BROOKINGS – Democrat Mary Perpich plans to run as an Independent for the District 7 state Senate seat this November, a necessary change in plans after a successful challenge to her petition signatures removed her from the ballot.
The deadline for filing with either the Republican Party or the Democratic Party was March 27, but Independents can file until April 24.
Perpich has gathered the necessary number of signatures and submitted on March 26 her paperwork to file as a Democrat running for the state Senate seat in District 7.
“The following week, I got a phone call from the Secretary of State’s office telling me that my petitions had been challenged by the South Dakota Republican Party,” Perpich said.
This was confirmed by Deputy Secretary of State Kea Warne.
At issue was whether the person who had notarized her petition signatures had the proper certification at the time. With the notary unable to do so, the challenge succeeded, and on April 4, Perpich’s name was removed from the ballot.
Afterward, she talked with state Democratic Party leadership and found that she could run as an Independent without having to change her party affiliation.
This was again confirmed by Warne.
“There’s no official Independent Party or any party structure there, so you don’t have to, not like with the Democrats or Republicans,” Perpich said.
She’s gathering signatures again, then, with plans to send them to Pierre on Monday, in time for the Tuesday deadline.
“Then it’s up to the Secretary of State’s office to verify them, and I expect she will and that my name will appear on the ballot in November,” Perpich said.
She’s thankful for the support she’s seen while gathering signatures for her Independent run.
“I’ve gotten a lot of positive responses when people were signing my petition that I’m running as an Independent. That is something that I think all of us who are politicians need to take note of. I think that means there are a lot of people who are not happy with either political party and they want to make their own choice,” Perpich said.
The South Dakota Democratic Party was supportive of her, too.
“I talked with the Democratic state party chairperson, and she said that it would be fine and that as far as they were concerned, I was running as a Democrat.”
She added that her run as Independent would not hinder her work with the Brookings County Democratics, which Perpich chairs.
Also seeking the state Senate seat for District 7 is Republican V.J. Smith.
Contact Eric Sandbulte at esandbulte@brookingsregister.com.
Courtesy photo
