Attorney General

Meet the Candidates for Attorney General

Randy Seiler Democrat

I am a life-long South Dakotan and I have spent my professional career serving the people of this state. After graduating from Herreid High School, I spent four years in the military, including a year in Vietnam. I have always been proud to be an American, but in Vietnam, I learned how lucky I was to be an American. With that good fortune comes the responsibility to work hard, take care of your family, and stand up for the things you believe in.

After 14 years in private practice, I became a Federal prosecutor. Representing victims of terrible crimes –homicide, child sexual abuse, and rape - broadened my understandingofjustice.I’mproudtosaythatI’ venever walked away from the tough cases.

As South Dakota’s U.S. Attorney, I was the managing partner of a statewide law firm with sixty of our state’s most talented legal professionals. I worked with tribal officials to foster government-to-government relationships. Understanding that justice transcends criminal prosecution, I made a commitment to community engagement. We partnered with healthcare providers to promote the rights of people with disabilities, combat child sexual abuse, and take on opioid addiction.

As I’ ve traveled across the state, it has become apparent that there is a general consensus regarding the most pressingissuesfacingourjusticesystem.Theprevalence of drug abuse and addiction is tearing apart our families and communities in epic proportions, while consuming criminal justice system resources. As your Attorney General, I will work to form public and private partnerships that focus on prevention and treatment. Treating addiction with incarceration is not always the answer.We must find better solutions.

Through tragedy, we have learned that public corruption can be even worse than the betrayal of public trust. If I amelectedasSouthDakota’sAttorneyGeneral,itwillno longerbepoliticsasusual.Ivowtoremovepoliticsfrom legaldecisionsandholdourleaderstothehighestethical standards. I believe the Attorney General must put South Dakota before party. The safety of our communities, our children – all South Dakotans – depend on it.

Jason Rvansborg

Republican

I grew up on a farm where we raised hogs, cows, and calves and grew corn, soybeans, and alfalfa. My amazing parents taught me to work hard, take care of the family, the land and go to church. My dad taught me to respect my elders, our Country, and the U.S. flag.

In 1998, I earned degrees in history and political science from the University of South Dakota and my commission through the universities’Army ROTC program. Three years later, I graduated from USD School of Law and while in law school, I also earned my Master ofArts in History.

I have served twenty-two years in theArmy Reserves. I have had four company commands of approximately 180 servicemembers. I have also been deployed three times. The first deployment was to Germany in 2003. In 2004-2005, I deployed to the combat zone ofAl Asad, Iraq. For my service in Iraq, I was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and honored before Congress in 2006. I was then deployed for the third time to Kandahar,Afghanistan in 2009-2010. Today, I command over 600 Servicemembers, in four different states, as a Lieutenant Colonel and Battalion Commander.

Serving my community is also important to me. I have served as president of theYankton Sertoma club and was selected to be the Sertoman of theYear in 2013. Currently, I am a member of the Elks, theVFW, American Legion and the Knights of Columbus.

Currently, I serve as the Deputy StatesAttorney for Union County and a partner in the law firm of Harmelink Fox & Ravnsborg inYankton. In the 17 years, I have been an attorney, I have had considerable experiences in both prosecuting and defending criminal cases, along with complex civil matters.

Our new attorney general must be a leader. My professional and personal life has been dedicated to service and leadership.Taxpayers deserve an attorney general who will be responsible to them; I’ll keep our families safe, protect our most vulnerable populations, and run an organized and fiscally conservative office.