The 2006 campaign for governor is already well underway. A shadow group launched a website this week, urging democrat Governor Tom Vilsack to run for a third term. He says he won’t . The Republican National Committee’s chairman told Iowa Republicans this week they need to start laying the groundwork for the gubernatorial election that’s 20 months away, and he urged the contestants in the G-O-P race to refrain from personal attacks. Congressman Jim Nussle, one of those expected to be a republican candidate for governor, delivered campaign-style speeches this week to a group of republican women and the Iowa Sportsmens Federation. Bob Vander Plaats, a G-O-P candidate in 2002, attended the Iowa Christian Coalition’s annual banquet this week. But even his key supporters, like former State Auditor Richard Johnson, have trouble pronouncing his name. Johnson recently pronounced it Vander PLATS like slats in a box rather than Vander PLAWTZ like plots of land. And Steve Sukup, a candidate for governor in 2002 who has an unusual name himself that’s pronounced SOO-kup, has endorsed his former foe, but pronounces the first part of Vander Plaats last name VAWN-der — like yonder. So what’s up? “Well, the explanation is VAN-der PLAWTZ,” Vander Plaats told Radio Iowa. “I don’t care how they pronounce it just as long as they vote for it.” Vander Plaats says he’s proud of his Dutch heritage
