Why I’m Running

I’m running for Iowa State Auditor because public office should be about service and responsibility – not power, self-protection and greed. 

Growing up in Iowa, I learned that accountability matters. If you make a mistake, you own it. If you’re trusted with responsibility, you earn that trust every day. And if something isn’t right, you don’t cover it up – you fix it.

That’s what the State Auditor is supposed to do: serve as an independent watchdog for the people, regardless of who is in power – not a lapdog for corrupt politicians. It is one of the few offices designed to stand up to power, follow the money, and expose waste, fraud, and abuse. It exists to protect taxpayers, not politicians. 

That’s exactly why some politicians in Des Moines are trying to weaken the office by limiting audits, blocking access to records, and avoiding scrutiny.

 

Under State Auditor Rob Sand, the auditor’s office has uncovered waste, fraud, and abuse, saved taxpayers millions, and asked tough questions of both Democrats and Republicans. That kind of independent oversight is exactly what the office is supposed to do. But instead of welcoming transparency and trying to fix the problems exposed, politicians like Governor Kim Reynolds and Lieutenant Governor Chris Cournoyer have worked overtime to limit what and how the State Auditor can investigate. And they’re not stopping there – Governor Reynolds is now trying to anoint Lieutenant Governor Cournoyer in the office of State Auditor to make sure that instead of a watchdog, we get a fox guarding the hen house.

When politicians try to muzzle the watchdog, it usually means they have something to hide, and they don’t want taxpayers asking questions. And when they are more focused on protecting themselves than protecting taxpayers, corruption isn’t an accident – it’s the predictable result of unchecked power – and that should alarm every Iowan, regardless of party.

Today, too many everyday Iowans are working harder than ever and still falling further behind. Families are stretched thin by health care, housing, utilities, food, and child care costs. When families are tightening their belts, the last thing they should have to worry about is whether the taxes they pay are being wasted, misused, or diverted. And unfortunately, instead of making life better for everyday Iowans, some politicians are rigging the system to face fewer questions, less oversight, and getting rid of accountability to the people they are meant to serve. 

That’s not right, and it’s not Iowa.

Accountability isn’t a Democratic value or a Republican value – it’s an Iowa value. It shouldn’t depend on who’s in power – and it shouldn’t disappear when it gets inconvenient for the folks at the top. I’ve seen what happens when power goes unchecked. I quit my job as a lawyer rather than go along with an abuse of power that violated my oath to the Constitution and my Iowa values. I was raised to believe that when something is wrong, you don’t look the other way – you step up and do something about it.

That’s why, as State Auditor, I will do the job the office was designed to do:

  • Protect taxpayers by rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse, and ensure they know where their money is going
  • Fight corruption and stand up to politicians who want to weaken the authority of the State Auditor
  • Defend the independence of the State Auditor’s office – no matter who’s in power
  • Work with anyone – Republican, Democrat, or Independent – who believes accountability matters

This race isn’t about left versus right. It’s about right versus wrong. It’s about making sure our government works for everyday Iowans and is not being rigged by those at the very top against the rest of us. It’s about standing up to corrupt insiders and standing with the everyday folks who keep Iowa running – workers, business owners, farmers, seniors, veterans, and families who just want a fair shot to get ahead.

Iowans deserve an independent watchdog who tells the truth, follows the money, stands up to power, and never forgets who they work for.

That’s why I’m running for State Auditor.