State Auditor Rob Sand, a Democrat and Decorah native with a Des Moines address, touted a record of fighting corruption to many dozens of attendees on Oct. 21 at the Waverly Civic Center as he pitched his 2026 run for governor.
Sand spent seven years in the State Attorney General’s office—from 2010 to 2017—prosecuting such high-profile cases as the Iowa Film office tax credit scandal, the Hot Lotto rigging scandal, and criminal cases statewide.
“I hit the point, doing that, where it started to darken my view of the world,†he said. He decided rather to build on his more hopeful experience growing up in Decorah that “we can build things, make things better.â€
Sand holds a law degree from University of Iowa (2010) where he edited a law journal. But he learned to petition the government and build coalitions while at Decorah High School when he sought permission to get a local skatepark built.
Sand said he wanted to in essence build something different at the State Auditor’s office based on his reading of the related Iowa Code chapter.
“If I ran and won, I could bring my courtroom experience as a prosecutor to help the investigations but also I could start a government efficiency program that would help the whole state—just building a little ‘skatepark’ right there in the auditor’s office,†so to speak.
He relaxed rules so a two-year accounting degree now qualifies to work for the state auditor and removed the capital area residency requirement.
Accomplishments
Sand ran and won, taking office in January 2019. He touted his government efficiency checklist program. He highlighted his values in action when he voted as a member of the State Appeal Board to protect taxpayers from paying for a state official’s “willful and wanton†misconduct in a settlement the board arbitrated. (The Iowa Finance Authority later reimbursed the general fund.)
Sand said his office uncovered a record amount of misspent money. Then in 2023 the state limited the subpoena power of his office.
Efficiency program
Sand first touted his government efficiency program, the Public Innovations and Efficiencies (PIE) checklist. The list asks local governments about energy efficiencies, operational efficiencies, and best practices.
Sand said the PIE checklist helps save money and helps recognize local officials for doing so.
PIE has been copied in two other states. Most years, more than 500 local public entities have participated, some in Bremer County, he said. The city of Plainfield is named on the PIE checklist for staving off digging up streets and sidewalks at an estimated “75% savings†when the council relined its sanitary sewer and service lines with cured-in-place pipe.
Opposed tax money for Jamison scandal
For his second accomplishment, Sand had been in office a month when a board he sits on as state auditor was tasked with settling the sexual harassment case of former Iowa Finance Authority Director Dave Jamison, which allowed him to not admit wrongdoing. The State Appeal Board voted 2-1 to use $4.15 million from the general fund to compensate the victims, in February 2019.
“I took a solitary stand against your tax dollars getting used for the most egregious harassment suits by government insiders—$4 million being used to pay for the sexual harassment by Dave Jamison, who was running the Iowa Finance Authority,†Sand said.
Sand wrote to the State Appeal Board that the state can seek restitution from its employees for “willful and wanton†misconduct and advocated the state attorney general sue Jamison for the restitution.
“When I was asking folks down in Des Moines, ‘Are we going to go after Dave Jamison?’ all I got was excuses,†Sand said, noting he wanted to go after Jamison’s state pension and use prosecution as a deterrent.
Sand said this showed he was rooted in his values.
Ultimately, the Iowa Finance Authority board agreed to reimburse $4.15 million to Iowa’s general fund from its non-tax income based on assurances they could still try to recover some funds from Jamison and that the transfer would not lead to program or staff cuts, per KCCI.
Coalition against corruption
As state auditor, Sand said he and staff found a record amount of misspent money, which he credited to a tri-partisan coalition.
“What was the response to us uncovering a record amount of misspent money? You all re-elected me. Democrats, Independents and Republicans working together. What was the response to that? The folks down in Des Moines literally passed a law so state agencies can hide misspent money from the auditor’s office.â€
Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the bill, Senate File 478, June 1, 2023, which limits the powers of the state auditor, and for disputes between governmental agencies sets an arbitration board process.
Vouchers
Iowans’ personal income ranks 48th nationally for growth, Sand said.
He pointed to the company that runs the school vouchers program, Odyssey, as doubling its income.
“This administration signed a contract with them and then amended (it) literally to double their pay with no additional obligations on their behalf,†he said.
“This government is working for special interests and insiders, not for Iowans,†he said.
He cited Iowa’s cancer growth rate, “No. 1 in America,†and an education system that he said is lagging but that he’s “not giving up on.â€
He recalled the time Jesus—who he said “normally seemed like a really nice guy—broke character†and flipped the tables used by the money changers at the temple for abusing their power for personal gain.
“A lot of tables need flipping in Des Moines,†Sand said.
During the question period, Bob Wyatt, a graduate of Plainfield High School, military veteran (‘64-’68), and a self-described sometimes-Republican, drew applause for his observation about vouchers.
Wyatt pointed to former U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVoss and others who are making money off the voucher business.
“My suggestion on that for you as a campaign issue, sir, (is to) let us vote on vouchers!â€
Wyatt also criticized Iowa water quality as an externality of food production.
“When I was a kid, we’d go over to Beed’s Lake (but can’t now as) the water is literally poisonous to the skin.â€
“We’re on rural water where we live (which costs) $80 a month because of excess nitrate in the soil,†he said.
Sand admitted water quality was an issue, adding, “(There were) record beach closures this summer. (… Our legislature) literally defund(ed) monitors that tell us how the water is.â€
Sand responded to another commenter about the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System with, “We’re not touching IPERS.â€
