Vander Plaats Campaign Announces Addition of June 5 Northwest Iowa Stop to Chuck Norris Tour

DES MOINES – Internationally known actor and martial arts champion Chuck Norris will appear in Hinton near Sioux City on Saturday June 5 to show his support for Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats, the campaign announced today.

Norris and his wife, Gena, will appear with Vander Plaats at 7:00 p.m. rally at Hinton High School, 315 W. Grand Ave, that is free and open to the public. Two of Bob and Darla Vander Plaats’ four sons graduated from Hinton High School and a third son is a student there.

“I can’t begin to describe how thrilled I am that Chuck Norris would agree to add a fifth event to his visit to give northwest Iowans a chance to see a real American hero,” Vander Plaats said. “And, I can imagine a more perfect place to be than at a school that has been so special to our family over the years.”

Norris and Vander Plaats will appear at a noon, June 4 rally at LeClaire Park on the Mississippi River in downtown Davenport. They will appear later that same day at a 5:30 p.m. event at the hotel at Kirkwood Center, 7725 Kirkwood Blvd., SW, in Cedar Rapids. On Saturday, June 5, the campaign will hold a 10:30 a.m. rally at Jordan Park Camp, 2251 Fuller Road, West Des Moines. A 4:30 p.m. rally is scheduled at The Bluffs Center, 714 S. Main St., Council Bluffs.

Prior to all five public events, the campaign will also hold several $500-per-couple private receptions, Vander Plaats said. Reservations for the private reception are limited and must be made no later than Monday, May 24. All private reception requests are to be made through Tim Dusenbery at tim.dusenbery@teamvp2010.com, Director of Finance for Team Vander Plaats or the Des Moines office at (515) 278-5183.

Norris writes a nationally syndicated column and is active in conservative and pro-family causes. The immensely popular actor and his wife drew an enthusiastic response from Iowans when they visited the state on behalf of Mike Huckabee’s 2008 presidential campaign. He began his martial arts training while serving in the U.S. Air Force in South Korea. He held the Professional Middleweight Karate champion title for six consecutive years. He has appeared in a number of popular films over the past 30 years, beginning with “Enter the Dragon” with Bruce Lee in 1972. He broadened his fan base with younger audiences, too, when he starred in the television series “Walker, Texas Ranger” from 1993 to 2001.

A devout Christian and political conservative, Norris writes a column for the website WorldNetDaily and is the author of several Christian-themed books, including the new, expanded version of Black Belt Patriot just published in paperback by Fidelis Books. He also authored The Official Chuck Norris Fact Book, which offers 101 facts and favorites stories of his life and was released by Tyndale House Publishers.

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