I am working to represent District 35 (Rapid Valley, Box Elder and EAFB) and I recently heard that 40% of Rapid City residents struggle to make a living wage. This greatly affects affordable housing. The Legislature needs to pursue coming alongside our home developers with incentives to both build affordable housing and bring these costs down. Partnerships with existing organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and the such like should be an on-going endeavor.
When elected officials speak of the 'Big Three' it is no surprise that EDUCATION is listed as #1. I have always been a strong supporter of quality education for our children and young adults. My own children have experienced the options of public, private and homeschool education. All three of these options preformed with a flare of excellence. Today my grandchildren, who live in Colorado, are enrolled in one of their many charter schools and are excelling in their education. This is another educational opportunity for South Dakota to explore.
South Dakota was actually the first state (1898) to adopt this system. While this process does give people a direct voice there is always room for improvement in any public policy. Note - Changing just a single word of our State Constitution through the initiative and referendum process can have a profound impact on generations of South Dakotans. It is a sacred document, and alterations should only come after broad consensus is reached.
It was Larry J. Sabato who said, “Every election is determined by the people who show up” and he’s right! Early voting began Friday, April 17 and our Primary Election Day is Tuesday, June 5. Please Vote! I have been a consistent and informed voter here in South Dakota ever since the age of 18. Fair and secure elections is of primary concern to me and is an issue I will champion when called upon to do so. I know that this journey will stretch me deeply — calling on every ounce of intuition, grit, and grace I can muster. I’m grateful for the opportunity of bringing my experience and leadership to serving the constituents of District 35 and the great State of South Dakota. Fair and Secure Elections Matter!
First let's recognize parent's rights and responsibilities in their own homes. Supporting parents, grandparents and guardians should be of paramount concern to all of us. Continued support and oversight of our child care facilities in SD must occur and I will continue my pursuit of learning the issue in this needed arena.
The job description for a legislator is simple: show up, discern the issues, listen to your constituents and vote. I commit to doing just that. This last session saw a number of critical issues discussed and several were dealt with such as: Property Tax Relief, Affordable Housing, Educational Opportunities, Water Resources, Public Safety and much more. Note - Property tax relief for our homeowners was a substantial motivating concern behind my decision to run in 2026. The two bills passed this past session, SB96 and SB245, provided the pathway to historic property tax relief and reform for homeowners. I look forward to becoming more acquainted with these challenges and dealing with them as I represent the good people of District 35.
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Increase visibility of and access to current housing programs. We have a surplus in our state budget. Let's put it to use for the people. Considering the current rate of inflation and housing prices, we need to expand eligibility requirements for housing benefits. Building apartments is a necessary but short term solution. Homes are now being purchased by corporations and rented out. Limiting the amount of houses owned by a corporation will be another key factor. Our community is going to expand even faster as the new bomber comes to Ellsworth so we have to build more affordable housing, faster.
Make teaching a lucrative career. Good pay will get us better teachers and better educated students. Public schools need funding far more than any corporation needs tax breaks. Allocate funding equitably, an under-served community needs more funding than a wealthy community. Education for the jobs we have needs to be cheaper to get students enrolled in college and trade schools.
Clarity, education and transparency about the process are the first changes we need. Most people aren't familiar with the legal wording and procedures involved. These changes will help prevent the side that can spend the most on advertising from having an automatic win.
Any law, regulation, directive that restricts voting access to anyone at all to include any cost added to make an ID acceptable. You don't have to show an ID to sign a legal petition as the information you enter will be checked against voter registration when it gets turned in.
First, make sure the childcare we have is safe and effective by updating and enforcing fair regulation. Second, ensure low-income families can afford childcare through balancing how much a childcare facility can charge and how much of the cost is paid for by cutting corporate tax breaks. Third, review progress and adjust as necessary.
Corporate greed, the tax breaks they get haven't increased wages or reduced prices. Wage inequality in general, expecting excellence while not paying a living wage drives employees away. Ineffective taxation, taxes in South Dakota make the majority of us poorer while making the rich wealthier.
Housing becomes more expensive when government makes it harder to permit and build. We should cut red tape, streamline permitting, and push for flexible local zoning so builders can deliver housing faster and lower costs. We should limit excessive fees and mandates that are really just hidden taxes on new homes. Instead of subsidies or picking winners, create a level playing field for local builders and invest in core infrastructure—roads, water, sewer, and utilities—that supports growth responsibly. We should prioritize targeted property tax relief for first-time homebuyers and seniors on fixed incomes, while fighting for relief for everyone. Long-term affordability comes from increasing supply, reducing barriers, and cutting taxes/fees.
Quality education improves when we focus on outcomes and accountability, while respecting freedom and the unique needs of every family and child. The state should prioritize funding for classrooms and teachers while cutting administrative waste. Empower parents with real choice—public, charter, private, and technical pathways—so education fits the student, not the system. Support strong standards in core subjects and expand workforce and trade education that leads to real careers. Ensure transparency so taxpayers and parents know how dollars are spent and what results they’re getting. Equity means every student has access to a quality education—not a one-size-fits-all system.
I’ve seen firsthand how citizen-led ballot measures work—and how they can be undermined. I’ve personally collected thousands of signatures and supervised teams collecting tens of thousands over multiple election cycles. I helped pass medical cannabis in South Dakota and defend it from attempts by Governor Noem and legislators to repeal or weaken it.
South Dakota was the first state to adopt the initiative process—we should respect that history. Initiatives and referendums are a vital check when government stops listening. The state should protect this right with fair rules, reasonable requirements, and no interference.
I also support expanding the right to recall to all elected officials, including statewide offices.
Election integrity and voter access go hand in hand—we should protect both without undermining either. I’ll be watching to ensure voter ID laws remain clear and consistent, while safeguarding access for eligible voters, including military, rural, and elderly populations. That means secure absentee voting, accurate voter rolls, and transparent, timely counting. We should prioritize audits, chain-of-custody standards, and accountability where issues arise—without creating unnecessary barriers. The goal is simple: every legal vote counted, and confidence in the system maintained.
Affordable childcare is critical for working families, but government shouldn’t crowd out local solutions. DSS plays an important role in safety and oversight, but families still face limited access, high costs, and too many barriers. Participation in assistance is low, and regulations can discourage providers from entering the market. The state should streamline licensing, update outdated rules, and expand flexible options like in-home and faith-based care. Support families and providers through targeted tax relief—not broad subsidies. The goal is more options, lower costs, and quality care without growing government or risking the safety of children.
Rising costs of living including housing and taxes are putting real pressure on South Dakotans. Government spending has nearly doubled in recent years, while core services are neglected—that’s a budgeting and prioritization problem. We need fiscal discipline, transparency, and structural changes to tax policy like a Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) to limit growth and return surplus revenue to taxpayers. Small businesses are struggling to compete, and young graduates/professionals are leaving. We should focus on core infrastructure, schools, roads public safety etc., not subsidies or special deals for out-of-state companies. The main challenge is government accountability and keeping South Dakota affordable, safe and growing responsibly.
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