I support a housing strategy that respects private property, local control, and taxpayers. The state should reduce costs. A big part of lowering the cost of living is helping people earn more. More housing supply and fewer unnecessary fees is one of the most direct ways we can bring down monthly costs for working families.
The state should prioritize teacher pay, recruitment and retention, expand high-quality career and technical education, and build stronger pathways between K–12, tech schools, and employers so students can graduate ready for college, a trade, or the workforce. For higher education, we should keep tuition growth in check, and invest where we can show outcomes for students and our state’s workforce.
I value South Dakota’s initiative and referendum process as an important check that gives citizens a direct voice. I would consider reasonable improvements so the process isn’t so burdensome that everyday citizens are shut out.
I’ll be watching for practical impacts of recent law changes on seniors, rural voters, military voters, and people who work long hours. If rules create unnecessary barriers for eligible voters, we should fix them. I also supportvoter education so people understand deadlines, IDs, and absentee procedures well before Election Day.
Childcare is a real workforce issue for families and employers, especially in smaller communities. The state should focus on removing barriers that make it harder to open or expand safe, quality childcare. When childcare costs eat up a paycheck, it’s not just a family issue. It holds back workers’ ability to earn more and keeps employers from growing.
South Dakota is doing many things right, but I see a few major challenges we can’t ignore: keeping our cost of living manageable (housing, childcare, health costs, and property taxes), strengthening the workforce so small businesses and farms can hire, and making sure our infrastructure—roads, water, and energ keeps pace with growth. We should also be focused on paychecks: attracting better-paying jobs, supporting apprenticeships and job training, and cutting unnecessary costs that get passed on to families. We also need to keep faith in government by insisting on transparency, respectful leadership, and laws that are applied fairly. My focus is steady, respectful, and practical problem-solving that puts people ahead of politics.
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Provide attractive loan programs with incentives to build income-based apartments. Encouraging home ownership not just for first time home buyers or based upon income qualifications. Too often the guidelines exclude participation by making the eligibility thresholds too low for many to qualify.
Quality public education must be a bedrock and a fundamental requirement for government. That said, ensuring local districts receiving public dollars, meet standards of academic performance and operate in a fiscally responsible manner is critical. Public education starts at the local district and protecting local control helps keep school districts responsible to their residents. Adequate funding for public education should not be a debate it should be a requirement.
The right of the people to initiate new measures or refer existing laws is found in the state constitution and in South Dakota Codified Law. Procedural changes have been made to the process over the years. While any system may require limited procedural clarifications substantive changes should be viewed with caution and must be carefully weighed before passage. The integrity of the initiative and referendum process should be protected but that protection should not diminish the constitutional right to initiate and refer existing laws.
South Dakota voters can submit ballots through the absentee voting process. Maintaining the integrity of the election process is critical. Security and integrity in the voting process must be maintained. Unreasonable restrictions on the voting process may create unnecessary impediments to the voting process.
Affordable quality childcare is woefully inadequate in many communities across the state. Provide educational and workforce training opportunities for individuals in or considering careers in childcare. Revising the Childcare Assistance Programs to increase the reimbursement rate for infant and toddlers to incentive program to offer more slots for your children. Revise reimbursement rates for providers to more accurately reflect what it actually costs to care for children.
Lack of adequate housing for many reasons. Aging structure and price points for existing structure or new home construction costs make the American dream unattainable to large segments of the population. Price points and high interest rates limit the availability of residential availability.
