Voters Guide 2016

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Brookings area voters facing a very full ballot BROOKINGS – Brookings area voters have a lot on their ballots when they head to the polls on Nov. 8, so doing their homework ahead of time is recommended.

The races include:

District 7 House There’s a three-way race for two District 7 seats in the South Dakota House of Representatives. Vying for them are Linda Brandt and incumbent Spence Hawley, both Democrats, and Republican Tim Reed.

Presidential electors Voters will select one of four choices for presidential electors. Options are three electors each for Donald Trump and Mike Pence, Republican Party; Gary Johnson and Bill Weld, Libertarian Party; Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine, Democratic Party; or Darrell Castle and Scott Bradley, Constitution Party.

Don’t like your options for the next president of the United States? Writing in a different name won’t do you any good, according to South Dakota Secretary of State Shantel Krebs.

She clarified that South Dakota does not count write-in votes on the ballot.

“In South Dakota we do not have the option to write in a candidate’s name of our choice on the ballot.

If you write-in a candidate, it does not disqualify the entire ballot. It will be treated as if that portion was left blank,” Krebs said.

U.S. Senator Two candidates are competing for the lone South Dakota seat in the United States Senate. They are Republican incumbent John Thune and Democrat Jay Williams. U.S. senators serve six-year terms.

U.S. Representative There are also two choices for one South Dakota seat up for grabs in the U.S. House of Representatives: Republican incumbent Kristi Noem and Democrat Paula Hawks. U.S. representatives serve two-year terms.

Public Utilities Commissioner Competing for one seat on the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission are Republican incumbent Chris Nelson and Democrat Henry Red Cloud.

Commissioners serve six-year terms.

District 7 Senate Competing for one District 7 seat in the South Dakota Senate are Democrat Mary Perpich and Republican incumbent Larry Tidemann. The boundaries of District 7 include the City of Brookings, all of Brookings Township to the north of the city and Medary Township to the south.

Members of both houses of the South Dakota Legislature are elected to two-year terms.

Clip and save Confused by all the ballot issues? Decide before you get to the vote center and bring this into the booth with you.

District 4 Senate Competing for one District 4 seat in the South Dakota Senate are Democrat Kathy Tyler and Republican John Wiik. The boundaries of District 4 include most of Brookings County, except the City of Brookings and Brookings and Medary townships. It also includes Grant, Deuel and rural Codington counties.

District 4 House Four candidates are in the running for two District 4 seats in the South Dakota House of Representatives.

They are Republicans Jason Kettwig and John Mills and Democrats Matt Rosdahl and Peggy Schuelke.

Brookings County State’s Attorney Competing for Brookings County state’s attorney are Democrat Abigail Howard and Republican Dan Nelson. The position is now held by retiring Brookings County State’s Attorney Clyde Calhoon, who’s served for 42 years. The term is for four years.

Brookings County Commission Vying for two, four-year positions on the Brookings County Commission are Mike Bartley and incumbent Ryan Krogman, both Republicans, and independent Al Gregg.

Ballot issues South Dakota voters will face a broad menu of potential law changes on this year's general election ballot.

Ten separate ballot issues will seek answers to questions such as: How much should a teenager earn on the job?

Should Democrat and Republican party labels come off the ballot?

What, if anything, should happen to payday lending in South Dakota?

In addition to three initiated laws, there are five proposed Constitutional amendments and two referred laws.

Take a look inside this voters guide for more information on candidates for the local races and on the 10 ballot issues.

– From staff reports

Constitutional Amendment R Constitutional Amendment S Constitutional Amendment T Constitutional Amendment U Constitutional Amendment V

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

No No No No No

Where do I cast my ballot Nov. 8?

BROOKINGS – Brookings County voters can cast their ballots at any one of 11 polling locations throughout the county on Nov. 8.

The 11 vote centers include: 1-1 Brookings Activity Center, 320 Fifth Ave., Brookings 1-2 Bethel Baptist Church, 714 17th Ave. S., Brookings 1-3 Swiftel Center, 824 32nd Ave., Brookings 1-4 Aurora Little Hall, 101 Nicolett St., Aurora 1-5 Elkton Community Center, 109 Elk St., Elkton 1-6 McKnight Hall, 228 W. Main St., White 1-7 Bruce Community Room, 507 Jay St., Bruce 1-8 Trinity Lutheran Church, 321 S. Main, Arlington 1-9 Sinai American Legion Hall, Main Street, Sinai 1-10 Volga Community Center, 109 Samara Ave., Volga 1-11 Holy Life Tabernacle, 241 Mustang Pass, Brookings

Common questions Q: Where can I vote?

A: Voters can cast ballots at any vote center in Brookings County. No longer are voters required to vote within precinct jurisdictions. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Q: Does the voting process change for voters?

A: No, it does not. Voters will continue to vote as they did in past elections.

Q: With fewer polling places, will the lines be longer?

A: No, they will not. Vote centers allow more people to vote with faster check-in times and more voting booths.

Q: Is this electronic voting?

A: No, it is not. Vote centers use e-pollbooks to check in voters, but the ballot is filled out traditionally with paper and pencil.

Q: Are the ballots counted differently?

A: No, they are not. The ballots will be counted the same as in past elections.

Q: I am unable to vote on Election Day. Can I still vote?

A: Yes, you can! Voters who are unable to vote on Election Day, for any reason, can absentee vote. Absentee voting has started at the County Finance Office, 520 Third St., Brookings.

For more information about the voting process, contact the Brookings County Finance Office at 696-8250.

– From Brookings County

Initiated Measure 21 Initiated Measure 22 Initiated Measure 23 Referred Law 19 Referred Law 20

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

No No No No No

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Victims’ rights, tech schools on ballot

BY MARICARROL KUETER For S.D. Newspaper Association

Crime victims would be told when perpetrators appear in court or get out of jail under proposed Constitutional Amendment S on the Nov. 8 general election ballot.

Proponents say the measure, known as Marsy’s Law, is needed to protect crime victims and to allow them to participate in the judicial process.

But opponents say the victims-right measure is too expansive and would drain county budgets while stressing prosecutors.

The measure is named for Marsalee (Marsy) Nicholas, a California university student who was stalked and killed by an ex-boyfriend. Her family members saw the accused man in a store a week later.

They did not know he had been released from jail.

Nicholas’ brother pushed for the bill’s passage in California. Illinois also has approved it and it has been proposed in seven states in addition to South Dakota.

Proponents say the amendment offers crime victims constitutional protections already afforded to accused offenders.

“No rapist should have stronger rights than their victim,” said Jason

Glodt, the state director of Marsy’s Law for South Dakota, in an email.

Tim Reed

In addition to requiring notifications, the proposed amendment would guarantee victims’ input into the prosecution of their cases and would allow them to confer with prosecutors before any plea agreement was finalized.

The South Dakota State’s Attorneys Association and State Bar of South Dakota have opposed the measure.

Representatives of those organizations say its requirement for prosecutors to notify and involve crime victims in all cases will be time-consuming and could potentially interfere with prosecutors’ ability to spend time on the most serious crimes.

And, says Ryan Kolbeck, a Sioux Falls lawyer, the extensive notice requirements will cost budget-strapped county governments money they don’t have.

“The counties are broke,” Kolbeck, president of the South Dakota Association of Criminal Defense lawyers, said in an email. “If this passes, the counties will bear the responsibility of the majority of the costs of enforcing.”

Kolbeck said expensive enhancements would need to be made to the statewide computer court records system in order to provide the required notice and to allow more expansive tracking of court cases.

Opponents say state law currently provides rights to victims of violent crime. Any possible expansions would be better made through the legislative process, not through constitutional amendment. In addition, they say some of the proposed law’s provisions could conflict with the rights of the accused.

But Glodt said existing crime victim protections currently apply only to those who are victims of certain serious crimes.

Victims of arson, simple assault and hate crimes, for example, are not included in the protections.

South Dakota is “one of the last remaining states to pass constitutional rights for crime victims.” Glodt said.

Thirty-two states have at least some protections for victims written into their constitutions.

New governance for technical institutes South Dakota’s four technical institutes are essential players in the state’s continuing efforts to develop and attract workers.

