Author: @SoDakCampaigns

Keeping Resolutions for 2020
By Governor Kristi Noem

Sometimes it seems that breaking New Year’s resolutions are as much of a tradition as making them. We commit ourselves to getting in shape or quitting bad habits, but by January 15, many have already strayed. It’s easy to blame this on self-discipline or holiday leftovers, but research suggests it has more to do with how we set goals.

Studies show we’re more likely to achieve our resolutions if we set specific goals. And once those goals are set, we ought to tell someone so we don’t go it alone. With this approach in mind, I decided to put together a list of specific and public resolutions for 2020 that will move us toward a stronger South Dakota.

This year, I will work to update and enhance our state’s policies surrounding critical areas like suicide prevention, mental health, education, habitat, and business growth. We will work to expand internet access so people can start businesses. We will work to strengthen our economy in order to increase opportunity. We will strengthen laws to crack down on sex trafficking and provide hope to victims. We must work to ensure our codes and laws strengthen families and drive innovation throughout the state.

As governor, I also recognize the importance of building strong relationships. Throughout 2019, I worked to develop connections with members of the legislature. This year I want to improve communication, foster stronger relationships, and work more effectively on behalf of all South Dakotans.

Additionally, I’m committed to strengthening alliances with tribal leaders. Before session even starts, I will be attending a tribal summit with several tribal chairmen and presidents in order to hear more about the issues impacting Native American communities. We have so much more in common than we have at odds, and this year, I will work to connect our communities in new and meaningful ways.

There’s a lot I want to get done in 2020 – more of which I’ll be talking about in my State of the State Address on January 14 – but these are resolutions I’m committed to keeping. Because my mission is the same as it’s been since day one: to make South Dakota stronger for the next generation. 

Bring on 2020. The best is yet to come.

It looks like former Governor Dennis Daugaard has a lot of faith in Alex Jensen. Because he’s gone all-in on the former legislator’s campaign for City Council in a big way with a $10,000 donation from his former Gubernatorial campaign account:

Municipal Candidate Committee_ Alex Jensen for Sioux Falls_ Campaign Finance Disclosure Report_ at-Large Co… by Pat Powers on Scribd

But, it’s not just former Governor Daugaard who has underlined his support of Alex Jensen for Sioux Falls City Council. It’s a list of Republicans within town and outside of Sioux Falls who are all pulling for former legislator Jensen in the campaign.

Deb Soholt. Jeff Partridge. Mark Mickelson. Jason Ravnsborg. Steve Kirby. Tim Rave. Deb Peters. Christine Erickson. Lee Schoenbeck. Joel Dykstra. Dave Knudson. Corey Brown. ..and the list of current and former elected Republican officials goes on and on.

The takeaway is that Alex Jensen is just getting started in the campaign for Sioux Falls City Council against likely opponent Theresa Stehly.

And he’s already out of the gate like a freight train.

After 15 years, Republican State Senator Ryan Maher has decided that he’s no longer going to include tavern owner in his resume, according to the Timber Lake Newspaper:

Nearly 16 years after he first went to work at Sparky’s Bar and Grill, longtime owner Ryan Maher is making an exit from the Isabel eatery. Maher, who started at Sparky’s in 2004 and purchased the business a year later, has sold to his brother and sister-in-law.

Read that story here.

I’m wondering out there tonight, exactly how many GOP County Chairs received an e-mail this evening asking them to provide personal phone and e-mail contact information for the Neal Tapio for US House campaign?

Because there’e the e-mail that went out tonight from Cole Heisey representing himself as part of the Neal Tapio campaign in making the request.

We don’t know much about Mr. Heisey, other than when he declared in the USD Volante School Newspaper that “Monogamy is overrated,” and told the female student body “Don’t we restrict ourselves by combining only two?  And not three and four?”

(Yeah..  And while he’s on the campaign trail tonight, smoking jacket/playboy mansion attitude guy can stay away from my daughters, thank you.)

Anyway, getting back to Mr Hefner . Heisey’s e-mail:

———- Forwarded message ———
From: Neal Tapio <tapioforsd@gmail.com>
Date: redacted
Subject: Senator Neal Tapio – Contact Info Request
To: redacted

Hi,

My name is Cole Heisey. I am helping out Former State Senator, Neal Tapio, as he explores a potential run for the U.S. House. We would like to gather all the SD Republican Delegate’s contact information from redacted  County. Neal would like to reach out over the phone or email. We would appreciate the contact information for the following:

_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________
_________________

Best,
Cole

Some of the requests for personal contact information are short. Some are longer. But ultimately, it appears that Neal is setting his plan in motion to try to spark a run for United States House with the help of Cole Heisey.

