State Senator District 3
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: $12,850.80/session + $151 per legislative dayRequirements 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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Carl Perry
(Rep)
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Katherine (Katie) Washnok
(Rep)
What should our state government do to support access to affordable housing?
How do you view the initiative and referendum process in South Dakota? Are there any changes to this system that you would support?
How will you protect voting rights while maintaining the security and integrity of our elections?
What 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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Age
35
Campaign YouTube URL
I think the first step of this solution starts with local control - the best course of action for the Sioux Falls community will likely not be the same as a community like Belle Fourche or Groton. Establishing individual community housing strategies would also be a critical early step, identifying all the challenges and biggest hurdles to find encompassing solutions. Responsible financial assistance plans, first-time home buyers programs, and financial literacy classes are a massive step in the right direction for supporting citizens' access to attaining and maintaining affordable housing.
I believe the power lies with the people, and it's the peole who should have the most power. You have power in your vote, but also in your signature. Our democracy was founded upon our freedom and right to vote; issues can be brought to the people through the detailed initiative and referendum process - in the same breath - it is also the responsibility of the voter to then cast an EDUCATED vote on the issues brought forth through this process. As Voltaire said, "With great power comes great responsibility."
I believe South Dakota is a state of moral character. The current checks and balances of our election system, as overseen by the Secretary of State and individual county auditors, are secure and efficient. If election results are ever in question, we also have processes, safeguards, and policies in place to question and validate them. I would vote to uphold these common sense, efficient, and proven voting processes. I would like to see the federal requirement of legal identification implemented nationwide.
I think the best thing we can do is empower our individual communities to find the solution that works best for them—the course of action that is best for large communities may not be what's best for small communities. We need to equip our individual counties, towns, and regions with the resources and tools necessary to identify proper solutions to our childcare shortage crisis.
A few ideas would be early childhood development education incentives, start-up funding for in-home and commercial childcare centers, and tax incentive programs. We also need to ensure a safe, streamlined, and efficient licensure process for childcare providers.
South Dakota needs to keep her young people in the state - and not only in the state; South Dakota needs to keep young people in rural communities. We all know we have a major workforce shortage crisis, which only spirals to create the other challenges facing our statewide constituency.
We have to incentivize not only new residents coming to South Dakota but also implement programs, provide assistance, and create opportunities for South Dakota kids to stay here and make a home.
South Dakota is the land of infinite variety and infinite opportunity; we have to show our young people that and help them make it a reality.
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