Constitutional Amendment R would put into the state constitution a new governing structure for those schools.

See TECH SCHOOLS, page 6

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Voters consider campaign finance, nonpartisan elections

BY MARICARROL KUETER For S.D. Newspaper Association

South Dakota voters will have the opportunity to completely overhaul the state’s election system, potentially doing away with the current primary system and infusing public funding into campaigns.

Those are key elements of two significant election reform issues – Initiated Measure 22 and Constitutional Amendment V – on the 2016 ballot.

Initiated Measure 22 would rewrite campaign finance laws to limit contributions, require additional reporting, regulate lobbyist activities, create an ethics commission and set up a system for publicly funded campaigns.

Amendment V would provide for nonpartisan ballots in federal, state and county elections.

Proponents of both measures say the political system needs reform because current laws stymie public participation in elections and limit candidates for public office.

“We aren’t going to drive big money out of politics, but we want to reduce the influence of big money in politics,” said Don Frankenfeld, a former legislator from Rapid City and co-chair of the Initiated Measure 22 campaign.

A much-discussed portion of the measure would set up a publicly funded campaign finance program. Each registered

voter would receive two $50 credits. Voters could assign those credits to participating candidates who would then redeem them for money from a fund set up by the state.

That fund would be capped at $12 million, according to the proposed law.

“You become literally invested,” Frankenfeld said of the financing system,

adding that voters are then more likely to participate in the process.

He thinks the measure could have national significance as states look to institute similar reforms.

Ben Lee, state director for the South Dakota Chapter of Americans for Prosperity and chairman of Defeat22, disagrees.

“It isn’t what it appears to be,” he said of the proposed law.

Using taxpayer money to fund election campaigns and potentially pay for robocalls, ads and other materials is “simply wrong,” he said.

Lee called the 34-page ballot measure, a “monster” of a policy change that would affect more than 70 state laws.

And, since the credit program is topped at $12 million, only 120,000 of the state’s more than 535,000 registered voters could take part, he noted. Everyone’s tax dollars would go into the fund, but only one in five would determine how the money was spent, Lee said.

Frankenfeld acknowledged that the measure is lengthy, but says the various parts of the proposal work together.

Campaign contribution caps and disclosure requirements will limit the involvement and influence of special interests and reduce their control on elections, proponents say.

“We hope to empower average voters to participate in the election process,” Frankenfeld said.

South Dakota is the only state that does not limit gifts lobbyists can give to elected officials, he said. This measure would add those limits.

Lee said the general fund appropriation that would go to the campaign fund means less tax money will be available for other state needs.

The added disclosure requirements go too far, as well, he said, and would limit privacy rights of individuals.

Adopt nonpartisan elections Advocates of Amendment V want to eliminate the state’s partisan primary and general election system.

Democrats and Republicans currently vote in primaries to select candidates who then represent their parties on the general election ballot.

This amendment would create nonpartisan elections instead. Candidates for elected federal, state and county offices would not be identified by party affiliation on primary or general election ballots.

Voters could vote for any candidate. The top two candidates with the most votes would advance to the general election.

Supporters of the measure say it would mean more candidates and more voters, which are good things, according to Joe Kirby, Sioux Falls, a spokesperson for Vote See ELECTIONS, page 7

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Payday lending focus of two ballot questions

BY MARICARROL KUETER For S.D. Newspaper Association

The future of South Dakota’s payday lending industry is on the line with two ballot issues offering widely disparate proposals.

The wording in the measures sounds similar, but the effects likely would be quite different.

Initiated Measure 21 would cap the interest rate a short-term lender could charge at 36 percent, a level that industry representatives say would drive the payday lenders out of business.

A second measure, Constitutional Amendment U, provides for an 18 percent interest rate cap on such loans, but allows for unlimited interest rates if agreed to in writing by the borrower.

And, by placing these provisions in the state constitution, this measure could effectively protect the industry from further interest rate regulation by the legislature.

Initiated Measure 21 grew out of failed attempts in the legislature in recent years to regulate the short-term loan industry. Later, Amendment U was brought forward, supported by representatives of the payday loan industry, setting the stage for voters to make a potentially far-reaching decision.

At issue are so-called payday loans.

The loans can be up to $500 and are made for a short period of time, usually at high interest rates. A borrower agrees to repay the loan on the next payday.

Payday loan industry representatives have said they provide a necessary service to people who need emergency funds for a car, medical bill or other expense and have no access to more traditional lending options because of bad credit history, the lack of a checking account or other reasons.

If borrowers can’t pay off the loan on the next payday, they can roll it over, incurring additional fees and interest.

That happens often, according to financial officials. More than 80 percent of

payday borrowers take out more than one loan, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

With fees added on as the loan is rolled over, a borrower can find that a $300 loan has doubled or more in several months.

South Dakota law allows payday loans to be renewed four times.

IM 21 proponents say the loans trap low-income borrowers in a downward spiral that they can’t escape, leading to further debt, bankruptcies and other family struggles.

"It is immoral for a lender to charge 574 percent interest on a low-income person," said Steve Hildebrand, co-chair of South Dakotans for Responsible Lending and one of the organizers of Initiated Measure 21.

Hildebrand said payday lenders are

predators who prey on the poorest members of society. He said ministers from churches across the state have spoken to him about members of their congregation who are struggling to keep up with short-term loan debt.

"In many cases, consumers need protection from powerful corporations who have the ability to hurt them," Hildebrand said.

A representative from the organization opposing the payday loan measure did not respond to an interview request.

But in arguments the industry’s representatives have authored on the ballot issue informational brochure distributed by the South Dakota Secretary of State, they make several arguments.

They say IM 21 would allow for more government intrusion into personal financial decisions and prohibit people from getting emergency loans for unexpected needs. Opponents also say the measure also would cost jobs for those who work for the loan companies.

There are about 100 payday loan stores operating in South Dakota.

Hildebrand said most of those operations have out-of-state owners.

"Every dime they take away goes right out of South Dakota," he said.

State residents who find themselves strapped by expanding short-term loan payments donít have money to pay rent, buy groceries or spend money elsewhere, hurting the local economy, Hildebrand said. He points to increased costs for taxpayers in housing assistance and other programs for those who canít make rent and other payments.

But industry representatives have said people seeking short-term loans usually don’t have other options. They say low-income borrowers also struggle to pay bank fees charged for overdrafts or bad checks.

The payday loan industry debate in the state has been emotionally charged and marked by legal challenges from both sides.

Opponents of Amendment U chal-

lenged the supporters’ petition gathering process as well as the validity of petition signatures in trying to keep the proposed amendment from proceeding.

The Secretary of State determined that the petitions met the requirements for inclusion on the ballot.

Payday loan industry representatives filed a lawsuit, challenging the attorney general’s explanation of IM 21 because it didn’t indicate that passage of the law would put the industry out of business.

A judge rejected that argument.

Hildebrand has accused the Amendment U proponents of being disingenuous in promoting a measure that protects unlimited interest rates by portraying it as a strict 18 percent rate cap.

"Virtually everything payday lenders say about their business is false," he said.

The proposed amendment lists an 18 percent cap on interest. But, that is misleading, opponents say, since the measure goes on to allow any interest rate to be charged if there is a written agreement with a borrower. They say nearly every loan would include a written contract, and that means most borrowers likely would face much higher interest rates.

Because the measure is a constitutional amendment, if approved, it also would limit the ability to set statutory interest rates in the future.

IM 21's interest rate limits apply to commercial and personal loans, including car-title loans.

It does not apply to state and national banks, bank holding companies, other federally insured financial institutions and state-chartered trust companies. The initiated measure also would not affect businesses that provide financing for goods and services they sell.

Ten questions are on the Nov. 8 general election ballot. You can learn more about the various ballot questions at the S.D. Secretary of State’s website.

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Two ballot measure tackle workplace questions

BY MARICARROL KUETER For S.D. Newspaper Association

Two measures on the 2016 ballot would enact workplace changes in South Dakota.

Referred Law 20 asks voters to decide if a law setting a lower minimum wage for workers under 18 than for adults should go into effect.

