30 September 2009 // 08:06 pm // Comments Closed
GOP governor candidate says state needs problem solver
MASON CITY — Christian Fong, son of a Chinese immigrant, says he has been fortunate to have “lived the Iowa dream.”
The Cedar Rapids business executive is running for governor because he says “Access to the Iowa dream is slipping further and further away.”
Fong, 32, is seeking the Republican nomination for governor with the winner facing Gov. Chet Culver in the November 2010 elections.
He is managing director of capital markets for AEGON, a Cedar Rapids insurance firm.
The fourth of eight children, Fong said he came from humble beginnings but was provided access to opportunities for success.
Those opportunities are being stifled by government today, he said.
“What’s holding us back? High taxes, unlimited government and generational debt,” said Fong, referring to debt passed on from one generation to the next.
“We need a government filled with problem-solvers, not politicians. If we fail at that, we fail the test of democracy,” he said.
Fong said one of the problems is that “some politicians wear robes” - a reference to the Iowa Supreme Court’s decision earlier this year to allow same-sex marriages.
“I support traditional marriages and I believe most Iowans do. This should be put to a vote of the people to solve it fairly and finally,” he said.
Other Republicans seeking the nomination include businessman Bob Vander Plaats, who ran for lieutenant governor four years ago; state legislators Rod Roberts, Paul McKinley, Christopher Rants, Jerry Behn and possibly former governor Terry Branstad who Fong believes is certain to run.
But Fong thinks he has an advantage in being the only non-politician in the race.
“Not a lot of Iowans are thrilled with politicians right now. I can say that I’ve never run any level of government into the ground,” he said.
Fong said examples of shoddy government recently include the $208 million going to the Iowa Film office without any oversight; and the $830 million I-JOBS bill which he said was “big and bloated.”
Fong said the original bill I-JOBS bill was for about $600 million but only had about 47 votes in support. Pumping another $200 million into it got the 51 votes it needed for passage in the Senate, he said.
Three keys to good government, said Fong, are to be a problem-solver, be accountable — and deliver.
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