IOWA INSIDER

Gov. Chet Culver has appointed his chief of staff to serve as director of the state’s Department of Human Services after the Iowa Senate rejected his nominee.

Charlie Krogmeier, whom Culver called a “veteran public servant,” was tapped to lead the DHS.

With 5,700 employees, DHS is the state’s largest agency and oversees programs that include Medicaid, welfare, food stamps, child protection and child support collections.

The Iowa Senate refused to confirm Gene Gessow as the department’s director when Republicans withheld their support. They complained about Gessow’s handling of a case in Atalissa where mentally retarded men were found living in substandard housing.

Krogmeier has held a variety of jobs in state government over the decades, including a stint as director of the Department of Management under Culver’s administration.

He also led Culver’s transition team after the governor was elected to his first term in 2006.

“His experience and commitment to Iowa makes him an ideal choice to lead this department during such an important time in our state,” Culver said in a statement.

Krogmeier’s appointment is effective today, and is subject to the Iowa Senate’s approval.

DES MOINES – State Rep. Christopher Rants said he’s more likely to consider a run for governor after the Iowa Supreme Court struck down the state’s gay marriage ban.

Rants, a Sioux City Republican, said Democratic Gov. Chet Culver lied to voters when he told them during the campaign he was against the idea of gay marriage.

Culver issued a statement Tuesday saying although he personally believes marriage is between a man and a woman, he wouldn’t support a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. The first-term governor is up for re-election in 2010.

“He’s lied to Iowans about it,” Rants said. “He thought he could have it both ways, and he can’t, and his statement yesterday was beyond pathetic.”

Rants is critical of Culver’s handling of the budget and predicts that Culver will sign into law a tax plan eliminating the ability to deduct federal tax bills from state income taxes, known as federal deductibility.

“What he’s going to do is he’s going to sign into law a tax increase that penalizes job creation in this state,” Rants said.

Rants, 41, is the former House speaker and minority leader. He has previously flirted with the idea of running for governor but sees an opportune time with what he says is Culver’s lack of leadership on major issues.

“It’s like the ship of state is without a captain and unfortunately, the winds are blowing in the wrong direction at the moment, and we’re about to run aground,” Rants said.

A handful of Republicans have said they are considering jumping into the race including Congressman Steve King and Sioux City businessman Bob Vander Plaats.

The Iowa GOP has faced setbacks in the 2006 and 2008 elections, but Rants believes Culver’s actions could help unify the social conservatives and fiscal conservatives in the party.

“That makes me optimistic,” Rants said.