Initiated Measure 23 would allow labor unions to charge fees to non-members for the work they provide in negotiating contracts and handling other services.

In November 2014, South Dakota voters approved raising the state’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.50 an hour.

A few months later, the state legislature voted to set a lower minimum wage - $7.50 an hour – for workers under 18.

Opponents of that move petitioned to refer the matter to the state’s voters.

In approving the youth wage, some legislators argued that authorizing a separate wage scale would help small businesses by permitting them to offer a lower training wage to young workers who don’t have extensive experience.

In addition, if all workers earned the same wage, employers would be more likely to hire adults, lessening the opportunities for teens to enter the workforce, they said.

But those behind the referral say the legislature disrespected the will of voters in tinkering with the minimum wage.

“Proposing and voting for a lower minimum wage…undermines the will of voters and disrespects our state’s longhonored process of direct democracy,” said Augustana College economics professor Reynold Nesiba in an email.

Nesiba said a higher minimum wage

has not negatively affected the economy as some had warned. The labor market in South Dakota has continued to grow even with the minimum wage hike, he said.

Giving certain organizations the right to charge fees The words “labor unions” do not appear in the text of Initiated Measure 23. It says only that the proposed law would give “certain organizations the right to charge fees.”

But proponents, who are also labor

TECH SCHOOLS: Shift costs?

Continued from page 3

Supporters of the amendment say the current system of oversight for Lake Area Technical Institute, Mitchell Technical Institute, Southeast Technical Institute and Western Dakota Technical Institute doesn’t allow them to be focused exclusively on workforce training needs.

Amendment R would shift responsibility for that oversight from local K-12 school boards to a new governing board determined by the Legislature. The new board would not be under the South Dakota Board of Regents, which has oversight of the state’s public universities.

Tech schools have a different mission than the degree-granting universities, supporters say.

Proponents say the change would help the technical institutes be more responsive in developing skills training as needed to meet the state’s workforce

needs.

Rep. Mark Mickelson, Sioux Falls, said in an email that the amendment would provide for “dedicated decision making” for technical education issues.

Such a change would necessitate the establishment of a new, unelected governing board that would be heavily influenced by lobbyists and favored industries, according to Rep. Elizabeth May, of Kyle, who opposes the change.

She also pointed to concerns that other laws ultimately might shift the cost of technical schools from the state budget onto local governments.

Mickelson said details on the governing board structure are yet to be decided, but it “would likely consist of a citizen board” with some employer representation.

The technical schools and the Board of Regents as well as state business and industry representatives support the proposed changes.

union representatives, say the government should not be able to force any organization – including unions – to provide services for free.

Jason George, an official with the International Union of Operating Engineers, said currently people who work in a business that has a union contract can decide not to pay union dues or fees. They still get the benefits of the contract, under federal law.

“Think about it this way,” he said in an email. “Many people belong to a health club where they pay a monthly fee to be a member of the club. If someone decides not to pay the fee, eventually, they are barred from using the services of the club. That’s the way commerce works. You get something, you have to pay for it.”

Unions, he said, can’t prevent someone from using their services.

South Dakota is a right-to-work state, meaning you cannot be required to join a union in order to be hired for a job.

But, George said, the initiated measure would allow unions to charge what are called “fair-share fees,” an amount less than the cost of a full union membership, to non-members who work in firms with union contracts. The amount of that fee would be determined by calculating the percentage of union members’ dues that are spent on the negotia-

tion and enforcement of contracts.

“I would hope that South Dakotans, even if they don’t like unions, would agree that everyone should be treated fairly,” said George.

Opponents say the initiated measure goes against the intent of the right-towork provisions of the state constitution.

“Right to work addresses being forced to join a union,” said David Owen, president of the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in an email. “The payment of a fee without a membership versus being required to join the union is a distinction without a difference.”

Owen said unions could instead choose to negotiate contracts only for their members and “leave non-members to negotiate their own wages and benefits.”

In addition, the vague wording of the initiative is confusing and could end up in court challenges, he said.

“People choose not to belong to unions for their own reasons. Forcing them to pay money to the unions hasn’t been legal since the ‘70s and would render the right-to-work system meaningless,” Owen said.

Ten questions are on the Nov. 8 general election ballot. You can learn more about the various ballot questions at the S.D. Secretary of State’s website.

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Voters to decide on petitions, districts

ELECTIONS:

BY MARICARROL KUETER

Continued from page 4

For S.D. Newspaper Association

Voters this fall will review some changes state lawmakers made to election petition procedures and decide how best to determine legislative district boundaries.

Referred Law 19 challenges law changes made in 2015, including new deadlines for submitting nominating petitions and restrictions on who can sign petitions for independent candidates.

A separate ballot measure, proposed Constitutional Amendment T, would change the process of drawing legislative district boundaries, removing that responsibility from legislators and giving it to a new redistricting commission.

Legislators took several actions in 2015, in an attempt to ward off abuses of current state laws regarding nominating petitions and other election processes.

They approved changes in the time frame for circulating nominating petitions, moving it from Jan. 1 through the last Tuesday of March to Dec. 1 through the first Tuesday in March.

The measure changes signature requirements, sets other election-related deadlines and tightens the timeline for candidates who want to mail their petitions to meet the filing deadline.

The Secretary of State’s office had initiated the petition timeline changes in order to allow more time to validate petitions. Several challenges to the current petition process had surfaced during the 2014 election.

But lawmakers also added amendments that made significant changes to signature requirements, particularly for Independent candidates trying to make the ballot.

Republicans at the time said the law changes would make elections fairer and help prevent abuses. They said the changes to independent candidate petition requirements would make candidacy rules consistent for Democrats, Republicans and independents.

Cory Heidelberger, an online blogger from Aberdeen who led the petition drive to refer the law, said the changes make it harder for people to get on the ballot.

They have to decide to run sooner and then seek signatures in the busy month of December instead of the traditionally more weather-friendly month of March.

“This is a power play by Republicans,”

Heidelberger said in an email. “This is about democracy. Don’t make it harder to run for office.”

One of the most disputed portions of the Referred Law 19, according to Heidelberger, involves the new rules on who can sign petitions. It would prohibit Democrats or Republicans from signing the nominating petitions of independent candidates. Currently, there is no such restriction.

With only independents able to sign independent candidate petitions, the task becomes much harder, the law’s opponents say. It takes away 80 percent of the voters they can talk to, said Heidelberger. “It’s a Republican attack on independents,” he said.

Proponents in the Legislature said these measures provide uniformity to election procedures. Referred Law 19 also places restrictions on replacing candidates who withdraw after the primary election.

Redistricting changes Supporters of the proposed redistricting amendment say the new method eliminates potential conflicts of interest that exist when lawmakers draw their own boundaries.

The proposed 9-member redistricting com-

mission would be made up of voters from the two major political parties as well as those not affiliated with either.

“The most important aspect of Amendment T is the fact that it makes the redistricting process fairer, more inclusive and more protective of voters’ rights,” said Matt Sibley, legislative specialist with the South Dakota Farmers Union and a representative of the group supporting Amendment T. The proponents of the amendment want to prevent legislators of a major party from altering district lines in order to favor or inhibit an incumbent. The measure would also block attempts to strategically place district boundaries to potentially favor the majority party.

But those opposing the amendment, say those abuses are not occurring and changing the decades-old redistricting system is simply unnecessary.

The state constitution requires the Legislature to establish the districts every 10 years. A committee made up of 15 legislators draws up the map.

“The proponents speak in generalities and say because there are problems in other states, we should change things here,” Rep. James Bolin, of Canton, said in an email. He served on the legislative committee responsible for the last redistricting process completed in 2011.

Keeping counties and neighborhoods intact in drawing legislative boundaries is a key protection, the amendment provides, according to Sibley. The measure also provides for public comment on the proposals.

Bolin points to results of the last redistricting commission as evidence that the existing system works in a bipartisan manner.

Representatives from both parties serve on the redistricting panel and offer input, he said.

In one instance, the group voted to place Beadle County in one district as had been advocated by a Democratic representative.

“If we had wanted to be unfair to the Democrats, we could have listened respectfully and then voted to nullify her desires,” Bolin said. Instead, by a bipartisan vote “we voted to do the right thing” and make Beadle County whole, he said.

