A Personal Statement from
Monae L. Johnson, South Dakota Secretary of State:
Why I Am Supporting Terrence Davis
A personal statement on judgment, competence, and the future of the South Dakota Secretary of State’s Office
“This office is too important to entrust to someone simply because of the letter beside that person’s name.”
After considerable reflection, I am personally endorsing Terrence Davis to serve as South Dakota’s next Secretary of State.
I am a Republican. Terrence is a Democrat. I understand that this decision will disappoint some people in my party and anger others. After serving in the Secretary of State’s Office for more than a decade, first as an employee and now as Secretary, I know the difference between campaigning for this office and carrying the responsibility of leading it.
My responsibility is to the people of South Dakota. I cannot remain silent when I believe the integrity, stability, and professionalism of this office is at stake.
My time in this office has taught me that election administration cannot be reduced to a single issue or a single proposal. The Secretary of State must consider the law, the information available, the effect on county officials, the security of statewide systems, the rights of voters, the cost and workload created by a change, and whether the proposal can be implemented within the deadlines the law requires. It also requires a willingness to review new information and change course when the evidence supports doing so.
The next Secretary of State will inherit statewide election and business systems, statutory deadlines, county relationships, technology projects, contracts, employees, public records responsibilities, and the administration of numerous state laws. Those responsibilities will exist on the first day in office regardless of what was said during the campaign, and the person elected will be responsible for making the office work for every South Dakotan who relies on it.
I believe voters should review the three candidates’ records, the legislation and policies they have supported, their professional backgrounds, and what their proposals would require in practice. There are significant differences between the candidates in this contest, and the public record gives South Dakotans the information they need to examine those differences for themselves.
Terrence Davis comes to this contest with a different professional background. He has experience in law enforcement and public service, earned a degree in Criminal Justice, later pursued a master’s degree in public policy, and is currently pursuing doctoral studies in Law and Policy. He has publicly identified transparency, voting rights, and making government systems work for the people who use them as priorities of his candidacy.
Those areas have a direct connection to the work of the Secretary of State’s Office. This office deals with South Dakota law every day and requires the Secretary to understand statutes, administer deadlines, work with attorneys and local officials, oversee statewide systems, respond to public-record requirements, manage employees and contracts, and make decisions affecting voters, candidates, businesses, political committees, and county governments. Election administration is only one part of the job. Business Services administers the filings and records South Dakota businesses rely on, including business registrations, annual reports, UCC and EFS filings, and fictitious names. General Services carries its own statewide responsibilities, including notary commissions, apostilles and authentications, lobbyist registrations, and concealed pistol permit records. Those functions affect businesses, lenders, public officials, and citizens every day, and they demand the same accuracy, reliable systems, responsive service, and sound administration that elections require.
South Dakota deserves a Secretary of State who will strengthen confidence through performance rather than provocation; who will support election officials rather than burden them for political effect; who will protect voter access and election security without pretending those goals are enemies; and who will treat the office’s employees, voters, candidates, and business owners with dignity.
I have spent more than a decade in this office. I have carried its responsibilities, defended its people, learned from its challenges, and worked to leave it stronger. With that experience, and with full understanding of what this endorsement may cost me, I believe Terrence Davis is the candidate best prepared to protect the office and serve South Dakota with seriousness, steadiness, and integrity.
That is why I am asking South Dakotans, Republicans, Democrats, and Libertarians, independents, and everyone in between, to look beyond the letter beside a candidate’s name, examine the record and the temperament of the candidates seeking this responsibility, and vote for Terrence Davis for Secretary of State.
Monae L. Johnson
South Dakota Secretary of State
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This is a personal political statement. Not an official statement or endorsement of the South Dakota Secretary of State’s Office.
The winds, they are a-shifting. Props to Sec Johnson for this.
That takes courage, resolve, and a backbone of steel to put the good of the state ahead of petty partisan politics especially when you know the Godzilla-sized toddlerific tantrum that will be coming from the kooky far right, whose true beliefs are only in their own delusions of self-righteousness (really, the only real “right” ness they possess). Well done, Monae.
Monae probably wouldn’t want to be associated with your bitterness.
You think a poster pointing out the bad behavior of a group of people is “bitter?” Interesting take.
Terrence is professional and open minded. Baxter is not. It’s that simple
The Republican convention keeps nominating less than qualified people. Until that changes, Democrats become an attractive alternative.
Every far right yard in McPherson Co (including those of the county gop executive board) have Frank for PUC signs…. So no Baxter fan should be surprised…. Let’s go Davis and Haggar!!
Very well written and to the point. SD deserves a well rounded, professional Sec. of State who won’t politicize the office. Baxter is a known unknown, whose past statements and votes show just how far right she is. If elected, she will be spending a lot of time in court with AG Russell. Ugh.
Yes, Baxter is nuts. But isn’t it ironic that Monae used these same far right convention delegates to get into office in the first place? I give her credit for gaining clarity on how the office should be run and by most accounts she has done well with it. But how she started and how she got there is something I won’t forget. And how she’s leaving by endorsing the Democrat over the candidate who beat her is something many Republicans won’t forget.
Do you think republicans should always vote R no matter who the candidates are, though? If the GOP nominates an underqualified lunatic and not voting for them is “bad” because party unity, doesnt that say something about putting party ahead of country and state?
From what we’ve seen from Secretary Johnson to date, I’d say this is more she’s sour about losing at the Republican Convention.
MAGA kooks fighting over who’s the kookiest.
Who wins?
Not South Dakota.