Today I am writing to thank the individuals that have put their names and necks on the line to run for public office. These are harsh days to stand up and speak up for what you believe in. We need honest brave, hard-working representation. These individuals may become our voices and vote in Pierre. However safe it seems in South Dakota, things are eroding and eroding fast!
Aren’t you seeing it? Feeling it? Discussing it almost daily?
The “negative politics” that seem to be taking over – even here in South Dakota and locally is very troubling. Let’s beware of counterfeit candidates. They are out there and camouflaging as having family values and being conservative.
Our voice and votes in Pierre shouldn’t be influenced by the flashy mailings, short tag lines, or largest contributors/corporations. We don’t need that in South Dakota. We need to have independent business people with private sector jobs, community and life experiences, and who pay taxes, navigate life, work, and family every day.
It is our responsibility as voters to find out if the people that we send to Pierre actually are representing our individual values and views on critical issues? For me these Issues are – education, right to life, taxes, religious liberty, privacy issues, spending, and regulating marijuana appropriately.
As June 7 approaches and our mail boxes continue to fill up with flashy flyers and spins on the candidates. I am praying that each South Dakotan will take the responsibility seriously to be informed and cast an educated vote on primary day. Please take 10 minutes to check out each candidate’s voting records and or positions they are taking on the many vital issues that face us. We can’t complain about the state of affairs or the lack of representation if we don’t each learn how they voted or where the candidate’s stand on critical issues. Here are two websites that are helpful: www.DakotaVoter.com (has all SD legislative districts and ballot issues and lines up with my values). Also www.sdlegislature.gov – you can click on 2021 bills and you can track the specific issues and bills that you are concerned about. I hope that this will motivate you to do your own research.
After my research, I will be voting for Doug Post and Mellissa Heermann for District 7 House, and Julie Erickson for Senate. These candidates represent the values and independent voices I want in Pierre. They share my values, are proven listeners, have real-life experience and are not tied to any former relationships or positions that may hinder their independent voice. I will also be voting yes on Amendment C, which will protect us from future new taxes and to ensure that there is a 60% majority vote on new spending issues. I encourage you to vote “yes” on Amendment C, and vote for Post, Heermann and Erickson on June 7. We must speak up, stand up and show up to fight the good fight with determination, respect and stamina for our best future possible.
