' ... We're going to win in November,

(Photos by Randy M. Cauthron) GOP Gubernatorial cnadidate Bob Vander Plaats addressed a small group of area voters Tuesday night at the first Informed Voters Forum hosted by the Clay County Tea Party Patriots at the Clay County Regional Events Center. [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

"We're going to win in June, then we're going to win in November, then we're going to lead."

Those words at the conclusion of Iowa GOP Gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats presentation to a small group of voters Tuesday night drew a round of applause. Confident of his chances to win in his third attempt at the Iowa Governor's office, the Sioux City businessman's appearance highlighted the first of three scheduled gubernatorial Informed Voter Forums sponsored by the Clay County Tea Party Patriots.

Vander Plaats told the group that a recent Des Moines Register piece had him defeating Governor Chet Culver in a head-to-head race by eight percent. "And it pained them to write it," he said with a smile.

He also pointed to his endorsements from former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, action film star Chuck Norris, several other conservative figures and oragnizations, as well as the head of the state's NAACP organization.

Claiming that he will provide the state "real life leadership, and real life results" by providing "common sense solutions," the former educator called on the voters to help him and "get engaged."

The candidate shared his plans for the first day he takes office. His first order of business will be to issue an executive order. "There will be a stay on same sex marriages until the people have a chance to vote on it."

Vander Plaats indicated a couple of reasons for the urgency he has placed on the matter.

"It's a conviction not a political position," said Vander Plaats.

The candidate said that both Culver and President Barack Obama both believe that marriage is between a man and a woman - "but they see it as a political position, not a conviction."

And he wants to send a message to the Iowa Supreme Court.

"They can't legislate from the bench...They attempted to ammend the constitution from the bench.

"The governor is the chief magistrate for the state of Iowa, you need to hold them in check."

Forum attendee Mark Nothwehr of Spencer spends a few minutes with Bob Vander Plaats prior to the Sioux City businessman taking the stage to discuss his plans for the state if he becomes governor. [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Vander Plaats believes that sending that message to the Iowa courts will also send a message across the nation. "Once we win the deabe on executive orders, we will change the course of the state and then the country."

As a former teacher and administrator, Vander Plaats also told the group that he wanted more local control in the school systems with the dollars coming back and the decisions about what's best for students and districts decided by the elected boards and administrators hired to run them. "Let the local schools districts lead."

He also said that the state needs to create a friendly environment for job expansion and development so that Iowa can add or bring quality job opportunities for its citizens - helping to retain its most valuable resource, its young people.

"It's not rocket science," Vander Plaats said, suggesting that tax incentives are the keys to bringing new business opportunities to the state.

"I can't see Russia from here like Gov. Palin, but I can see South Dakota and South Dakota has figured it out - zero percent sells."

Vander Plaats stressed a need to work within the money the state has.

The candidate said, "Des Moines does not have all the answers, not even close to all the answers. All levels of government need to look at a new way of doing things - a 21st century way of doing things.

"We need to get back to the basics. There's too much bureaucracy."