Bob Vander Plaats, Center with Chairman Brian Donegan, right, and Randy & Wendy Davis, left last September at a fundraiser in Des Moines

We are proud to endorse and support many candidates for election this year.  However there are a few leaders who are a cut above the rest.  Not only do they stand up for our platform and what we believe in, but they are going above and beyond that.  Those leaders and candidates will be given the special an exclusive title of “Can-Do Conservative  Hero”  We are proud to announce our very first leader to be given this honor, Republican candidate, Bob Vander Plaats!

Bob Vander Plaats is a businessman from Sioux City, IA.  He has been greatly inspired by his third son Lucas, who was born severely disabled with a rare brain disorder in 1993.  In fact that inspiring story is told in Bob’s 2007 book, Light From Lucas.  In 1996, Bob was offered a position of CEO of Opportunities Unlimited, a health and human services organization that provides rehab services for young adults with brain and spinal cord injuries (as well as other disabilities).  According to Bob’s website, he  ”accepted the challenge and, in four short years, turned a struggling entity into one of the top service providers of its type in the United States, with a net assets increase of four hundred and forty percent and the highest accreditation from The Commission on Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities – Brain Injury (CARF).”

During this period of time Bob’s results and leadership resulted in an appointment from then Governor Terry Branstad to chair a committee focusing on Disabled issues in Iowa.  However when it was time for Bob to testify to the bureaucracy and advocate for ways to empower the disabled with a hand up instead of a hand out “…the Clue phone was ringing and nobody was picking it up” (in Bob’s words).

This lack of leadership became the inspiration and the fire that burns within him to run for Governor of Iowa in the first place.  Bob Vander Plaats was one of of our very first supporters and he doesn’t just support our platform, he passionately speaks about empowering those with disabilities  while on the campaign trail.  That is why we are proud to bestow upon him the title of “Can-Do Conservative Hero”.  Bob has earned it and we are proud to support him.

In fact today is Bob’s Birthday.  Please follow this link and make a contribution to his campaign for Governor of the Hawkeye State.