Vander Plaats: "I'm a principled conservative"

Bob Vander Plaats

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats says the people of Iowa are frustrated with politics as usual and would prefer electing a private citizen with "real life leadership" instead of a career politician.

The Sioux City Republican brought his campaign for governor to the Pizza Ranch in Decorah Tuesday night.  Speaking to a crowd of two dozen supporters, Vander Plaats said he would issue an executive order halting enforcement of the Iowa Supreme Court's ruling in the same-sex marriage case, giving the state legislature time to either reverse the court's decision or to put the question to the voters in the form of a constitutional amendment.  "It will be a great civics lesson," he told the audience.

In an interview following the appearance, Vander Plaats said he'd advocate for an immigration bill in Iowa similar to the one recently passed in Arizona.  "Illegal is illegal," he said.  That means enforcing laws against employers knowingly hiring illegal immigrants, as well as charging the immigrants themselves, said Vander Plaats.

With 42 days left before the Republican Party primary, Vander Plaats called on all his Decorah supporters to make phone calls and work hard to get a conservative elected governor.