A republican from Sioux City has formally declared himself a candidate for Governor — for the election in 2002.
Thirty-eight-year-old Bob Vander Plaats says his top priority will be economic development.
Vander Plaats has been a teacher and a coach. Now, he’s C-E-O of a Sioux City non-profit that cares for brain-injured kids. Vander Plaats will face Steve Sukup, a legislator and businessman from Dougherty, in a republican primary next June.
Vander Plaats has adopted a slogan — “feels good, doesn’t it” — to highlight the nature of his campaign as a political outsider. Vander Plaats says he’s studying the state’s tax structure and later in the campaign will release his recommendations for changing, and reducing, taxes.