Gov. Contender: I’ll Repeal Marriage

Iowa governor Chet Culver, up for reelection in 2010, may face Republican challenger Bob Vander Plaats (pictured), who is vowing to reverse the state supreme court's April 2009 marriage equality ruling.

Vander Plaats announced he would run for office on Monday, telling reporters that he would hand down an executive order to put the issue up to the legislature and to a ballot initiative.

Vander Plaats, one of six potential candidates for the 2010 Republican ticket, is a former high school teacher and principal, according to KCCI News. He is currently the president of MVP Leadership Inc., a business consulting firm.

In a statement issued in April, Governor Culver said he would not fight the court's decision, saying that he wanted to concentrate on more pressing issues like the recession, unemployment, and natural disaster recovery.

"As governor," he said, "I must respect the authority of the Iowa supreme court, and have a duty to uphold the constitution of the state of Iowa. I also fully respect the right of all Iowans to live under the full protection of Iowa's constitution.

"I urge Iowans who hold beliefs on all sides of this issue to exhibit respect and goodwill. Our state faces many serious challenges. We are in the midst of a serious economic recession. Tens of thousands of our fellow Iowans are without work. We have suffered the worst natural disasters and most difficult recovery our state has ever faced. We must join together and redouble our efforts to work toward solutions that will help Iowans in this time of uncertainty. That is where, I believe, my focus and energies should lie."