Vander Plaats, Independent Candidate for Governor?

VP Staying Out: If Sioux City business consultant and 3-time Republican candidate for governor, Bob Vander Plaats, is about to announce he is running for a fourth time, it would surprise the Republicans I talked with today/tonight. Vander Plaats has said previously he would consider running as an Independent. He released a second brief news release tonight saying he would have an event Friday morning at 10:30 at the Iowa Judicial Courts Building. Here's the release:

VANDER PLAATS NEWS CONFERENCE ADVISORY

Bob Vander Plaats will hold a news conference in front of the Iowa Judicial Building, located at 1111 E. Court Ave., at 10:30 a.m., Friday, Aug. 6.

Here are the two biggest questions I kept hearing: After losing three times already, where would he find the new support he needs to win a race for governor this fall? Where would he find the money that it would take?

Perhaps, he is going to announce that he is endorsing Republican Terry Branstad's campaign? If that's the case, Branstad's campaign has said nothing about a joint appearance tomorrow. Surely, Branstad would stand alongside Vander Plaats if he is getting the endorsement, right?

Perhaps, the location is a clue, since we are just days removed from the California court ruling against Proposition 8, the state's ban against same-sex marriage. Could Vander Plaats be helping to lead an effort against the Supreme Court justices whose ruling legalized same-sex marriages in Iowa? Voters decide in November whether to retain them (that includes Chief Justice Marsha Ternus, Michael Steit and David Baker).

What do you think?

Mauro Money: Iowa Secretary of State Mike Mauro released a report on his office's work over the past year. The budget keeps getting cut since Chet Culver became governor (he used to be sec. of state before becoming gov). But the office report shows it is accomplishing more with less. In light of that, will taxpayers think the budget-whacking has actually been a good thing? Here's the release:

SECRETARY OF STATE MAURO ISSUES FISCAL YEAR 2010 REPORT
Spending is down, revenue is up in the Secretary of State’s Office

Des Moines – The Office of the Iowa Secretary of State spent fewer taxpayer dollars, brought in more revenue to the state, processed more transactions and employed fewer people in the fiscal year that ended June 30, Secretary of State Michael A. Mauro reported today in his annual report to the citizens of Iowa.

Secretary Mauro reported that his office spent $3,523,448 in Fiscal Year 2010, down from the $3,806,932 spent in Fiscal Year 2009. At the same time, Mauro reported that in the latest fiscal year the office took in $5,886,594 in fees which is up from $3,107,163 a year earlier. Mauro also reported that his office now employs 30 full-time workers, down from 38 a year ago and from 35 when he took office.

"I'm proud to report that we have continued to be responsive and accessible to all Iowans and Iowa businesses while operating with fewer people and less money," Mauro said. "We've dug in and done more than our share while handling hundreds of thousands of transactions for Iowans."

The Office of the Secretary of State oversees elections as well as processes business filings. Mauro noted that his office saved the state $300,000 to $500,000 annually by bringing the state's voter registration database in-house. He also said the office worked to save communities more than $1 million by working with the Legislature to move school elections to every other year. In addition, he noted, during his term he worked with the Legislature to set an election calendar that consolidates dates of special elections, again saving communities a significant amount of tax dollars. Mauro further said that his office has secured $3,316,103 in federal money in the past three years that was used to help make polling places accessible to all eligible voters, maintain Iowa’s voter registration database, and train local election officials.

"We have fought – and continue to fight – to create real savings for Iowa taxpayers while generating increased revenue for the state treasury," Secretary Mauro said. "This annual statement to Iowans demonstrates that over the past three years we've been able to continue to provide high quality services with fewer resources."

The following is a summary of key statistics over the four most recent fiscal years.

BUDGET (state appropriation plus refunds and reimbursements)
Fiscal 2007: $3,164,839
Fiscal 2008: $3,418,868
Fiscal 2009: $3,806,932
Fiscal 2010: $3,523,569

REVENUE GENERATED / FEES COLLECTED
Fiscal 2007: $3,463,357
Fiscal 2008: $6,180,315
Fiscal 2009: $3,107,163
Fiscal 2010: $5,886,594

FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES
July 1, 2007: 36
July 1, 2008: 38
July 1, 2009: 38
July 1, 2010: 30

FILINGS PROCESSED
2007: 77,020
2008: 170,413
2009: 67,210
2010: 140,686 (first six months only)

Vander Plaats for Governor

Campaign Calls: I don't know who is making them yet, but apparently someone or some group is calling up Iowans and asking how they would vote in a three-person race for governor. Three person, you say? Yep, Terry Branstad, Chet Culver...and drum roll, please...Bob Vander Plaats. That's not the only question. A person who received the call told me the caller also asked whether he would vote to retain supreme court judges who are up in November and his opinion on same-sex marriages. Hmmm...sounds like someone is still thinking about running as an Independent, doesn't it? I checked out teamvp.com, what had been Vander Plaats' campaign website. It is still up, but I don't see anything new on it. So, no hints on another run there.

