KCCR NEWS: Tad Perry to run for State Legislature
KCCR Radio had this report out over the noon hour, where former Director of the Board of Regents, Tad Perry, want to become a state legislator in one of the two seats being vacated in Pierre :
Tad Perry, who has spent most of his life working with and around state legislators, has decided that he wants to be one himself.
As first reported by KCCR News, Perry, a Fort Pierre resident and former executive director of the South Dakota Board of Regents, has officially announced his candidacy to run for District 24 State House, which covers Hughes, Stanley and Sully counties. Perry, a Republican, is the first official announced candidate for this district’s two open House seasons. The two current incumbents, Ryan Olson of Onida and Tim Rounds of Pierre, cannot run again because of term limits.
Perry is not new to the legislative process, having spent his 15 years as Regents executive director working South Dakota lawmakers. Perry, 66, says his interest in being a legislator actually started when he was growing in Missouri and lived next door to a state legislator.
Perry retired from the Regents this year and says with two open seats, the timing is right to run. Perry says District 24 faces the same issues as the rest of South Dakota – diversifying the economy to keep and attract young people.
Perry, who supports a strong salary policy for state government employees, says while he has spent much of his career in education, that doesn’t mean he won’t support all spectrums of the district. He plans to meet with various interest groups and industries such as agriculture and business.
State Sen. Bob Gray of Pierre can run for one more two-year term.
Follow the entire story here.
No word on whether or not someone who has been active in the local GOP intends to step up and run as well.
*UPDATE*
I had to do a little checking on this one. In the voter registration information I have, it shows Tad being registered as an independent. In doing a voter registration check, they noted that yes, he is now registered as a Republican. However, while they couldn’t tell me exactly what type of change it was, there was a change of some sort in his registration back in August of 2009.
Interesting. Let the races begin.
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Comments
In fairness to Tad, I think a lot of people who deal with the legislature register Independent so they can deal with both parties. I notice he apparently registered GOP soon after he retired.
Not impressed with his work on the Board. Consistently said one thing and did another. It had it out for the School for the Deaf since day one.
Dr. Perry is still a fairly young man and very smart and if he wins, which he probably will, he will take control of the legislature in short order and become one of the most powerful forces in SD politics for years to come. Can you imagine the vast quantities of taxpayer funding that will get pounded into state employee salaries and farflung research projects at the 12 state run colleges?
Grudznick — I wouldn’t expect Tad’s talents to reach that far, but then M Rounds, F Kloucek and a few others have suprised us through the years. I do know that Tad is a bright guy with a quick wit and it would be fun to listen to any of the debates they have.
I’d fall short of comparing Tad to Rounds-Kloucek. I actually think he’d be a good legislator for that district.
Well, thanks to Tad Perry, we now have another taxpayer supported public college right in Sioux Falls. Located right between SDSU and USD and just down the road from DSU.
Do you think we will have restraints on throwing taxpayer money at schools if we have this guy Tad Perry as one of legislators?
Mr. fishing, see my comment above. No, I do not think we will have restraints. Any. At all. Dr. Perry will probably be the most powerful House major leader this state has ever seen in his very first term and will then switch parties and move to the Senate and become for sure the most powerful party leader in the Senate we have ever seen. He could easily beat Heidepriem for minor leader right now.
Really Steve?
Who was the one attacking the Republican Party last election? I seem to recall it was the hillbilly from Mitchell. (yes, that’s you.)
Maybe if you didn’t wear your hate of the GOP on your sleeve, maybe someone might take you seriously. Unfortunately for you, you’re already starting 2010 more marginalized and taken far less seriously than ever.
Here’s a novel thought, and a repeated challenge. Why don’t you quit being so darned yellow, and run for office if you believe you have the answers.
That is, for whatever party you choose to identify with.
In my 25 year career in and around government in seven states, he is, without doubt, the most arrogant public servant I have ever encountered.
MHS: Ditto on that. He rarely listened and trampeled on many people. He looked down on must people like they were complete, undeserving morons. Like a Denny Sanford with his money, but only with a mean streak. Most likely groomed from the Janklow era of doing things. If he were elected, he’d have to change his tune from “Chief Cheese” to another person in the legislature.
I think Tad inspires a lot of different feeligns from people he has dealt with. I never saw him as condesending. I always viewed him as an advocate who was a worthy opponent. With Tad, you just always had to understand that he had a job to do, and he was good at it. If you got snookered in the deal,then it was your own fault. Kind of a free market approach to relationships – pretty Republcian if you think about it. It was all buyer beware.
Lee I need to compliment you on your common sensed postings on the integrity of Dr. Perry. What do I think having him in the legislature would mean? There are many really great people who could run for office but don’t for whatever reason. Knowing that Tad could easily sunset either on a beach or a green yet is considering public service knowing full well every bit of higher education spending he ever approved will come under the microscope not only in caucus but in the press gives me great anticipation in possibly working with him.
Perry is not only condesending, he’s also arrogant and liberal with taxpayers’ money. Not the kind of Republican we need in either Pierre or Washington. And of course he registered Republican – this is a Republican state and he is running for office in a Republican district. Perry may be arrogant and egotistical, but he’s not stupid. Let’s hope the voters in District 24 aren’t stupid either.
One issue that will surface is Tad Perry’s retire rehire while serving as the Executive Director for the Board of Regents. The taxpayers and voters will demand an explaination and demand to know what that did to his pocket book and to SDRS! Good luck with that and good luck convincing the blue collar state workers in Pierre that it passes the smell test. Other hard working republican candidates will surface giving the voters a better choice.
To some of you whom I respect…I am amazed..galled that you think that Tad Perry, a past and present cancer in our conservative SD could even turn your heads and make you say complimentary things about him…he is used to dining in the best of places, living high off the hog, and yet, you think his thinking has place in our legislative body.. y. Ask yourself..is he one of you..your colleague, your friend??? Does he represent small town South Dakota conservative people?? Or does he show you he is a man of money and he authorizes a super car that he can drive around in at the expense of that poor college kids??
(in the name of business of COURSE). I cannot believe that you could even be taken in by him. You may think he is smart..well, maybe..What does it profit South Dakota and its people by electing this self-serving person?? Give me examples of his philanthrophy, his time spent with the less fortunate, his love and plain clothes appeal toward college students who can barely stay in college due to lack of funds.. then you will make me a believer. Until then, I will believe that he is a man who has no interest in running for the legislature other than to feather his own nest.
Arrogant. Insensitive. Declines participation by his constituents. No understanding of human services for the disabled. Believes he is smarter than any advice from the masters in various fields. Has a reputation of fighting with the legislature and ignoring and defeating the will of the Governor and Legislature. Egoist. He has a lot of enemies in South Dakota. I hope you can tell I don’t like this man. He has injured many in South Dakota and would not be welcome for very long in the State House.
run for Board of Regents?