Rob Sand, the Democrat who’s running for governor, is touting endorsements from five dozen current and former public safety officials, including seven county attorneys. Fremont County Peter Johnson, a Democrat who previously served as mayor of Sidney, spoke at a news conference Tuesday.
Sac County Attorney Ben Smith says as a conservative Republican, he won’t agree with Sand on every issue, but Smith says Sand has the experience and judgment as a former a prosecutor to keep Iowans safe. Democrats who are county attorneys in Clay, Floyd, Ida, Jefferson, Johnson, and Shelby Counties have publicly endorsed Sand — along with five Democrats who serve as county sheriffs. Donald Phillips is the sheriff of Wapello County.
Phillips has worked in the Wapello County Sheriff’s office since 1990 and has been the county’s sheriff since March of 2019. Sherriff’s of Winnebago, Polk, Johnson and Linn Counties have also publicly endorsed Sand. The Iowa Professional Firefighters Association president is among the others on the list of public safety officials who’ve endorsed Sand. Zach Lahn, the Republican running for governor, announced late this morning he’s been endorsed by the National Rifle Association’s Political Action Committee. Lahn’s campaign spokesman said Lahn is a rock solid Second Amendment defender and he accused Sand of being a liberal who likes gun control. Sand’s deputy campaign manager says Sand is a proud gun owner and Second Amendment supporter. The Iowa Farm Bureau and the Iowa Association of Business and Industry have recently announced endorsements in high profile Iowa races, but did not announce a preference in the governor’s race.