Some counties must be split, particularly in larger population areas such as Minnehaha and Lincoln counties. But, Bolin said, the last See BOUNDARIES, page 9

Yes on V. “We want people to vote on individuals and issues and not just on a party endorsement,” Kirby said.

The change also would open up primary voting to independent voters. They currently can vote in the Democratic primary, but not in the Republican primary.

This measure would reduce partisanship and could lead to more moderate candidates winning office, according to Kirby. That can help eliminate partisan gridlock and provide for more cooperation among elected officials, he said.

“It re-defines the role of parties and they’d no longer be gatekeepers to the system,” Kirby said.

But the opponents say the measure provides less transparency and takes away information from voters.

“When you look at Republican or Democrat (designations) then you know what that means,” said Will Mortenson, chairman of the Vote No On V group. “Voters can be trusted with that information.”

He said attempting to drastically change state laws in order to try to get certain people elected is wrong.

You shouldn’t change the system to try to provide for “favored political outcomes,” Mortenson said.

The measure actually limits voters’ choices since a third option would never be available in the general election, he said.

It also would favor candidates with money since name recognition would be a major factor.

Amendment V would be a major constitutional overhaul that would require the rewriting of state election laws and that is unnecessary, Mortenson said.

“This could be the first ballot measure in South Dakota history that comes in and tries to take information away,” said Mortenson.

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State House – District 7 The Register posed three questions to the candidates. Here’s how they answered.

Spencer Hawley

Linda Brandt Name: Linda Brandt Party: Democrat Candidate for: House of Representatives, District 7 Age: 69 Address: 304 Dakota Ave., Brookings Occupation: Retired social worker, educator What do you see as key issues facing the state and District 7, and why are they important?

Although Brookings does not face the same problems as most of the rest of the state of South Dakota, such as a declining population, lack of access to services and job opportunities, there are four main issues the state Legislature needs to address which will affect District 7. First is the need to expand Medicaid. This will help both us and the rest of the state. Without a

better health care system in South Dakota, our population will continue to migrate to our big cities and to other states where better medical coverage is available.

The second key issue is services to the mentally ill and to persons addicted to drugs and alcohol. This is a population which continues to be underserved. As the numLinda Brandt bers of meth users increases, the population in our prisons continues to grow. We cannot afford to address mental health issues by using the prisons as a dumping ground.

Third, while SDSU has been a leader in doing research that betters our state both by creating innovation and by See BRANDT, page 13

Name: Spencer Hawley Party: Democrat Candidate for: S.D. House of Representatives from District 7 Age: 63 Address: 1215 W. Eighth St. S., Brookings Occupation: Independent insurance agency owner What do you see as key issues facing the state and District 7, and why are they important? How would you address those issues?

There are several issues that affect us in District 7.

The first priority is to pass the Medicaid expansion. This will have a dramatic effect on 55,000 people in the state of South Dakota and our district.

We have been dealing with this issue for three years now, and now is the time to step up and do the right thing

for our working poor and the people who are not able to buy health insurance.

Another key issue is furthering research at our universities and specifically the new building for the state Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Lab located at SDSU. We need to make sure that this gets funded by the state and construction can start.

I have been Spencer Hawley working for several years on water issues that we still have not resolved. We need to move the management of water drainage from counties and manage them by regional river basin watersheds. The need to manage water does not stop at the See HAWLEY, page 13

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Tim Reed Name: Tim Reed Party: Republican Candidate for: District 7 House of Representatives Age: 51 Address: 627 Medary Ave., Brookings Occupation: Mayor of Brookings What do you see as key issues facing the state and District 7, and why are they important? How would you address those issues?

Workforce development is one of the key issues facing District 7 and the state of South Dakota. Good jobs are available in South Dakota, and we will not see growth and investment by businesses unless a trained and educated work force is available. I believe it is South Dakota’s No. 1 economic issue.

Education is key to workforce development. I support the ballot issue Amendment R so the Legislature can create oversight to make sure all communities and industries are served by our state-funded technical institutes. I also believe there should be a high priority on allocating any available one-time funds and ongoing revenue to keep state-funded universities’ tuition and fees as low as possible.

Another important issue is the increase in meth use, and addiction needs to be

addressed. I’ve heard police chiefs comment that users charged with possession and ingesting of drugs are released and quickly end up being arrested again. Some have escalated to violent crimes.

The Legislature Tim Reed should continue to support and expand drug courts in communities across the state to help with drug addiction and the resulting crime. I would promote programs and laws that would force drug users to get help early and break the addiction cycle.

Medicaid expansion is an issue that the 2017 Legislature needs to address. There are adults who do not earn enough to gain subsidized health insurance coverage and don’t qualify for Medicaid. Many of those adults cannot afford insurance. This situation is a burden on county government and hospitals that provide the care to those who do not have insurance.

I believe the governor has put together a good plan for increasing coverage that does not have a financial burden on the state budget. I will need to better understand the federal government’s financial role and if there will be a possibility of future financial

impact on the state’s budget.

The Animal Disease Research & Diagnostic Laboratory upgrade and expansion is very important to the livestock industry. This laboratory is located on the campus of SDSU but is a state laboratory.

Last year the laboratory performed more than a half-million tests, helping track viruses, diagnose disease and test food safety. The facility must be upgraded to a higher level of biosecurity.

Funding to plan for the Animal Disease Research & Diagnostic Laboratory upgrade and expansion was allocated during last year’s legislative session. This legislative session it will be important to make sure the plan is funded and the building project can be completed to enhance our livestock industry and maintain human, animal and food safety.

What prompted your candidacy? Why should voters elect you?

I’ve enjoyed serving the community of Brookings and would like to take my local government experience and Brookings’ progrowth progressive attitude to the state Legislature. Over the past eight years, I’ve enjoyed working with District 7 legislators on issues important to Brookings and SDSU. I’m ready to go to Pierre and directly advocate for Brookings, its citizens and SDSU.

As your representative, I will be fiscally responsible, protect our liberties, and promote local control. I will be pragmatic with all bills, always asking if the bill makes sense for South Dakota and its citizens, and if it will work as intended. I have local government and leadership experience that will make me effective the first day of the legislative session.

BOUNDARIES: Continued from page 7

commission followed existing precinct lines in those counties. “Our efforts to keep counties together should be applauded,” Bolin said “We split no voting precincts in Minnehaha and Lincoln counties.”

Lawmakers serve on the redistricting commission in proportion to their representation in the Legislature. Sibley said the panel’s makeup is part of the problem.

“T is built upon the fundamental principle that voters should choose their legislators. Legislators should not choose their voters,” Sibley said in an email.

Bolin counters that the amendment takes the responsibility for redistricting away from 105 legislators elected by the people and gives it to nine individuals, elected by no one.

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State Senate – District 7 The Register posed three questions to the candidates. Here’s how they answered.

Mary Perpich

Larry Tidemann

Name: Mary Perpich Party: Democratic Candidate for: South Dakota Senate, District 7 Age: 72 Address: 1224 Fourth St., Brookings Occupation: Retired SDSU journalism professor and head, Brookings County Democrats’ chairperson

Name: Larry Tidemann Party: Republican Candidate for: District 7 Senate Age: 68 Address: 251 Indian Hills Road, Brookings Occupation: State Senator. Retired as associate dean and director of the South Dakota State University Cooperative Extension Service

What do you see as key issues facing the state and District 7, and why are they important?

We must expand Medicaid to the 50,000 South Dakotans who are eligible but do not qualify. These are working people with families who fall into the gap between Medicaid eligibility and subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. The state has a plan in which it would partner with the Indian Health Service to cover all eligible South Dakotans. The federal government would cover most of the cost.

We need to strengthen the Drug Court with funds that would add more addicMary Perpich tion counselors.

The court’s mission is to keep users and sellers out of jail and try to rehabilitate them through counseling and treatment centers.

We must approve building the Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory on the SDSU campus. This state-of-the-art facility would help prevent disease in livestock and save money for farmers and ranchers.

We must support workforce development with an eye to keeping SDSU graduates in Brookings.

