BROOKINGS – Tim Reed has announced his intention to seek re-election to the South Dakota House of Representatives in Legislative District 7. 

“It has been an honor to serve in the South Dakota House of Representatives. I hope to continue advocating for the citizens of District 7 and positively affecting policies for all citizens of South Dakota,” Reed said. “The coronavirus pandemic will put economic and social burdens on our lives, I will use my 17 years of experience in public service to make sure South Dakota recovers as soon as possible.” 

Reed is completing his second term in office. He is a member of the House Taxation and Local Government committees. He served on the 2018 Access to Mental Health Care Services Study and chaired the 2019 Increase Community Services and Caregivers Supports Task Force. In 2019, he also served on the Electric Services in an Annexed Area Interim Study as a voice for communities with municipal electric service.  

Appointed by Chief Justice David Gilbertson, Reed serves on the Drug Court Advisory Council. He also serves on the Criminal Justice System Response to Mental Health Oversight Council for the Unified Judicial System. In 2019, he was appointed to the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education Legislative Advisory Committee. 

Reed represents South Dakota on the Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board and is currently serving on the executive board. The Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board works with members of the business community, state legislatures, and tax administrators to simplify and modernize the sales and use tax systems throughout the country to help make the collection of remote taxes as simple and burden-free as possible, while at the same time protecting state sovereignty. 

“During the past four years in the Legislature, I’ve been able to effectively serve District 7 and South Dakota through pragmatic legislative activity and serving on governing boards, study committees, task forces, and advisory committees,” he said.

Reed was active with city and county government, South Dakota State University, mental healthcare, sex trafficking, and sexual assault victim assistance bills. He sponsored and successfully passed bills lengthening the time anonymous forensic sexual assault evidence kits are stored, allowing school, city and county governing boards to go into executive session to discuss security plans, and providing for a resident of a mental health care treatment facility to designate a caregiver to receive information regarding their care.  

Reed, a Republican, has served District 7 for four legislative sessions. Before serving in the Legislature, he served in Brookings city government for 13 years, including three terms as mayor. He is a graduate of SDSU with a degree in commercial economics. After graduation, Reed worked in supply chain planning, information technology, and college development.

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 Reed and Doug Post 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.

No primaries in some races

Only one candidate has filed for the state Senate races in both districts 4 and 7. Incumbents John Wiik and V.J. Smith, both Republicans, have filed for re-election.

There is also no primary needed for the District 4 House race. In the running are Democrat Becky Holtquist of Milbank and Republican incumbents Fred Deutsch of Florence and John Mills of Volga. They will face off in November for the two District 4 House seats.

And incumbent Dan Nelson, a Republican, is so far the only candidate for Brookings County state’s attorney.

The filing deadline for district and county candidates running with a party affiliation has passed, but independent candidates have until 5 p.m. April 28 to file nominating petitions.

Legislative posts have two-year terms, and the county seats have four-year terms.

South Dakota’s Primary Election will be on June 2, with polls open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Voter registration deadline is May 18, and absentee voting begins April 17.

The 2020 General Election will be on Nov. 3. Voter registration for this election is due Oct. 19, and absentee voting begins on Sept. 18.

For more information about South Dakota elections, visit https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/upcoming-elections/general-information/default.aspx.