State auditor says his midterm season looks like any other

WASHINGTON — Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand is on the ballot for this year’s Nov. 8 general election, seeking a second term to the four-year office.

In many ways, the campaign for the important but often less visible office resembles the race for any other elected position. Sand raises funds, hands out campaign signs, and goes knocking on doors around the state.

In some ways, however, the campaign differs greatly from the rest of the political environment. Despite his title on a Democratic ticket, the auditor has taken efforts to stay out of the partisan fray, a habit he follows in the office and on social media. He’s a frequent critic of the two-party political climate writ large.

“I’m willing to defend Republicans and criticize Democrats just depending on whether it’s the right thing to do,” he said. “I think that’s why we’ve seen a lot of support from Republicans and conservatives … I think for a lot of people, they notice I’m not doing politics as usual, and they appreciate it because most people are sick of politics.”

Instead, he said his campaign pitch focused on his own record in the office.

“I would hope that most people vote based on values, not based on party affiliation,” he said. “To me, we have done what any normal person would want out of their state auditor. We uncovered more misspent money than any other auditor in their first term. Beyond that, we started a government efficiency program that is so good that Mississippi copied it.”

Still, he said it was important that the theoretically non-partisan position be filled by an election, not an appointment.

“It has to be someone who is independent from the people they are overseeing,” he said. “If this was an appointed position, you can bet that an appointed auditor … would be more inclined to be looking the other way on some stuff.”

If reelected, Sand hopes to do more of the same. He said he planned to expand the Public Innovations and Efficiencies (PIE) program, help other states adapt it for their own use, and launch a pilot program for bank statement transparency across taxpayer-funded accounts.

“There was a woman who embezzled over $200,000 from the soil and water conservation district in Mahaska County,” he said. “She also had the same job for Poweshiek County and embezzled zero dollars, and it’s because someone at the meetings in Poweshiek every month would say, ‘Hey, let me look at the bank statements,’ so she didn’t feel like there was an opportunity.”

Sand said the move would be a big deal for smaller, rural communities.

“For some of our smaller towns where we’re really lacking in checks and balances, if we could take the public accounts and just have those bank statements sent to our office and then put on the internet, those town clerks would understand, ‘Anyone can look at any time,’” he said. “I think if we can do that, we can reduce the temptation for people to embezzle local money.”

Todd Halbur, Sand’s opponent on the Republican ticket, did not reply to a request for an interview.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com