” of government. He also said that, once Iowa begins recovering from the current recession, he would deposit new state tax receipts in a property tax reduction account to ease the burden on businesses and property owners.

Behn said he would build a “firewall to stop the nonsense” of runaway spending and unconstitutional “debt scheme” borrowing that has been the hallmark of Culver's first term as governor.

“This is not fiscal policy. This is inappropriate gambling with our children's futures,” he said.

Behn said he would improve student achievement by promoting more competition in education with increased tuition tax credits and parental choice.

The Boone senator urged Iowans to vote against retaining judges who make law from the bench in cases like the same-sex marriage decision, saying “we can rein in judges by simply kicking them out of office.”

Forum attendee Viola Snyder of Lake View said she liked what she heard from all the candidates, but probably was leaning toward Roberts. Jim Albright, a retired Lytton farmer, said he liked the speeches but remained undecided.

“I'm enthusiastic about the Republican Party coming back,” he said. “I think we can turn this thing around.”

State Sen. Steve Kettering of Lake View said it was still early in the process and he thought there were “still a couple handfuls” of candidates still considering a 2010 bid.

Michael Kiernan, chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party, said he was “stunned” that GOP candidates were “flailing” against Culver's efforts to create jobs and help Iowa families without raising taxes.

“If all Republican candidates can do is say ‘no' to Iowa's families, then they shouldn't be running,” Kiernan said in a statement. “Four candidates showed up today for what amounted to a rally against helping Iowa families, full of juvenile name calling.”