Who is Rob Sand? Democrats Win, Republicans Sweat. Who’s the next Governor?

It is an interesting time to be alive in Iowa, a place known for its slow pace of life and laid back culture. It’s hard to understate what a hidden gem of the upper Midwest the once beautiful prairie state is, sandwiched between the mighty Mississippi and that lesser known Missouri River, Iowa has plenty of its own drama and troubles.

In the high intensity political country we live in, Iowa has not escaped that bitter culture war that seems to be engulfing us with violent outbursts. As a reader and admirer of history, American history in particular, and as someone who is very familiar with the mostly violent past of this great country; it comes no surprise to me that the even here at the heart of the bread belt hatred and rivalry has overtaken common human decency at last.

Listen to me, I write this neither from the Right or the Left, but from the middle. I am socially conservative and environmentally progressive, with nuanced views on every topic. My stance on life and politics is that life comes first, politics second, and I absolutely love the fact that we can all live together with different beliefs, and are entitled to do so at a fundamental and constitutional level.

What ideologues of the far left and right seem to miss, is that the very existence of those they disagree with most, points to a healthy and functioning Democratic Republic, which gives them the freedom to think, believe, and voice whatever opinions they hold dear.

Rob Sand. Bad Water. Bad Blood. Democrats see light. Republicans get nervous.

Unless you live under a rock, you’ve probably heard the news about Democrats breaking the winning streak of Republicans in Iowa by flipping a seat. This of course has been spun every way possible in the media, starey eyed Democrats have that glimmer of hope they’ve been looking for, breathing new life and possibilities in the future.

Republicans of course immediately started to turn on each other, and as one would expect, eating each up from the inside out.

But, I caution both sides to remember that … “Fewer than a quarter of registered voters turned out for the special election.” Either way, hope springs eternal for a reason, let the games begin I say.

Iowa has been embroiled recently in a number of controversies that have given the Democrats reason to smell blood in the water, and Republicans to lay awake at night staring at the ceiling. Not going to say I’m sad about both those things. I like a good (and lawful) fight. The perceived balance of power being pulled back and forth, it makes for interesting headlines.

What things have happened over the last few years that have brought the axe down between otherwise close family and friends? Caused people to spew hate and vitriol at each other? (Besides the politics at the Federal level?) The once boring Iowa has been scene to a number of deeply dividing decisions and happenings that affect everyone.

Those three are enough, and have been high profile enough, to get the hornets nests all stirred up and angry. People left, right, and middle coming down on all sides on different spots.

Can Rob Sand step into the breach?

With all this hoopla happening, it’s the perfect time for someone to step into the breach. It’s now or never. Rob Sand is a smart guy, he’s going to try to walk the tight rope of the middle line all the way to the capital. Can’t say I blame him.

It is possible for someone to be in the middle and win? We shall see. He apparently has more sense, even if I don’t agree with him, than a lot of Iowans who forget where the power lies in this corn state. Rob knows.

He made the mistake of not waffling in the water quality issues early on, but like any politician, he’s got his ears to the ground, and has taken a slightly harder stance against Ag. Rob knows what it will take to win Iowa. Do you? He loves talking about hunting and owning guns (sorry far Left). It’s impossible to know what someone will do once they are in office, but Rob is never going to say out loud in Iowa that he will go after guns.

But, there is the 800lb gorilla in the room … called Big Ag. This is going to be a tricky one to walk that’s for sure. If you make Farm Bureau mad, that’s going to make for a long hard road to power. Big Ag has the power in Iowa, clearly, so you’re going to have to grovel at the feed of those gods if you want a path to the top.

This is where things get tricky. How would you interpret this quote from the hopeful Rob?

“… realistic and well informed and achievable … ” – Rob

Classic, everything and nothing all at once. But, lest you think that Rob is one of us, the average Iowan, you should probably read the back story. I’m not saying it’s good or bad, just remember that political figures are rarely who you think they are, and no matter what hopes and dreams you have for them, they mostly come from a different world than you.

  • Rob’s wife Christine is CEO of The Lauridsen Group (60 facilities across the world)
    • where do you think the campaign money came from you ninny?
  • Kevin L. Sand (Robs dad), retired family medicine physician and former medical director at Decorah Clinic Physicians-Mayo Health System
  • Rob interned in Washington DC
  • Rob modeled in Milan and Paris (yes seriously).

Some will see it as the American Dream, others will will see a life of privilege that has zero in common with the average Iowan. In the end, does it really matter? What politician has ever had anything in common with you? Don’t be silly. It’s not about that, because they never will.

A rare breed. What do you think Rob is?

What’s rare is to find a person who actually does what is good for the average person, the middle of the line citizen. Too much have we seen politicians gravitate towards the extreme ends of either party, simply ignoring the vast majority in the middle.  This is where Rob probably has his greatest advantage.

It’s clear to even hard core Republicans ( I talked to one a few days ago on this very subject), that Kim Reynolds is done, even before she announced the decision not to run again. She has managed the seemingly impossible task of pissing off most every Iowan, right or left, generally the nicest people on earth.

Rob seems like he might have a chance to step into the breach. It won’t be an easy battle, and the odds are probably against him in the end. But, a young face goes along ways after people get feed up with an old face bowing to the corporate greed and putting citizens last.

That could be enough to get him close at least, even if he doesn’t get there, soon enough, most people in Iowa will know who Rob Sand is.

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