Gov. Tom Vilsack (D) Elected 1998, 2d term up Jan. 2007
Born:	Dec. 13, 1950, Pittsburgh, PA
Home:	Mt. Pleasant
Education:	Hamilton Col., B.A. 1972, Albany Law Schl., J.D. 1975
Religion:	Catholic
Marital Status:	married (Christie)
Elected  Office:	Mt. Pleasant Mayor, 1987-92; IA Senate, 1992-98.
Professional Career:	Practicing atty., 1975-98.
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Tom Vilsack, the only Democratic governor Iowa has had since 1968, was elected in 1998 and reelected in 2002. He grew up in Pennsylvania (and was beaten often by his mother, he revealed in 2000), went to college and law school in Upstate New York, visited Iowa courting his wife and decided to live there. They moved to Mount Pleasant in southeast Iowa where he joined his father-in-law's law firm and won notable verdicts for farmers defrauded in the Prairie Grain Elevator case and in a class action that returned $13 million to 86,000 insurance policyholders (average: $151 each). In 1987, he became mayor of Mount Pleasant and was elected to the state Senate in 1992 with 50% of the vote. He nearly retired from the state Senate in 1996, but decided to stay; now he is governor.

Vilsack was an upset winner in both the Democratic primary and in the general election. Republicans had held the governorship for 30 years; they had just gained control of the state House in 1994 and the state Senate in 1996. The state had a record surplus, unemployment was down to 3% and it was widely assumed Republicans would win again. Governor Terry Branstad had held office for a record 16 years; in March 1997, there was talk first that Republican Senator Charles Grassley might run, then that Democratic Senator Tom Harkin might. Neither did. In the Democratic primary, Vilsack was endorsed by the United Auto Workers and upset a better-known candidate, former state Supreme Court Justice Mark McCormack, who ran as a moderate, 51%-48%. Vilsack carried Cedar Rapids and Davenport, but lost Des Moines and the university towns of Iowa City and Ames, as well as most small counties. In the general election, he faced former Congressman Jim Ross Lightfoot, who had held Harkin to a 52%-47% victory in 1996. Vilsack called for upgrading education and attracting agribusinesses to make Iowa "the Silicon Valley of food." Lightfoot, who even aides admitted disliked campaigning, ran mainly on the tax cut and ended with ham-handed negative ads. Harkin played a key role. He had a grudge against Lightfoot since 1996 and had set up a PAC to beat him if he ran for governor; he insisted that he was against Lightfoot on issues rather than personal grounds. Harkin helped raise $300,000 of Vilsack's $2.3 million treasury and Harkin himself campaigned for the last two weeks all over the state. Vilsack ran a 23-city bus caravan and advanced steadily in polls. On election night, Vice President Al Gore called Vilsack to tell him he'd won; Vilsack was watching All the President's Men instead of the televised results. His margin was 52%-47%.

The legislature remained in Republican hands, so Vilsack did not achieve some of his goals--such as an increase in the minimum wage. But he did push through laws to reduce classroom size in the early grades and to crack down on methamphetamine addiction. He also got increases in teacher pay--the teachers' unions are one of his mainstays of support--and greatly increased the number of children in the children's health insurance program. In April 2000, the legislature repealed Vilsack's order banning discrimination in state employment against gays, lesbians and transsexuals; Vilsack vetoed that and in the fall 22 legislators sued, charging he exceeded his powers--a state judge declared Vilsack's order invalid. Vilsack vetoed a waiting period for abortions and signed a health insurance regulation law without the right to sue as he had sought. Perhaps most controversial was the recommendation, embraced by Vilsack, of a bipartisan commission headed by former Republican governor primary candidate David Oman that Iowa needs to recruit 310,000 foreign workers to settle in the state. Vilsack projected that Iowa's elderly population, already the third highest in the country, would increase to 20% by 2010; already Iowa's unemployment rate is one of the lowest in the nation, and more workers are needed to keep its economy growing. Vilsack has gone on trips to New York, Chicago and Los Angeles to encourage former Iowans to return home; he has set up "welcome centers" for Mexicans and others who have come to work in the state's meatpacking factories.

But Iowa's economy stopped growing in 2000, and little more was heard about encouraging immigration. Instead, the focus was on cutting state spending when expected revenues failed to flow in. Cuts began in 2001; in February 2002, Vilsack dipped into the state's rainy day fund. The state seemed unable to afford promise teacher pay increases and class size reduction. State employees were furloughed or given retirement buyouts. Some initiatives continued though. Sales of Vision Iowa bonds, to build museums and arenas, came in better than expected. Vilsack proposed a 10-year $600 yearly tax credit for graduates of Iowa colleges who stayed in the state.

That was the situation as Vilsack sought to be the first Iowa Democratic governor reelected since 1966. Several Republicans stepped forward to challenge him, but not University of Iowa wrestling coach Dan Gable, who turned down party leaders in July 2001. All were little known. State Representative Steve Sukup, owner of a family farm equipment business, called for a $20 million tax cut. Robert VanderPlaats, a Sioux City businessman and head of a children's physical rehabilitation nonprofit, called for thoroughgoing tax reform. Doug Gross, a relatively late entry, had been a staffer for Governor Robert Ray and chief of staff to Branstad; he charged Vilsack with mismanaging the budget. This turned out to be an exceedingly close race. Gross won with 36% of the vote--just above the 35% threshold required to keep the nomination from going to a state party convention--while Sukup and VanderPlaats, with different geographic bases, got 32% each. In the general, Vilsack, as the incumbent and with strong support from labor unions, had more money and attacked Gross for being a $300,000 lawyer-lobbyist whose firm represented hog lot producers who opposed proposals for local regulation of hog lots. This is a sulphurous issue in some communities, and one that gets attention. Polls in late June showed the race even. But Vilsack's attacks enabled him to pull ahead, and in November, he won by a 53%-45% margin, carrying 68 of Iowa's 99 counties.

But Republicans retained control of both houses of the legislature. Fiscal and personnel problems remained: There were estimates that the state faced a $400 million shortfall on the 2003-04 budget. On the day before Thanksgiving, Vilsack fired six of his commissioners. As he grapples with state problems, Vilsack will have the compensation of the companionship of several Democratic presidential candidates until the Iowa precinct caucuses in January 2004 and at least a moment in the national spotlight. Vilsack said during this campaign, as he had in 1998, that he would seek only two terms.

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State Capitol, Des Moines 50319, 515-281-5211; Fax: 515-281-6611; Web: www.governor.state.ia.us.

Election Results (More Info)
	Candidate	Total Votes	Percent
2002 general	Tom Vilsack (D)	540,449	53%
	Doug Gross (R)	456,612	45%
	Other	28,741	3%
2002 primary	Tom Vilsack (D)	unopposed
1998 general	Tom Vilsack (D)	500,231	52%
	Jim Ross Lightfoot (R)	444,787	47%
	Other	11,397	1%