August 14, 2009
Fong seeks top Iowa job- C.R. exec emphasizes management experience
Cedar Rapids businessman Christian Fong says he’s willing to put a successful career on hold to ‘‘restore a government that reflects the values that most Iowans share.’‘
Fong, who has never run for office before, is seeking the Republican nomination for governor.
In the process, he’s trying to make a virtue of his political inexperience.
‘‘My resume does not include running any level of government into the ground,’’ he said during a visit to Fort Dodge Thursday.
What his resume does include are 13 years of experience as an executive with an insurance company, AEGON USA, and about a year at the helm of Corridor Recovery, a nonprofit group coordinating flood relief efforts in Cedar Rapids. Fong pledges to use the management skills he’s mastered in those posts to give state government ‘‘the sort of values that actually unify us as a state.’‘
Fong said instilling those values means creating a state government that balances its checkbook and supports traditional marriage.
The candidate has a three-point plan for cutting costs. It includes:
- Requiring state agency leaders to submit budgets that cut spending by 5 percent;
- Seeking cost savings in broad areas such as information technology and vehicle fleet maintenance;
- Determining if programs produce results and are affordable.
Fong said he would seek more cost savings through negotiations with state employee unions.
‘‘I’m not afraid to sit across the table and negotiate directly, partnering with them, to get costs under control in a way that is fair both to the government employees who are working hard, but also fair to Iowans who are paying taxes to pay their salaries and benefits,’’ he said.
He said he is interested in privatizing some functions of state government.
‘‘As governor, I trust the private sector to do it cheaper and better than state government can do it,’’ Fong said. ‘‘So when appropriate, I’ll shift the jobs, I’ll shift the opportunities, to the private sector.’‘
Fong said he would like the state government to pay off the bond debt incurred for the I-JOBS program early, if that becomes possible.
The candidate said he is in favor of a constitutional amendment that would ban same sex marriage. He said if he’s elected, he would work to give Iowans the chance to vote on such an amendment.
Fong is vying for the Republican nomination along with state Senate Minority Leader Paul McKinley, of Chariton; state Rep. Chris Rants, of Sioux City; state Rep. Rod Roberts, of Carroll; and Bob Vander Plaats, of Sioux City, who was the party’s candidate for lieutenant governor in 2006.
Democratic Gov. Chet Culver hasn’t made any announcements yet, but is widely expected to seek a second term.
Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 or bshea@messengernews.net