We must help working women by making more day care and pre-school options available.

We must insist that women have complete control over their health care and keep the government out of their decisions.

We must break up the “supermajority” of Republican legislators in Pierre whose lack of oversight and accountability has allowed scandals like EB-5 and Gear Up to occur. Millions in tax-

payer dollars have been wasted through the graft and greed of these programs’ directors, and South Dakota has been ranked as one of the most corrupt states in the country.

We must pass Amendment T. It establishes a state redistricting commission that is weighted fairly politically. Its nine members would be comprised of no more than three coming from the same party. Members cannot have served in public office or been a political party official. This commission would redraw boundaries every 10 years after the census. In the past, the Republican-dominated redistricting committee redrew boundaries to oust Democrats from office. They disregarded the Democrats’ complaints.

That is why we have a supermajority of Republicans in the state Legislature. We must move back to a bipartisan Legislature where all voices are heard.

How would you address those issues? What prompted your candidacy? Why should voters elect you?

If I am elected to the South Dakota Senate, I will work with my colleagues from both parties to stop the madness in Pierre that has led to frivolous, time- and money-wasting legislation that strips citizens of their constitutional rights. I would work to focus on the important needs of the state and pass bills that make people’s lives better. My years of experience in the media as a reporter and a college journalism professor will help me sift through the rhetoric and focus on the core issues.

If voters send me to Pierre, I will use the leadership I gained on Brookings community boards and directing university programs in my job as a legislator. I served three years on the Brookings Women’s Center Board and on the Domestic Abuse Shelter Board. I also served on the NARAL state board for three years. At SDSU, I directed a $600,000 Bush Foundation grant focusing on diversity in teaching and learning. We changed the core curriculum to more adequately reflect the diversity in society. Those changes remain part of the courses. I was also chairperson of the Academic Senate, the governing body for the faculty.

I hope voters agree that my leadership will make me a good senator to represent Brookings.

What do you see as key issues facing the state and District 7, and why are they important?

An important priority for District 7 and the state of South Dakota is funding to renovate and upgrade the state’s Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (ADRDL) located at SDSU. The livestock industry is one of the largest contributors to the state’s economy. The current Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Lab was last remodeled over 20 years ago, and upgrades are critically needed to support its work.

Another issue is the discussion regarding Medicaid expansion and providing the best healthcare for all South Dakotans.

We must continue to balance the state’s budget while still providing for important needs for education, including K-12, and support to keep tuition costs low so that our post-secondary institutions are affordable and remain competitive in the region as higher education options.

We need to grow the workforce in South Dakota. A challenge for Brookings area employers is finding enough workers particularly in areas that require specific skills or training needs.

How would you address those issues?

Addressing the critical issues that affect our state requires a comprehensive and collaborative approach. Having served in the Legislature for the past 12 years, I have learned the importance of listening to the needs of the citizens of our state, our university and business leaders. For instance, we were able to build some of the recent facilities at SDSU with the help of private funding along with state resources. Such investments will serve our students, research and outreach for years to come. SDSU and the South Dakota Board of Regents have indicated one of their priorities is authorization to expand the current ADRDL facility and to upgrade the biosafety level status, to ensure we have

the facilities and capability in South Dakota to respond to emergency situations. This upgrade will address not only the needs of the livestock industry but will also protect human health. We are working with university and state leaders to provide a workable funding package.

Regarding Medicaid expansion, our goal should be to provide quality health care for all South Dakotans.

Unfortunately we are aware that some Indian Health Services clinics and hospitals in South Dakota are not functioning well. Additionally, when people who are dually eligible for Indian Health Services and Medicaid obtain health care outside of IHS facilities, the federal government pays for only a porLarry Tidemann tion of those services and the rest is paid by the state. We are currently exploring ways to work with IHS to correct this, which would in turn free up state Medicaid dollars and allow the savings to be used for other Medicaid needs. We also need to explore how telemedicine services from our large hospitals might be used to assist the quality of care on South Dakota’s Indian reservations.

Continued support for education (both K-12 and higher education) will help address both education funding needs and workforce issues. We made significant progress in the last legislative session and we need to continue to make that a priority.

What prompted your candidacy? Why should voters elect you?

It is an honor to have been elected to represent the people in District 7 in the state Legislature for the past 12 years. As I look around the Brookings community, it is a pleasure to live here and see the many positive things that have happened as a result of the community and state working together. I have the experience and have been in leadership positions to ensure that Brookings, SDSU, state employees and the citizens of the state have been fully represented. I have a strong work ethic and will work tirelessly to look for solutions to problems. I listen to the people of the district and carry their message to Pierre.

I would appreciate your vote for District 7 Senate.

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State House – District 4 The Register posed three questions to the candidates. Here’s how they answered.

Jason Kettwig

John Mills

Name: Jason W. Kettwig Party: Republican Candidate for: District 4, House of Representatives Age: 42 Address: 1109 Washington Dr., Milbank Occupation: City administrator

Name: John Mills Party: Republican Candidate for: House of Representatives Age: 61 Address: 21730 464th Avenue, Volga Occupation: Building construction and real estate development

What do you see as key issues facing the state and District 4, and why are they important?

The two issues that I see facing South Dakota and District 4 are the expansion of Medicaid and the declining population in small rural communities.

Medicaid expansion will be a huge issue for the Legislature this session. We need to take a good hard look at how we as a state will pay for the expansion not only today but tomorrow. It is clear that there are far too many South Dakota citizens hurting today because of the current health care situation. Something needs to be done to ensure that these individuals have an opportunity to receive affordable health care. If this affordable, preventa-

tive health care is not available, more expensive emergency health care will certainly follow and will more than likely be paid for by other taxpaying South Dakotans. That is why the Legislature needs to ensure that a budget neutral plan to provide this health care is created and acted upon during this legislative session. We need to face the fact that the “Affordable Care Act” is the law of the land currently, and we as legislators Jason Kettwig need to ensure that we do what is best for our citizens both financially and with regard to providing health care.

The declining population in small towns is also a huge concern for the state and for District 4. Small towns provide the much needed resources and support for the agricultural economy of the state.

See KETTWIG, page 12

What do you see as key issues facing the state and District 4, and why are they important?

Agriculture/agribusiness: Agriculture and agribusiness is vital to South Dakota. As such it needs to be supported.

Medicaid expansion: We need to get Medicaid expansion passed. Gov. Daugaard has been calling his plan “budget neutral,” but it is better than that. It is estimated that we would come out ahead up to $60 million under the plan. In addition providing preventative care to those who don’t have it, it cuts down trips to the emer-

Matt Rosdahl

See MILLS, page 12

Peggy Schuelke

Matt Rosdahl Name: Matt Rosdahl Party: Democrat Candidate for: District 4 House of Representatives Age: 39 Address: 303 Eighth Ave. S., Clear Lake Occupation: Social studies teacher and head football coach at Deuel High School

What do you see as key issues facing the state and District 4, and why are they important?

Agriculture, small towns and small schools are all key to South Dakota’s prosperity and quality of life. All three face ongoing struggles. The wide swings in agricultural income from year to year challenge producers and those small businesses and small towns who depend on them. Boom or bust cycles do not provide opportunities for planned long term investment and growth.

Stable or declining student populations, income tied to student numbers and increasing costs from government mandates stretch our small schools’ limited resources.

How would you address those issues?

First, we should look to the successes of the past and work to replicate them.

For agriculture, the value-added growth (ethanol, soybean processing) of the decade beginning in the late ’90s added value and some stability to the crops of every producer. Our small John Mills towns benefitted as well, since these were often located nearby. We should look for ways to encourage and support more of this type of growth that is carefully planned, welcomed in the local area and environmentally friendly.

For small schools, the creation of “open enrollment” provided a tool that some have used very successfully to attract students. We should look for other similar “tools” that our small-town

gency room and overall health care costs for both state and local hospitals.

That saves us all money. Most importantly, Medicaid expansion brings lifesaving access to health care to 50,000 South Dakotans who don’t currently

have coverage.

