Bob Chambers

Bob Chambers was a Democratic candidate in the 2008 congressional elections for Iowa's 5th District (map). The fifth-generation Iowan seeks the Democratic nomination to challenge incumbent Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa).

Bio
Bob is a fifth generation Iowa native, born December 8, 1938, in Sidney, Iowa. He grew up in neighboring Glenwood, Iowa, where he graduated from high school in 1957. Bob and his wife Barbara -- who wed in 1961 -- have been married for 46 years.

Bob earned his BS in Mathematics, cum laude, from Northwest Missouri State and an MA in Mathematics, magna cum laude, from Indiana University in 1972. He is a former teacher and also spent 33 years in high-tech manufacturing, working his way from the shop floor at Western Electric to technical and middle management positions with Control Data Corporation. He later accepted a position as President and COO of a communications company involved in early exploration of Internet business applications, and in 1990 founded his own international consulting firm, serving clients as varied as NASA contractors to Tokyo's Mitsui Bank.

Bob's career as a grassroots Democratic activist spans four and a half decades and includes working phone banks, walking precincts and serving on numerous committees in Iowa and other states. During the past seven years he has served as Iowa's 5th Congressional District Vice Chair, Page County Central Committee Chair and Vice Chair for the Iowa Democratic Party Platform Committee.

In July 2001, Bob retired from his consulting business to focus more specifically on Democratic activism. The rural Essex, IA, trailblazer says collaboration and cooperation are vital to any endeavor's success, and, as one who learned firsthand how each stage frames the whole, says he feels it's his responsibility to share with others what his predecessors granted him.

Over the course of their 46-year marriage, Bob and Barbara have taken a number of battered women and children into their home, providing food, clothing, shelter and educational tutoring in an effort to help families get back on their feet or begin new lives. The Chambers believe it's all part of giving back to one's community.

2008 elections
Bob Chambers was seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) in the 2008 congressional elections.

Committees and affiliations
Bob Chambers has held the following leadership positions:


 * Iowa Democratic Party 5th Congressional District Vice Chair


 * Page County Democratic Party Chair


 * Vice Chair for Iowa Democratic Party Platform Committee


 * State Central Committee member for Colorado Democratic Party

Contact

 * Info AT chambersforcongress.com

Articles and resources
Sioux City Journal

Youngest 5th District Democratic Chair Endorses Chambers

Related SourceWatch articles

 * 2008 U.S. congressional elections
 * 2008 U.S. congressional election dates
 * Portal:Iowa and the U.S. Congress

External resources

 * Iowa's 5th Congressional District 2008 RaceTracker
 * Bob Chambers Official campaign website