Vander Plaats Brings Experience as Failure in Business, Politics
Republican candidate Bob Vander Plaats called the Governor's bold, decisive budget decisions an "utter failure of leadership" Thursday. [Cedar Rapids Gazette, 10/29/09]
"Vander Plaats is the one with the clear record of failure," Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan said Friday. "It's tough to find a bigger failure in Iowa business or political circles."
Vander Plaats’ high-profile failures include leading a Sioux City service provider called Opportunities Unlimited, straight into the tank, from an operating surplus into a deficit, and overseeing declining revenues. [Cedar Rapids Gazette, 09/01/09].
GOP candidate for Governor Chris Rants said Opportunities Unlimited's tax returns during Vander Plaats' tenure showed it went from a $471,455 operating surplus to a $630,655 deficit and total operating revenue dropped from $4.2 million to $3.9 million while long-term debt doubled from $2.4 million to $4.7 million. [Cedar Rapids Gazette, 09/01/09].
Kiernan said that Rants has helpfully pointed out "State government doesn't need a CEO who specializes in downturns." [Cedar Rapids Gazette, 09/01/09].
Vander Plaats’ other spectacular crash-and-burn was in the 2002 primary for Governor, where he failed to defeat Des Moines corporate lawyer and Terry Branstad crony Doug Gross, Kiernan said. Then, he failed in his 2006 bid for Governor, before joining Jim Nussle to run for Lt. Governor on a failed ticket against our current Governor.
Now, Vander Plaats, who has never held public office, never approved a public budget and never worked in Government in any capacity, feels qualified to second-guess the fiscal decision-making of state leaders navigating the largest economic downturn since the Great Depression.
"Vander Plaats simply never fails to fail," Kiernan said.