Governor-elect Rob Sand has added former Iowa Republican Party chairman Mike Mahaffey and state Representative Brian Lohse to the leadership of his transition team, according to Radio Iowa’s November 9 report. The announcement came at a news conference at the Iowa Capitol.
Radio Iowa reports that Lohse changed his party registration from Republican to independent after losing his June primary reelection bid. Sand described his aim as bringing different viewpoints into decisions and said the team is preparing staffing choices and policy proposals for January.
Building on the first appointments
The transition’s November 5 announcement named Elisabeth Buck and Morgan Miller as co-directors. Radio Iowa describes Mahaffey and Lohse as additional transition leaders; its report does not announce cabinet appointments or say they replace Buck and Miller.
These selections concern preparation for the incoming administration. Agency appointments and legislation will require their own decisions. Read more about the governor’s role in legislation and Sand’s stated approach to agency leadership.
Source dates: Radio Iowa published its report November 9. The co-director announcement is dated November 5. Both were reviewed November 9.