(Update: I wanted to clarify what one person who received the campaign call said. He said the caller asked which of the three people he would support for governor and the caller wanted to know if he would vote to retain the supreme court judges whose term expires in light of the court's decision on same-sex marriage.)

LeBron Loonies: Let me get this straight. LeBron James leaves Cleveland for a ton of money and for the chance to play with two other studs to try to win an NBA title in Miami. Afterwards, some genius Cleveland fans set fire to their LeBron merchandise. Some people even got arrested for their stupidity. Good move. That'll show LeBron.

Bob Vander Plaats Still Won't Say Whether He Will Run as Independent

No real shocker that Terry Branstad, the Iowa Republican candidate for governor, didn't pick Bob Vander Plaats to be his running mate. I surveyed many of my "insider-types" and I didn't find anyone who thought VP would be on the ticket. Until now, Friday afternoon at 5:30 as I write this, Vander Plaats hasn't talked publicly about the post-primary period. He sat down with his supporter and Who talk radio host, Steve Deace, to talk about it. Here are some highlights...

Vander Plaats said Branstad told him Independents would decide the election (when don't they?).

Vander Plaats said four people were in the room during his meeting with Branstad last week. He said it was Branstad, Branstad's campaign manager (Jeff Boeyink), Vander P, and his campaign manager (and former Branstad staffer, Eric Woolson).

Vander P said there "was no thought given" to how Vander P would go out speaking/campaigning for Branstad.

Vander P said Branstad doesn't see the division in the Republican party like he does.

Vander P said Branstad told him he wasn't worried that the Iowa Family Policy PAC is not supporting him for governor since Vander P didn't win (the group endorsed Vander P and had previously said if Vander P didn't win, its supporters would not vote for Branstad).

Vander Plaats closed the interview by leaving a major question still unanswered. He still won't say whether he will run as an Independent. So, after nearly two weeks of silence, he has not said what he will do.

He also wouldn't give a final answer as to whether he wants his supporters to try to get him on as the lieutenant governor nominee and push out Branstad's choice, Kim Reynolds during the state convention in Des Moines on Saturday.

He also won't say whether he will attend the state convention.

This interview is definitely now answering the major questions people want to know right now.

He said he "doesn't want to be played" and he wants "authenticity"...when asked what it will take for him to endorse Branstad.

Anyone think he really won't show up at the Republican state convention Saturday?

Vander Plaats, Independent Candidate for Governor?

So, Terry Branstad and Bob Vander Plaats held their secret meeting. Sure wish that it weren't a "secret", don't you? That video would have been priceless! As first reported by theiowarepublican.com, the two men met in Sioux City on Monday. A Republican source confirms to me much of what Craig Robinson reported at theiowarepublican.com that the meeting did not go well between the two men. Vander Plaats wants to be Branstad's running mate and when Branstad said he isn't likely to go that way again (Jim Nussle picked Vander P in 2006 and then lost to Chet Culver/Patty Judge), Vander Plaats talked about running as an Independent.

Vander Plaats, according to his former spokesman, Eric Woolson, isn't talking to the media about what is going on. Woolson did say Vander Plaats texted him and he forwarded part of that message to me. Vander Plaats said, in part, that his "immediate goal is to unite the party and beat Chet Culver and ensure leadership for Iowa."

What do you make of this? Vander Plaats has run and lost three times already. Will he really run a fourth time? And would enough Iowans support him to give him a chance to win or have voters already decided he has had his chance again, again and again? Would his candidacy kill Branstad's chances of beating Culver? Would this anti-establishment, anti-incumbent voter outrage push Vander Plaats to victory? What do you think?

The topic was a huge one in this week's "Channel 13's Insiders" show. You can watch this Sunday morning at 9:30. Hope to see you then:)