Steve Rathje is your Conservative Republican Candidate for the United States Senate in 2008.

Born in Cedar Rapids in 1956, to successful entrepreneurs Richard and Ida Mae Rathje, Steve grew up watching his parents run their construction business from home, six to seven days a week. Their strong work ethic is what the Rathje Construction Company thrived on. Today, Rathje Construction has expanded to a location in Eastern Marion and is being run by Steve's brothers, Robert and Kenneth and two of Steve's nephews.

After Steve finished high school, he took an entry level job at Cedar Rapids Incorporated. Unfortunately, within a few months he was laid off. Shortly thereafter, he was hired by Universal Engineering as a janitor, he sought out every possible advancement opportunity available, and within a few years Steve found himself being rapidly promoted.

While working as the Director of Outside Sourcing, Steve discovered a niche in the manufacturing industry. He believed that he could find American suppliers to make the components better, faster and cheaper than the ones that his customers were buying from Mexico and China. In 1992, Steve formed "International Procurement Services" and has provided and will continue to provide Iowans and Americans with job opportunities. He later started another company called "The Genesis Group" as a tribute to the new opportunities in his life. As a testament to Steve's entrepreneurial drive, Steve has received the "National Leadership Award" and "Business Advisory Council 2003: Businessman of the Year."

Steve Rathje believes that Iowans deserve a Senate Representative with real life experience, good judgment, honesty, integrity, sincerity, and the ingenuity to analyze problems and weigh competing information, propose bold solutions and follow through until the job is done. Iowans deserve someone who will focus on doing what is best for Iowa's future. "The Republican Party is the elected party of choice by Iowans and America. As your United States Senator, I will not waver. I will vote that choice consistently. I will vote that choice with honesty, and I will vote that choice with integrity. I am a proven leader and I intend to lead."

Steve Rathje has achieved and maintained his professional success by adhering to a strong moral code. He firmly believes that some of these same characteristics are needed in our government to continue fighting against terrorism and securing our border, improving our educational and health systems, reducing taxes and wasteful spending, protecting the unborn, and permanently removing sexual predators from the streets. As a man with four grown children and six grandchildren, Steve thinks it is important to look ahead to our future, which is why he is starting his campaign race now. "Unseating Tom Harkin is going to be a battle. A battle this campaign is not going to take lightly."

When Steve Rathje takes the oath of office as your next United States Senator, he will follow the path of a moral compass and put all that's within him into the job of serving the people of Iowa and America, with honor and dignity. Steve believes that, "America's freedom is, has been, and always will be a blessing to us all. The blessings I have received came by hard work, personal sacrifice and my belief in Almighty God. Each day I do my humble best to thank my Creator and now I will thank the country I love so much."

"May God bless you, Iowa and the United States of America."