BROOKINGS – Rep. Doug Post is seeking re-election to the South Dakota State House of Representatives for District 7, he announced this week.
Comp-leting his first term in the House, Post served on the Appropriations Committee. During that time, he said he helped build two balanced state budgets, as required by South Dakota’s Constitution, while maintaining a 100% funded Employee Retirement System.
He said he also fought to ensure the 2% inflationary increase for state employee salaries, education and Medicaid providers was fulfilled, as well as allocating one-time funds to maintain the state employee healthcare pool.
“Due to the economic impact of COVID-19, there will be many challenges facing the Appropriations Committee over the next eight months and into the next term. (I am) currently working on ways to ensure that South Dakota, its citizens and its businesses can recover from the considerable budgetary impact of the pandemic response,” Post said in a statement.
Post backed the governor’s request to increase foster parent training and funding as needed due to increasing methamphetamine addiction. He said he also secured a funding source for the state Division of Criminal Investigation.
With this increased funding, the DCI will be able to add more agents, technicians and tracking equipment that secure the evidence needed to prosecute cartels trafficking humans and drugs into the state, Post said.
Working closely with South Dakota State University, the new collaborative veterinary science program with the University of Minnesota received the remaining two years of transition funds needed so that more students will become veterinarians to serve the growing large animal needs in South Dakota, he added.
Post grew up in rural Brookings County. He graduated from SDSU and now owns a small dairy farm with his wife, Ginger, who manages the Sipka Meats branch of the farm.
Five children including two foster children round out the family. Stephanie is enlisted in the Air National Guard and will be attending SDSU next spring after basic training. Zach and Jacob will be in high school next year and are essential in keeping the farm running, Post said.
As a Republican, Post said he supports the party’s ideals of personal responsibility, limited government, low taxes, religious freedom and the right to life for the unborn.
“Being in private business for 20 years, I’ve made difficult decisions before. I have the experience in the Appropriations Committee to face the challenges of the upcoming sessions and am supported by House Leadership,” Post said.
Primary races
There will be a Republican primary election June 2 for the District 7 race for state House of Representatives. Having filed petitions are incumbents Post and Tim Reed along with former lawmaker Larry Tidemann.
The two winning Republican candidates will face Democrats Bill Adamson and Louise Snodgrass, both of Brookings, in the November election for two District 7 House seats.
A Republican primary is also needed in the Brookings County Commission race for two open seats. In the running are Shawn Hostler and incumbents Mike Bartley and Ryan Krogman. No other candidates have filed for the posts.
