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IowaPolitics.com: Rants says recent events pushing him toward run for governor
4/7/2009

By Lynn Campbell
IowaPolitics.com

Sioux City Republican Rep. Christopher Rants said Monday that recent developments regarding the state budget, same-sex marriages and federal deductibility make him think more about a 2010 run for governor against Democratic Gov. Chet Culver.

"I think this state is crying out for leadership. If the governor continues to make mistake after mistake after mistake, I think a lot of people will step forward and volunteer their services," said Rants, a former House speaker. "When you see things like this happen, you bet I think about it. After watching this weekend play out and watching the governor sort of hide from the press on Friday about the court ruling, where's the leadership?"  

When asked when he would make a formal decision about running, Rants said, "Let's see how he does this week."

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"This is a defining week for Chet Culver's tenure as governor," Rants said. "This week will probably decide whether he's a one-term governor or a two-term governor. He's got three big issues. He didn't want this on his plate right now, it's a distraction for him. But he has a stated position, he said he'd be dealing with it, so now he's got to deal with it."

Rants referred back to earlier statements from Culver, who previously said he'd "do whatever it takes to protect marriage between a man and a woman."

"Governor Culver, if he's a man of his word -- he said if the court ruled this way, he'd call us back into a a special session -- well, we're here now. He doesn't need to do that," Rants said. "The governor can and should appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court and ask for a stay until such time as the U.S. Supreme Court decides if they're going to hear it or not."    

But Bob Brammer, a spokesman for Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, said the U.S. Supreme Court does not have jurisdiction in this case. "There is no avenue for an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court," he said. "The Iowa Supreme Court ruling was based on the Iowa Constitution."

Culver did not have a public availability Monday to answer questions from reporters.
King: Gay marriage ruling could prompt run for governor


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