State Auditor Rob Sand visited Knoxville Wednesday as a campaign stop in his run for Iowa Governor.

A  group of people gathered into Spire Drink Co. to hear from Sand about his intentions if he is elected governor and have their questions answered as part of his 100 Town Hall Tour. Sand started his event by having the attendees sing the first verse of God Bless America. Sand then gave background on his life and his career as a criminal prosecutor, and working in the State Auditor’s Office, highlighting his work with  the biggest lottery rigging scandal in American history and his Public Innovations and Efficiencies (PIE) Program. Sand also discussed his frustration with state legislation passed that limits his power in the auditor’s office. 

During the event and while taking questions Sand stressed his desire to have both political parties in Iowa work together and create progress along with meaningful change in the state. Sand, a Democrat, tells KNIA/KRLS that he wants the political party monopoly in the country to end and he wants to be a governor who works for all Iowans.

“I think the bottom line is that the work that I’ve been doing for 15 years is that approach. I just spent seven years as a prosecutor with the state auditor and those are jobs that are about right and wrong not right and left. I really wish we would take the next step in the proud Iowa tradition of saying no to politics as usual. I think it’s time to end the democratic and republican monopoly on our choices at the ballot box.”

This will be the first open seat gubernatorial election in Iowa since 2006 as current Governor Kim Reynolds announced in April that she would not seek reelection. Primaries are being held in both parties next June to determine candidates.