(Rob Sand - Community First Broadcasting Staff Photo)Des Moines, Iowa (RI) — Governor-elect Rob Sand has added two former Republicans to his transition team as he prepares to take office in January.
Sand announced that former Iowa Republican Party Chairman Mike Mahaffey and former State Rep. Brian Lohse will serve as leaders of the transition effort alongside two Democrats.
Lohse recently changed his party affiliation from Republican to independent after losing his bid for reelection in the June primary. Both Lohse and Mahaffey are attorneys.
Sand said the appointments reflect his commitment to including people with different political perspectives in the decision-making process.
Sand says he has known Lohse for several years and first met Mahaffey while involved in a court case.
He argued that better decisions are often reached by listening to those with differing viewpoints and finding areas of agreement.
Sand says the transition team faces a tight timeline as it works on staffing decisions and develops policy proposals ahead of the 2027 legislative session.
