Rob Sand Will Be the Governor Who Holds the Powerful Accountable

SIOUX CITY, IA – Tonight on the debate stage, Rob Sand is making the case for why he’s the only candidate in this race that will root out corruption and hold the powerful accountable – because he’s done it throughout his entire career.

As Iowa’s chief public corruption prosecutor, Rob put corrupt public officials from both parties behind bars and helped uncover and prosecute the largest lottery-rigging scheme in American history. As State Auditor, he’s continued that work, uncovering record amounts of waste, fraud, and abuse – tens of millions in misspent taxpayer dollars, the most in Iowa history – since taking office.

“As State Auditor, Rob uncovered record amounts of misspent tax dollars. How did government insiders respond? By gutting his office and making it harder to follow the money,” said Deputy Campaign Manager Emma O’Brien. “Those same government insiders are now supporting Zach Lahn, who would continue the same one-party control that has put insiders and special interests ahead of the people they’re supposed to serve. Rob has a proven record of standing up to powerful insiders, and as governor, he’ll restore the Auditor’s ability to do its job and make sure state government works for Iowans — not the powerful few.”

Rob’s “Accountability for All” plan lays out concrete reforms to restore transparency and trust in state government, protect taxpayer dollars, and put Iowans ahead of insiders and special interests. As governor, Rob would: 

• Make prison time mandatory for people convicted of stealing more than $10,000 in taxpayer dollars, while barring those convicted of fraud from doing business with the state.
• Restore the full powers of the State Auditor’s Office so Iowa’s taxpayer watchdog can access the information necessary to investigate waste, fraud, and abuse.
• Ban stock trading by elected officials and strengthen financial disclosure requirements so public officials cannot use their positions to enrich themselves.
• Strengthen whistleblower protections so Iowans can report wrongdoing and abuses of power without fear of retaliation.
• Expand Rob’s Public Innovations and Efficiencies program across state government to find savings and make taxpayer dollars go further.
• Require elected officials to show up and answer to the people they serve, including requiring statewide elected officials to hold 20 open public town halls every year.