Recap: Sand and Lahn meet in calmer second debate, spar on school funding

SIOUX CITY: Iowa's two candidates for governor met Wednesday night in the second of four debates before the Nov. 3 election, and it was a markedly calmer hour than their first meeting. Democrat Rob Sand and Republican Zach Lahn debated for an hour at KTIV's studios in Sioux City with no time limits on answers. Moderators opened by asking both candidates to pledge to put away personal attacks and focus on issues. Both agreed, and each named something he respects about the other. The sharpest split came on education funding. Sand said he would recommend a 5 percent increase in state funding for public schools and would ask lawmakers to set income limits on Education Savings Accounts, the state-funded program covering private school tuition. Lahn said he would support an increase but has not settled on a number, and defended universal ESAs as a "foundational freedom" for parents. The candidates also discussed the state budget, H-1B worker visas and their running mates. Data centers came up as well, with Lahn saying they are going up at "breakneck speed" and that local officials should be willing to set hard terms. Two debates remain: Oct. 21 on Iowa PBS and Oct. 27 in Cedar Rapids. Early voting opened Wednesday.