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State Representative District 18 {_getChooseLabel(this.selections.length)}

Description: The South Dakota State Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of South Dakota. It is a bicameral legislative body, consisting of the Senate which has 35 members, and the House of Representatives, which has 70 members. The two houses are similar in most respects; the Senate alone holds the right to confirm gubernatorial appointments to certain offices. The Legislature meets at the South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre. It begins its annual session of the second Tuesday of January each year. The legislative session lasts 40 working days in odd-numbered years, and 35 days working days in even numbered years.Term: 4 consecutive 2 year termsSalary: $16,348/year + $178/day for legislators who reside more than 50 miles away from the capitolRequirements for Office: 21 years old; 2 years residency; qualified voter; may not have been convicted of bribery, perjury or other infamous crime; may not have illegally taken "public moneys".Petition Requirements: Depends on party and legislative district. See SD Secretary of State's website for details.

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    Jarod Holcomb
    (Dem)

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    John R Marquardt
    (Rep)

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    Michael Nutley
    (Rep)

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    Karen Springer
    (Dem)

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    Mike Stevens
    (Rep)

Biographical Information

What should state government do to support access to affordable housing?

What should state government do to support equitable, quality public education (pre-K through higher ed) for all?

How do you view the initiative and referendum process in South Dakota? Are there any changes to this system that you would support?

Considering recently passed laws, what will you be watching for to ensure all eligible voters have equal access to the ballot box while maintaining the security and integrity of our elections?

What, if anything, should our state government do to support access to affordable, quality childcare?

What do you see as the most important challenges facing our state?

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We talk about the need for affordable housing in South Dakota, but the legislature voted to use $15 million from the Housing Infrastructure Fund for airport improvements in Sioux Falls and Rapid City. Last year, $15 million was pulled from the fund to build a new elementary school in the Douglas School District. I understand the importance of airports and schools, but the priority should be alleviating the shortage of affordable and workforce housing.
First and foremost, the state needs to adequately fund our public schools so they can meet the needs of every child. Charter schools are not the answer; they will siphon money from schools that are already working with lean budgets. Proponents for charter schools say they’ll provide an education opportunity for students who do not learn through traditional methods. I believe if we prioritized funding our public schools, they would be able to offer those programs within the existing schools.

The Teacher Apprenticeship Program is a great opportunity for paraprofessionals to become certified teachers and help ease the teacher shortage, and we need to make sure the teachers we currently do have are taken care of so they don’t leave us.
I currently see no issues with the process, and I was glad Governor Rhoden vetoed the restrictive legislation that was sent to his desk. As for Constitutional Amendment L, we voted against raising the threshold of voter approval in 2018 and 2022. What makes them think it will be different this time around? It’s wild that a simple majority is sufficient to pass an amendment that creates the requirement for a supermajority.
Our elections are secure. The Heritage Foundation lists 6 instances of voter fraud in South Dakota since 1982. I have concerns about the competency and motives of the office in charge of our elections. Our Secretary of State failed to heed the warnings of our county auditors that early voting would be negatively impacted this year. She boasted about removing 273 alleged noncitizens from the voter rolls 29 days before the 2024 election, when the National Voter Registration Act prohibits purges within 90 days of an election. I’m angry that our legislature passed a law that immediately hinders people from participating in the most enshrined right in our Constitution. There was zero need for a South Dakota SAVE Act.
We’ve had a childcare task force since 2023, and we have no solution. The task force is committed to continuing for another 4 years. Childcare is a very complex problem, and the longer it takes to figure out a solution, the longer our families suffer financially. So, what do we do? Michigan has an interesting program. Their Tri-Share Childcare program splits childcare costs equally between the employer, the employee, and the state. Employees pay less for childcare, and employers retain their employees. North Dakota and Iowa also have programs that include public/private partnerships. If employers want to recruit and retain employees, they really do need to be part of the solution.
If we want our state to grow and thrive, we need to give South Dakotans reasons to stay here. Our residents need safe and affordable housing. They need access to well-funded, high-quality education. They need access to affordable healthcare (to include mental health care) and childcare. They need affordable utilities, clean water, and fresh air. And they need legislators in Pierre who put the people first and vote in the best interests of all South Dakotans.
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