Former gubernatorial candidate Bob
Vander Plaats announced Friday he'll campaign to oust three Iowa
Supreme Court judges off the bench, the Iowa Independent
reported.
The three judges are among the seven
who unanimously legalized gay marriage last year. Voters will decide
in November whether to keep Chief Justice Marsha Ternus and Justices
David Baker and Michael Streit. The remaining judges are not on the
ballot this year.
Vander Plaats said he was motivated to
act after learning that a
federal judge on Wednesday had declared California's gay marriage
ban, Proposition 8, unconstitutional.
“If the judges can do this to
marriage, every one of your freedoms is up for grabs,” he said
during a morning news conference on the steps of the Iowa Judiciary
Building in Des Moines.
For social conservatives, Vander Plaats
was the standard-bearer of gubernatorial candidates for his
unrelenting attacks on the decision that brought gay marriage to the
Midwest. His campaign was built on a single issue: Reverse the
ruling at any cost.
He made an impressive second place
showing for the Republican nomination, but GOP voters opted to go
with former governor Terry Branstad, who also opposes gay marriage
but has said he respects the court's decision.
Vander Plaats said he would announce
additional details shortly.
Other opponents of marriage equality
have also announced they'll fight to oust the judges.
About a dozen people have joined the
Common Sense PAC since it formed in May. The Des Moines Register
reported that the independent political fund has spent $2,272, and
had $1,392 on hand as of July 15.
The group's spokesman, Dennis Guth,
said the group hopes to tap into Iowa voter's growing anti-incumbent
sentiment.
“We just want to clean house and
start out fresh,” he said.