Kay Henderson (Radio Iowa)
The two candidates for governor debated for the first time last (Tuesday) night and while they were asked about property taxes, economic issues, and Iowa’s high cancer rates, they spent much of the time sparring over campaign ads.
Republican Zach Lahn said it is “dispicable” for Democrat Rob Sand to run ads that focus on Lahn’s travel to Kansas. Sand responded that Lahn had voted in Kansas as recently as 2022. “You registered to vote in Iowa less than two years ago…There are 3.1 million people who live here and they need to have a full-time Iowan who is going to be their governor,” Sand said.
Lahn said: “It is just not true.”
Sand replied: “It is true.”
Lahn interjected: “You have no evidence of that and you cite things that are false.” Sand continued: “Your own words, you said: ‘I will be in Iowa as much as humanly possible.’”
Lahn said: “That was directly about my children. Any family that has a blended family knows what I’m talking about.”
Lahn flies to Kansas to see and pick up children from his previous marriage. “Rob has chose to make this issue the primary focus of his campaign…because if voters understand where Rob Sand stands, they’d understand he’s a radical liberal,” Lahn said.
Sand returned to the topic in his closing statement. “I think it’s time for change in Des Moines and I think what you’re seeing here in front of you here is a change candididate versus a change-of-address candidate,” Sand said. “This is a real issue.”
A question about schools prompted a debate about a different campaign ad, one from Lahn’s campaign. “I don’t think you’re going to be the biggest advocate for public school students over a guy who sends his kids there when you were running advertisements saying that marxists have hijacked the curriculum here in Iowa. Zach, I’m pretty sure that’s just more evidence that you don’t spend enough time here,” Sand said.
Lahn responded: “I’m happy to address that. You know, here’s the thing: this is about the next generation…I do believe and I have parents talk to me all the time that there are instances where political agendas are pushed in classrooms. It’s just true. You can go online and see it.” Lahn added that “most teachers are great people,” but he said there are educators who’ve talked about getting around curriculum restrictions that Iowa policymakers have adopted.
The first question of the evening was about the proposed steel mill in Lee County. Lahn called it a “transformational” project that will bring thousands of jobs to “an economically depressed area.” Sand said “if things fall into place,” the plant would be “great news for the state.”
When asked to share something they’d do on their first day as governor to lower costs, Lahn said he’d already done something by making a suggestion to Vice President Vance that wound up in President Trump’s executive order to allow tax-exempt off-road diesel to be used in vehicles on public highways. “And now, going into harvest we’ll see that gas prices are coming down — diesel prices are for farmers to the tune of 57 cents a gallon,” Lahn said. “This’ll save $100 per fill up when you’re talking about hauling grain.”
Sand said one of his day one priorities would be examining the fees utilitity companies are charging. “I think it’s important that we make sure that those fees are capped,” Sand said. “We don’t want to see folks tightening their own belt by using less electricity, but then have the utility companies come out and just say: ‘Well, we’re just going to increase your fees instead.’”
The candidates have agreed to three more debates this month. Last (Tuesday) night’s debate was hosted by KWQC TV in the Quad Cities.
