Gronstal weighs run for governor (DM Register)

[Debi]

Iowa Senate Democratic leader Mike Gronstal said Tuesday he plans to begin deciding this week whether he will join the race for governor.

The Council Bluffs senator plans to travel Thursday to Cedar Rapids, Fort Dodge, Mason City and Waterloo to talk about the session and "talk with some people about raising some money."

Gronstal had said he would wait until after the legislative session to decide whether to run for governor, a notion he began entertaining after Democrats pulled even with the Republicans in the 50-member Senate.

But Gronstal has taken no steps toward exploring a campaign, nor raised any money, he said. Had the legislative session - the longest in 25 years - ended on time, he would have begun testing the waters last week, he said. The session ended Friday.

"I'm going to begin exploring now," he said. "I have a number of things on my schedule across the state."

Among Democrats, Secretary of State Chet Culver is taking steps toward running, while state Rep. Ed Fallon of Des Moines and engineer Sal Mohamed of Sioux City have already entered the race.

Iowa economic development Director Michael Blouin and Secretary of Agriculture Patty Judge, both Democrats, are also weighing whether to get into the race. Republican businessman Bob Vander Plaats of Sioux City has said he is running.

U.S. Rep. Jim Nussle of Manchester, also a Republican, is expected to announce his candidacy next week.







http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050525/NEWS09/505250332/1056

[rsdsharp]

1. Unfortunately, he looks like a nearsighted gerbil.

Of course looking like a gerbil didn't hamper Terry Branstad's political career.

[Broke Dad]

2. Gronstal is a double crosser

Gronstal takes money from both sides of an issue and then when the stuff hits the fan, double crosses the Democratic or progressive side figuring they will forgive him. Lost a top aide who was tired of covering for him. He has spent 20+ years in the legislature just getting elected over and over again. Too cozy with banking and insurance companies. His family owns several banks. All backroom deals and no daylight. Let him stay in the backroom or in the family banking business.

[newyawker99]

4. Hi Broke Dad!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Moderator]

3. Debi

Per DU copyright rules
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DU Moderator

[Debi]

5. Sorry

:blush:

[rurallib]

6. Pretty much declared a couple months ago

On an edition of Talk of Iowa on WSUI/ WOI he said something to the effect that there is no reason not to run.
Right now I am not much inspired by any candidate. I volunteered for Tom Fiegen in his run for state senate and Gronstal really screwed Fiegan over. Culver seems very cautious. I like Fallon's position but feel he may be too lefty for Iowa, plus he still has the albatross of the Nader endorsement to deal with from 2000. There is the mayor from Western Iowa (name anyone?) who seems to inspire some folks, but he's an unknown. But there's a year for things to develop.

[Debi]

7. The word I keep hearing for Gronstal is 'Slick' n/t