HEADLINES: Rob Sand Brings Accountability Message to Southeast Iowa During 100 Town Hall Tour

Rob Sand: “I think people want someone who is going to take government accountability seriously, and who is also going to take public service seriously.”

DES MOINES, IA – Earlier this week, candidate for governor Rob Sand brought his 100 Town Hall Tour to southeastern Iowa, visiting Washington, Jefferson, Van Buren, Henry, Des Moines, Lee, Louisa, and Muscatine counties — including both county seats in Lee County: Keokuk and Fort Madison.

At every stop, Rob talked about his focus on bringing accountability back to the governor’s office and making sure Iowa’s state government is focused on serving Iowans, not insiders and special interest groups. Because for Rob, this is about public service, not politics.

Read more about Rob’s town hall tour stops below:

• Fort Madison Daily Democrat: Sand wants to ‘hold politicians accountable’

  • “That’s what this campaign is all about: is getting state government reorganized and getting it focused on serving regular Iowans, not just serving insiders and special interest groups. We can do a lot to actually address problems, but first we have to try. Now they’re not even trying. They’re picking on people who are different and they are hiding from accountability for the mistakes they’re making.”

  • “Iowa is an agricultural state. We know why we rotate the crops,” he said. “Now if you’re sitting there and you’re in my party and you’re thinking ‘That’s right, Rob, we just need the other party to have 10 years of one party control.’ You’re missing the point.”

• Keokuk Daily Gate City: Sand seeks changes to political system

  • He said though he is a registered Democrat, he did not leave his independent ideals behind. Sand said he is not a person that says what he is supposed to say as a politician, but says what he actually thinks.

  • What would Sand like to accomplish, should he be elected as governor? He said the state, right now, has a $900 million budget deficit and is 49th out of 50 states in economic growth. That is according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

• The Hawkeye: Sand makes pitch to be Iowa’s next governor at Burlington town hall

  • “I’m practical,” Sand said. “I registered as a Democrat (when I was younger) because I think my faith teaches me to cheer for the little guy…”

  • “What are the folks in Des Moines doing? Making it harder to find the money they’re going to misspend while we have the 49th economy in America. We’re 48th for personal income growth. (But) we’re number one in (cancer growth).”

  • “The center piece of this campaign is not ‘redder or bluer’ but ‘better and truer,’’ Sand said. “We should have a system where ordinary peoples’ opinions matter and where their lives matter.”

• Southeast Iowa Union: Rob Sand visits six towns in Southeast Iowa Monday

  • Sand was elected state auditor in 2019, and he said the past nearly six years have given him keen insight into how government works and ensuring that tax dollars are used wisely. He said he’s proud of his seven years spent as chief public corruption prosecutor in the Iowa Attorney General’s Office.

• KCII Radio: Rob Sand Makes Campaign Stop in Washington Monday

  • When asked how his time as State Auditor has set him up to potentially fill the role of Governor, Sand stated, “I think people want someone who is going to take government accountability seriously, and who is also going to take public service seriously… I think people want someone who wants people to work together to focus on things that are good for everyone in the state, and that’s what we have been doing.”