Education: Raising teacher pay so that we can be competitive with the states around us is a worthy initiative, and it was a good start. The problem lies in the implementation of the ratio formula used to allocate the funds.This formula has the potential to lead to teacher recruitment issues due to pay discrepancies between large and small schools, cuts to vital educational programs, and school closures and/or consolidations.

Government transparency and accountability: Government dominated by a single political party doesn’t work.

See ROSDAHL, page 13

Name: Peggy Schuelke Party: Democrat Candidate for: District 4 House of Representatives Age: 57 Address: 15754 483rd Ave., Revillo Occupation: Family nurse practitioner in Revillo and Milbank clinics.

Married to Jeff Schuelke, and we own and operate a 1,400-acre family farm in Grant County.

What do you see as key issues facing the state and District 4, and why are they important?

The key issues for our state are: 1. Health care. As many as 55,000 South Dakotans do not have access to health insurance, as they fall into the coverage gap, not making enough money to qualify to purchase health insurance. We need to accept the Medicaid expansion money, which has been shown to decrease the number of uninsured people, decrease health problems, will help keep our rural hospitals and clinics open by decreasing unreimbursed care, and

will positively impact economic development.

2. Need for transparency and accountability in state government. We have seen millions of dollars “go missing” in recent EB-5 and Gear Up scandals. An ethics commission and more openness in state government is needed. We need to take measures so these situations are Peggy Schuelke not repeated.

3. Continued support for public education. A change in the funding formula in 2016 provided raises for South Dakota educators. This is a good start, but we continue to have the lowest teacher salaries in the upper Midwest. A competitive wage is needed to keep our teachers in the state and in the smaller communities.

District 4 is made up of entirely small communities and farms. As the farm goes, so goes the economic health and See SCHUELKE, page 13

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State Senate – District 4 The Register posed three questions to the candidates. Here’s how they answered.

Kathy Tyler Name: Kathy Tyler Party: Democratic Candidate for: District 4 Senate Age: 64 Address: 48170 144th St., Big Stone City Occupation: Semi-retired; retail associate; Quickbooks consultant What do you see as key issues facing the state and District 4, and why are they important?

The key issue in our state is the welfare of our citizens – their livelihoods.

Do all students have access to the best education possible? Do our citizens have access to adequate medical services when necessary? Are our Main Streets in survival or growing mode? Do we have enough rural medical facilities? Is our Medicaid reimbursement adequate to keep good health service employees and to keep costs down for those who are not on Medicaid? Are we a safe state?

Are our mentally ill citizens being properly treated? Is our justice system working properly? Is our social services program working correctly so that those who need help are getting it? Are we

protecting our environment adequately?

Do we discriminate?

Now don’t get me wrong; I’m a “teach a person how to fish” not a “give them a fish” type.

We need to make sure that we have a healthy, well-educated population by providing opportunities for selfKathy Tyler reliance. A healthy and well educated population makes our state a good place to live and work.

I’m sure you’ll hear about revival of small towns and economic development by other candidates. Any plan to improve an economy must include making sure the people are healthy and have access to good living conditions and a good education.

so all schools benefit equally.

There are over 50,000 citizens in South Dakota who do not have access to necessary health care. The governor’s Medicaid expansion plan would provide needed health care to those – of whom over 60 percent are employed – at no cost to the state. Healthy people are employable and are taxpayers instead of being on the welfare rolls. In addition to a healthier population, the economic stimulus to the state is estimated to be in the millions of dollars. It is a win-win situation.

Other issues need to be addressed as they come before the Legislature. Those issues need to be dealt with in a common-sense, researched, intelligent manner. That’s what I do – I listen. I research. I stand up for what’s right, no matter what side of the aisle, because all issues are people issues, not Democratic or Republican.

2013 and 2014, and as House minority secretary in 2015 and 2016. Both of those positions gave me insight as to the plights of so many people – the poor, the unemployed, the underpaid, and those who are discriminated against in some way.

Retiring Sen. Jim Peterson said it best about why to elect me: “She does thorough, intelligent research, supports transparent government with oversight and fair taxation for landowners. As an education advocate, she will work to revise the new funding formula to ensure proper funding for small schools.

She will vote pro-life and pro Second Amendment. She will fight for the survival of small businesses and family farms, and will work towards keeping zoning issues local. She will protect your quality of life rights.”

Couldn’t have said it better myself!

How would you address those issues?

We need to be sure schools are funded adequately and fairly. Last year’s increase in school funding was a start; that program does need to be tweaked

What prompted your candidacy? Why should voters elect you?

I first ran in 2012 because of the drastic cuts in education. I served as District 4’s state representative for two years,

Editor’s note: District 4 Senate candidate John Wiik did not respond to the Register’s request to complete a survey.

MILLS:

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schools could utilize to compete. We also should re-evaluate the numbers game ($/student), recognizing the quality of life benefit that small schools provide to students, communities and South Dakota.

They provide the education for the children, the entertainment on Friday night and the quality of life that residents of District 4 expect. As farm sizes grow and the number of residents actively involved in the farming industry continues to decline, small communities that rely on those farmers have taken a hit. We have seen the effects in local schools, on Main Streets and in our local churches. This decline, if left unchecked, will seal the fate of many small towns, not only in District 4, but across the state. As these small towns die, a hole will be left in the state and our area that will never be replaced.

What prompted your candidacy? Why should voters elect you?

I was called upon by District 4 Republican party officials to fill the seat formerly held by Fred Deutsch. After prayerful consideration and the support of my wife, I said yes.

I am a good choice because I have a passion for protecting our future. I am a small business owner and know what it feels like to be on the receiving end of government mandates and ever-growing taxes. I’ll play defense first, watching out for unintended consequences of new laws and working to fix or stop them.

I have lived long enough to have learned a few things and am young enough to have the energy to put that knowledge to work. I like listening and learning and only lock in decisions after hearing and considering all sides of issues. I like looking for the “sweet spot” in complex issues – finding the best solutions that benefit the most people.

I hope the voters of District 4 will give me a chance to work for them in Pierre.

How would you address those issues?

On Medicaid expansion, I would work with the legislators to establish a plan that would be budget neutral. We would need to ensure that the plan worked not only now but in the future as the federal government subsidies expire. I would also contact and conduct research within other states that have expanded Medicaid to ensure that we don’t make the same mistakes that they did when they developed their plans.

With respect to declining population in small towns, we need to aggressively pursue not only big

business but equally pursue smaller businesses that can locate in smaller communities around the state. I also would push for more availability of assistance for housing activities in small communities. Without affordable housing options, it is impossible to attract workers to small communities.

What prompted your candidacy? Why should voters elect you?

I have lived my entire adult life in public service of some kind. Following college, I served for four years on active duty stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas. When my urges to move back to South Dakota became too strong to deny, I moved back home and joined the South Dakota Army National Guard. I continue to serve in the 139th Brigade Support Battalion in Brookings today. Twelve years ago, I accepted a job as the city administrator in Milbank. My time in this job has fueled my passion for small towns and more local control in government. So when presented with the opportunity to run for the House of Representatives, it seemed like the natural next step for me in public service. Over the past 20 years, I have gained the experience and leadership skills necessary to serve the residents of District 4 well out in Pierre. Please give me the honor of being your small town voice in Pierre.

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HAWLEY:

BRANDT: Continued from page 8

encouraging better practices, many of our lab facilities need updating to remain on the cutting edge of research. The Board of Regents and the state need to focus additional monies on research and research facilities at all of the state research universities.

Lastly, to continue growing in Brookings, we need an increase in affordable housing to attract and keep more young people in our community.

To fill the entry-level jobs created by our growing economy, we must ensure that young families have access to affordable housing.

How would you address those issues?

As a retired medical social worker, I would advocate for expanding Medicaid by sharing my experience of working with people who had waited too long to access care. Uninsured people end up increasing the cost for all of us. The offer from the federal government to cover the full cost of eligible Native American care means that expansion will not cost our state government anything. What it will provide is coverage for our poorest working people, those earning under $12,000 for an individual and $24,000 for a family of four who presently get no coverage at all.

To address the lack of mental health services, we can attract more qualified mental health professionals by offering incentives to new graduates

to practice in South Dakota. As for dealing with the rise in meth usage, the drug courts are only a partial answer. Instead of building more prisons in South Dakota to handle drug addiction problems, we should use that money to develop effective and affordable drug addiction programs, which would be both more cost-effective and more humane.

