Rob Sand, candidate for Iowa state auditor

Name:

Rob Sand

Party:

Democrat

Residence:

Des Moines

Age:

36

Occupation:

Assistant attorney general

Education:

Decorah High School, 2001; Brown University, 2005; Iowa Law School, 2010

Website: robsand.com

What are the most important issues you think need to be addressed if you are elected?

My priority is to 'Wake Up the Watchdog” in three ways:

1. Investigate the privatization of Medicaid. Our state auditor sat through 48 alarm bells before finally starting an audit that likely won't be released before the election.

2. Focus on efficiency. This office should make efficiency recommendations to local, county, and state government. But even my opponent admits they've done that only 'several” times in over 1,000 audits issued. That's not enough.

3. Tell the truth about the budget. We've burned through $1 billion in savings in five years under this state auditor and our 'watchdog” hasn't barked. We need someone who will put the public ahead of their party and be honest with taxpayers.

Tell voters why you are running for this position. What makes you most qualified?

I have prosecuted more public corruption in Iowa than anyone else over the last decade. I ran the investigation that uncovered the biggest lottery rigging scheme in American history. This office conducts Iowa's public corruption prosecutions. My law enforcement background will improve the investigative division's work, and multiple experts, including many Republicans, have confirmed that the office can complete all necessary audits with the 30-plus CPAs that already work in the audit division.

What should voters know about you before going to the polls?

I know this office needs new leadership because no one has prosecuted more of Iowa's public corruption over the last decade than me. I prosecuted every case related to the Iowa Film Office tax credit scandal. I led the investigation that uncovered the largest lottery rigging scandal in American history. I am not scared to investigate powerful insiders, and I know a law enforcement background is needed in this office.

What other issues related to your platform do you think voters should be aware of before they vote?

We need a state auditor who will give potential investigations the attention they deserve. My opponent is not up to the investigative task of the office. The ICN's executive director misspent $380,000 while my opponent sat on the oversight board. She missed more meetings than anyone else on the board, and only asked three questions in four years. This was even after an editorial questioned the executive director's claim that he was doing two full-time jobs that were a four-hour round-trip apart.