State Representative District 16
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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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Tim Rhead
(Dem)
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?
Housing is a very serious problem for many younger families in our state and around the nation. We need to not only have housing, but affordable housing options for our citizens. I believe as a legislator, I would be able to work with many state agencies to help provide some relief. To begin with, we need to have more housing available not only in our large towns, but in our rural areas as well. We need to work together with the different housing agencies throughout the state to come up with a plan that allows for more housing developments. We must make first time home buying options more affordable for those looking to purchase a house. Working together we can accomplish this goal.
My history in education makes this a very hot topic for me. I have spent twenty-five plus years at a teacher and administrator in the state of South Dakota. Education is a top priority of mine. We need to fund public education as the law has intended it to be funded. I have seen too many great teachers leave the profession because they need to make a better living for their families. I have also seen teachers leave the profession because of the bad publicity that public education receives. Education is one area that allows us to live the American Dream. With a good education you can change everything about your life. We need to make sure we provide that opportunity to every child in this state with the best teachers possible.
This isn't a topic I have a lot of knowledge about, but I am looking forward to gaining more experience in this matter. While I have never been through the process, I will work to reflect on the process and make improvements as needed.
With the recent changes to voting laws, I think it is very important that we keep a close eye on this issue. Voting is the fundamental right of citizens in the state. We must make sure none of these changes make it more difficult for our citizens to vote. This is a right that should belong to our citizens, but we shouldn't be infringing on this right in our attempts to monitor the process. We need to track registration rates, ballot rejection rates, and turnout by region/group. We must track voter trust, complaints, and reported barriers. Through these efforts, we can mitigate any risks that this law has imposed. Voting is fundamental to our country and every citizen should have the right to express their voice in that way protected.
Childcare and education go hand-in-hand. The early years are incredibly important to the future success of every kid. As a state, we need to make childcare more affordable with more opportunities for our families. Many families have to make some very difficult decisions based on their ability to find childcare. I believe we need to promote greater access to childcare and make opening and running a daycare easier. There are many regulations put in place within the daycare system; some of these regulations make sense, but others are much harder to comply with. We need work with our daycare providers to create policies that protect our children, but also support our providers.
The most important issues to me are going to be education and agriculture. I, like many other South Dakotans, have been involved with both of them throughout my lifetime. If we want the best for our children, we have to provide them with the best education possible. Education opens all doors for our kids and gives them a chance to become anything they want to be. Agriculture is the most important industry we have in South Dakota. As our farmers do better, the state does better. We need to protect our family farms and give them what they need to remain viable in this changing economy. As a state representative, these two challenges will be a main priority for me.
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