Barry Dunn, our new president of SDSU, will be asking for funding for modernization of the Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, which I would strongly support. Of course the problem continues to be finding monies. I support freezing college tuition but without cutting into the quality of our teachers or facilities. The state budget has to set priorities that move education into the 21st Century by making it possible to offer both high-quality teaching and research and affordable tuition.

I would support incentives to developers who build low-income housing and encourage the state to work with local city planners to give preference to developers who make a mix of types of housing.

What prompted your candidacy? Why should voters elect you?

I believe we have better government when we have a variety of ideas and points of view. As a Democrat, social worker and educator, I can offer new ideas, question old ways of doing things and provide a check on power.

It defeats the purpose of having a system of checks and balances. We are seeing this in South Dakota with the continued scandals that are causing us national disgrace. Our Republican-led government has failed to provide oversight and accountability to a number of government-sponsored and supported programs like EB-5 and Gear Up. This has led to millions of dollars in waste and the deaths of innocent children.

How would you address those issues?

Agriculture/agribusiness: I will be a strong supporter of agriculture and agribusiness. Having grown up on a farm, I know the value of hard work, and I understand how vital agriculture is to our communities, our state and our nation. As your representative, I will work to make sure that we remain focused on agriculture and work to pass legislation that will enhance our state’s number one industry.

Medicaid expansion: I would support and work to pass the governor’s Medicaid expansion plan in the Legislature. It is the right thing to do morally and the smart thing to do economically.

Education: I think that we need to start by re-examining the ratio being used for the funding formula. We need leadership in Pierre that understands

county line. Also with the flooding of land in the northeast corner of the state, non-meandered water is a critical item. The state needs to establish what water bodies are considered non-meandered and the access that will be available for sportsmen, at the same time recognizing the rights of landowners.

We were the last state in the Union to set up needsbased scholarships for universities. We have put a minimum dollar amount of funds into this. We need to look at an ongoing funding source so that this can be a viable option for under-privileged students to go to college.

The issues that have come from our EB-5 program and Gear Up were not created by bad people as much as a lack of oversight from our state government. We need to improve the oversight of our grant programs and make sure that there is complete transparency in these programs.

What prompted your candidacy? Why should voters elect you?

I ran for the state Legislature because I believed that my past experiences and past leadership allowed me to bring a common-sense approach to the issues at Pierre.

The discussions out there should not be political, but rather what solution is the best for the people of South Dakota and for District 7.

I feel that over the past six years, I have been able to work across party lines and do what is best for all of us and our children.

SCHUELKE:

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Continued from page 8

the important role that our schools play in our communities. We need leadership that will make education a priority.

As a veteran teacher and coach, I will represent what is best for our students, our teachers, and our communities.

Government transparency and accountability: The first step to a more transparent government is to elect more Democrats and independents, which will provide a natural system of checks and balances. As your representative, I would also work to pass legislation that provides our government with the transparency and oversight needed to make sure that we put an end to the scandals that have made our great state look bad in the eyes of the rest of the nation.

What prompted your candidacy? Why should voters elect you?

I am seeking to serve in the Legislature because I want to be a true representative to the people of District 4. I want to be their voice in Pierre. I felt that over the course of the past two years, our legislators stopped representing us and instead represented their party. I want to reach across the aisle and do what is right for the people of South Dakota. Voters should elect me because I will work hard for them and facilitate open lines of communication that allow their voices to be heard in Pierre.

Continued from page 11

wellbeing of our entire district.

Commodity prices have been down for the past couple of years. Land prices in particular are very high. This makes it very difficult for young and beginning farmers to get a start. The main streets in our smaller communities are having difficulty competing with online retailers and the Wal-Marts and other large chain stores.

How would you address those issues?

I support Gov. Daugaard’s plan for Medicaid expansion. With changes in payment of IHS services, the expansion can be done at no additional cost for the state, and has been projected to possibly even be budget-positive. Money saved through the expansion can be used for other needs in the state. It’s the right thing to do for our people and our state.

I am supportive of more openness and transparency in state government, and not having decisions affecting the state and using state dollars made behind closed doors. In today’s electronic age, emails and other electronic communications need to be considered public records and preserved.

The education formula developed last session needs some adjustments to correct the disparity in funding for teachers in large versus small school districts. We need to continue to work on raising

teacher salaries in the state to get closer to the average in the upper Midwest region.

We need to have support and development of programs to assist beginning farmers in the state, if we value the continuation of the family farm. Just as we have programs to assist in the education of welders, nurses and other needed workers in the state, we need to have programs to assist the beginning farmer.

Value-added agriculture programs, such as ethanol and soybean processing facilities, need to be made a priority to keep more of our dollars local.

What prompted your candidacy? Why should voters elect you?

I am concerned that the desires of South Dakota residents are not always reflected in the laws that are being passed.

Medicaid expansion and more support for education had the support of the majority of South Dakotans for several years, but our Legislature has not been able to pass legislation that reflected this support. The political party seems to be more important than our people. There seems to be a reluctance to investigate recent financial scandals and then take steps to prevent this from happening again.

My background is in health care and agriculture, along with service on state and local boards. I have spent my working years helping others in my community. I want to continue that service in the state Legislature.

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Brookings County Commission The Register posed three questions to the candidates. Here’s how they answered.

Mike Bartley Name: Michael D. Bartley Party: Republican Candidate for: Brookings County commissioner Age: 64 Address: 1929 25th Ave., Brookings Occupation: Optician /S.D. licensed hearing aid dispenser What do you see as key issues facing the county, and why are they important?

Maintaining sound financial planning.

Sound finance leads the way in providing needed services to county residents, businesses, infrastructure, roads, bridges and health needs.

Creating economic support for agriculture and businesses in the Mike Bartley county.

Providing a pathway for farm products to end consumer products at a competitive level of return-on-investment for ag producers. County planning plays an important role in economic development for businesses and ag producers.

Alan Gregg How would you address those issues?

Six years as a city council member, working and understanding the budget process has prepared me for the challenging budgeting process. Listening to constituents’ requests and information always sharpens the pencil and leads to best practices that work for county residents.

Twelve years experience as a member and chairman of the Brookings Planning Commission provided a unique education for planning and zoning issues in the city and, also, for the City-County Planning meetings, held jointly, for the three-mile joint jurisdictional area.

Appointed by the County Commission as the member-at-large for Brookings County on the First District Planning District for two terms gives insight into the issues important to proper planning for both the city and county.

What prompted your candidacy? Why should voters elect you?

Public service has always been a part of my life, and I want to continue that service as a member of the County Commission. I will bring experience in government, budgeting, leadership and economic development to the office.

Listening to all residents of Brookings County, ensuring a fair, common-sense decision making process, is the best way to serve our county.

Ryan Krogman Name: Ryan Krogman Party: Republican Candidate for: Brookings County Commission Age: 44 Address: 3302 Walnut Lane, Brookings Occupation: Broker/owner of Century 21 Gustafson, Krogman & Assoc.

What do you see as key issues facing the county, and why are they important?

Some of the key issues are keeping our roads and bridges up to date and in good condition, the jail expansion, and our ability to help our citizens who are suffering from mental health problems get the help they need.

Our county has seen tremendous growth in economic development and population. With that growth comes added use of our roads and bridges, so we need to continue with our long-range plan to stay on top of our infrastructure so farmers can get their product to market Ryan Krogman and citizens can drive on safe roads.

The jail expansion is important because as we grow with it comes some of the bad stuff, and we need to keep our citizens safe. The expansion will allow us to separate the people who have committed violent crimes from the person who

Name: Alan Gregg Party: Independent Candidate for: County Commission Age: 68 Address: Brookings Occupation: Small business owner – Dakota Service & Repair What do you see as key issues facing the county, and why are they impor tant?

Drainage – south to the river Long-term home for 4-H Form a drainage or water management board Roads and bridges Crime prevention How would you address those issues?

Drainage: By listening to people who live in the area the flooding situation affects; hear what they think could relieve the problem. I worry about fixing one problem and causing another. Water runs downhill, so let’s start by cleaning out the waterways south of Brookings and work our way north.

4-H: I serve as a member of the Brookings County Extension Board. The members of 4-H and the Extension need to come up with a plan the County Commission can support. I will continue to work with 4-H and the Extension Board and do everything I can to support 4-H. Drainage board: We need to come up with a plan to put together a drainage board or a water management board, which should include a professional in

may have made a mistake or have committed a non-violent crime, so they can get the help they need to become a productive citizen in our communities.

The mental health issue is not just a local issue; it’s a state and national issue.

We need to stay on top of it and work with all of our local providers that deal with mental health issues, so we can work together get that individual the help they need.

How would you address those issues?

We have a five-year long term road and bridge improvement plan in place, and as we continue to work with that, we need to continue to invest the funds and apply for state and federal funding to stay on top of it.

We currently have set aside $2 million

this field. There should be a written manual that makes sense for our county and that will guide the board in decision-making. This group needs to be knowledgeable about drainage issues and be impartial when making decisions. This will also require the county commissioners to become more informed about drainage and water.

Roads and bridges: The commission currently has a five-year plan in place. I like this and I would do my best to make sure our Highway Department has the equipment and personnel to maintain our roads.

Crime prevention: I believe crime prevention and keeping our youth busy go hand in hand.

Brookings County kids can keep busy, have fun and learn all while taking Alan Gregg advantage of the opportunities afforded to them as long as we continue to support 4-H and all other youth programs.

What prompted your candidacy? Why should voters elect you?

I consider it a privilege to serve on the Brookings County Commission, and there are still issues that need to be addressed. I would like to be a part of the decisions being made regarding drainage and 4-H. The future of our county is determined by See GREGG, page 15

for the jail expansion and are in the process of designing the addition to the current jail. This will allow our law enforcement to better handle the people who have committed crimes and provide them with the best opportunity for them to get help.

We have held meetings to get all the providers together to improve the communication between each of them, so the plans to help our citizens who are suffering from mental health problems can be carried out in consistent manner and for the best interest of the citizens.

What prompted your candidacy? Why should voters elect you?

I’m running for re-election because I have enjoyed my first term as a Brookings See KROGMAN, page 15

VOTERS GUIDE 15

M O N D AY, O C T O B E R 3 1 , 2 0 1 6

Brookings County state’s attorney The Register posed three questions to the candidates. Here’s how they answered.

Abigail Howard

Dan Nelson

Name: Abigail A. Howard Party: Democrat Candidate for: Brookings County state’s attorney Age: 30 Address: 612 Park Ave., Brookings Occupation: Brookings County chief deputy state’s attorney

Name: Dan Nelson Party: Republican Candidate for: Brookings County state’s attorney Age: 28 Address: 21769 485th Ave., Elkton Occupation: Beadle County deputy state’s attorney

What do you see as key issues facing the county, and why are they important?

In terms of safety, the main issue facing Brookings County right now is the distribution and trafficking of narcotics.

Additionally, we are seeing a need for increased mental health and chemical dependency resources. We also continue to see a constant number of domestic disturbance calls and domestic violence cases.

All of these issues are critically important because they impact the entire community. Whether Abigail Howard it be you, a loved one, an employee, a neighbor or a friend, all of these issues can play a role in someone’s daily life and the safety of our community.

How would you address those issues?

Drug trafficking: Brookings County has already started efforts to combat this serious issue with the Brookings Drug Task Force, comprised of local law enforcement focused specifically on targeting the distribution of controlled substances. I plan to continue prosecuting distributors to the fullest extent of the law and to send a message to other criminal offenders that this behavior is not tolerated in our community.

Additionally, in an effort to curb the users and addicts that purchase these drugs, I serve as the prosecutor for the Brookings County Drug Court, which is an intensive supervised probation program geared toward helping addicts recover and become contributing members of society.

Mental health and chemical dependency services: I have heard people say that to

solve crime in Brookings County, all we need to do is get every criminal a job and a home. To me, not only is that not the answer, but that simply isn’t enough. Many of our offenders have jobs and housing, and yet they still manage to commit crimes.

What there is a need for is increased access to mental health and chemical dependency resources. I plan to encourage a larger conversation with all entities in our community to determine what is best for Brookings County in terms of additional resources that can address these concerns. I can take that input back to the criminal justice system and utilize the resources available as the state’s attorney.

Domestic violence: As the co-leader on the Eastern Plains Sexual Assault Response Team, I continue to work with other agencies in our community to address the community’s response to victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence. I think it is critical to work with victims at the onset of any case to help give them guidance and resources for safety, and hopefully, help them leave the cycle of violence.

What prompted your candidacy?

Why should voters elect you?

I started working with Clyde Calhoon at the State’s Attorney’s Office in 2008, and I instantly knew this profession was my calling. For me, being a prosecutor is not just a job, but a way of life. It requires someone committed to public safety and possessing the knowledge, experience and leadership to make the tough decisions that need to be made.

I am blessed to have a wonderful husband, Lance, and an amazing son, Truman, who understand that the demands of this office are high, and if I need to take calls at home or leave in the middle of the night, that is necessary to assist law enforcement in keeping our community safe.

As a Volga native, and someone that has lived in Brookings County my entire life, all but three years in law school, I know that the work of this office and the safety of our community is too important to put on hold while someone new gets up to speed.

Brookings County needs an experienced hand at the wheel when steering the safety of our community. I am prepared to do the job and ensure the safety you have come to know and expect will continue.

decisions made now. One person and one vote can make a difference. We need peo-

How would you address those issues?

The state’s attorney must begin building a coalition of community stakeholders to make sure the increased number of felony offenders who have been placed back in our neighborhoods by the judge are provided with the tools and resources to ensure they remain crime-free. The Drug Court model illustrates the importance of maintaining employment, housing and

ple with different opinions, approaches and solutions to problems on our County Commission. I am an individual thinker and can add value to the commission.

What prompted your candidacy?

Since becoming a prosecutor, I have found tremendous fulfillment in representing the victims of crime and giving a voice to those who affected. That fulfillment is driven by my passion to pursue justice inside the courtroom and a strong desire to work at proactively preventing crime in the community.

When the current state’s attorney announced his retirement, I knew this was my opportunity to return home and use that passion to ensure the safety of those living in Brookings County.

Why should voters elect you?

I believe my proven record as an experienced trial attorney in the courtroom speaks to my ability to effectively prosecute and hold offenders accountable. Just as it is important to have an effective trial attorney become the next state’s attorney, I have made it a point of emphasis to work at preventing crime by successfully implementing policies that target high-risk offenders living in the community. For those reasons, I believe I can provide the leadership inside and outside the courtroom that can solve our community safety concerns.

KROGMAN: Continued from page 14

GREGG: Continued from page 14

What do you see as key issues facing the county, and why are they important?

First, the recent criminal justice reforms in South Dakota have resulted in an increased number of adult and juvenile offenders remaining in our community. With felony arrests at a five-year high in Brookings County and judges keeping more of those felony offenders in our community, the state’s attorney has an increased responsibility to make sure these high-risk offenders are not continuing to commit crimes.

Second, as more young, first-time offenders enter the Dan Nelson criminal justice system as a result of our growing university, I believe the state’s attorney must first begin implementing a diversion program to hold offenders accountable without permanently damaging their future.

treatment as essentials to living crime free, but we must begin expanding that approach to all those at risk to reoffend.

I have successfully implemented a diversion program for first-time, nonviolent offenders that provides an alternative method to hold offenders accountable. The diversion program requires community service, behavior modification and drug treatment.

Instead of strapping a young, first-time, non-violent offender with a conviction, I believe we can accomplish accountability in a way that benefits the community and places that person in a position to succeed in the future. This program is paid for by the participating offender and would not cost the taxpayers.

County commissioner. I want to continue to work with my fellow commissioners to carry out our Comprehensive Plan for the county and to continue to grow our tax base through economic develop-

ment and growth.

Voters should cast their vote for me on Nov. 8 because I have the abilities to provide leadership to the commission, to work with others to come up with the best solution and a common-sense approach to local government.