I’ve got a count of three counties at the moment. If you’ve been approached to give up delegates’s personal data, drop me a note here, so we can find out more.

Top Political Stories of 2019: #1 – Kristi Noem sworn in as Governor

On Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019, Kristi Noem was sworn in as South Dakota’s 33rd governor, the first woman to hold the position in South Dakota. And hardly a day goes by where Kristi is not in the news.

While her predecessor, Governor Dennis Daugaard had to be focused on the financial stability of South Dakota out of necessity right out of the gate, Noem was able to start her term committed to her core values. She’s direct on policy, and to the point. Think Bill Janklow.

After years in Congress, where Noem displayed a desire for direct action and at times not mincing words about it  – as she made clear in the 2014 farm bill – in that body, you’re still one of hundreds trying to accomplish things.  Now as Governor, there’s no mistaking that she’s ready to get some things done.

Kristi is about priorities, and when she wants things to happen, they happen. She’s also is setting her own path as Governor and has proved that anyone thinking of putting her in the corner does so at their peril.

When the legislature decided it was going to cut more than the Governor was proposing in the state’s budget, as well as other actions that garnered the attention of the second floor, they quickly found out that this was not the chief executive to try that with as Governor Noem clearly and concisely told them how it was going to be. This is a departure from the style of her last two predecessors in the Governor’s office. Governor Noem is not a pushover, and is not afraid to dress down other elected officials when she believes they have it coming.

2019 has seen Noem move forward many of the planks in her platform of governance. She’s moved forward programs on pheasant habitat and hunting, supporting campus free speech, pipeline legislation, constitutional carry, expanding broadband, meth education, and drawing a line in the sand on illegal drugs.

While moving forward, Noem has also shown flexibility beyond her own priorities when needed.

A group of parents with children on the autism spectrum brought legislation to address shortcomings in state insurance law regarding coverage for autism treatments but it failed in the legislature. In a post-session response, Noem noted there may be a solution outside of legislation – and to the surprise of many she delivered by asking the federal government to add it as an essential health benefit in health insurance plans in South Dakota.   When some were critical of the fact that the change would not take place until 2021, Noem negotiated health insurance offerings to be available in 2020, a year earlier than the benefit change would have taken effect.

Make no mistake (speaking as someone on the inside on these fights) these are not changes that would have taken place unless the call came directly from the top that this was something that needed to happen.  The state insurance bureaucracy and private companies make changes at a glacial pace.  These things happened in weeks and short months.

2019 also marked new challenges for state government that the chief executive had to respond to and begin preparing for the future, as South Dakota – which has been in a drought state for many years – suddenly had an overabundance of rainfall, causing new problems to plan for and deal with.

As noted in a recent article,  Noem acknowledges that “storms, tornadoes and flooding that devastated communities across the state was one of the biggest challenges she faced in her first year in office” and will continue to challenge the administration.

In 2019, the Noem administration has not been without its critics, as even Kristi might concede there’s room for working towards middle ground, noting in the same recent article that she considered herself “teachable.”

Kristi Noem being sworn in as Governor was the biggest political story of the year, her actions have continued to be among the biggest political stories of the year, and nothing is likely to change in 2020 as she keeps with the strong executive model of state government.

Top Political Stories of 2019 – Honorable Mention: John Thune selected as US Senate Majority Whip

One of the big political happenings of 2019 was South Dakota’s senior US Senator John Thune assuming the second highest office in the US Senate, and being named Majority Whip on January 3, 2019.  Thune had been the #3 person in the US Senate, but replaced John Cornwyn who served in the position for six years, until he was term limited out.

It’s a tremendously important position in the Republican Caucus, and could set Thune up to be Majority Leader, if the position held by Mitch McConnell opens up. And it has helped Thune be at the forefront of driving issues for South Dakota, such as his 5G and robocall legislation.  

Why wasn’t the Thune move bigger news?  Moving from #3 to #2 in the Senate Republican Caucus was not a tremendous leap for one of South Dakota’s favorite sons. And as he’s done ever since he was elected, Senator Thune puts his nose to the grindstone, and does his job, and is back in the state as often as possible. John Thune is the same John that South Dakotans have known for decades, so he certainly doesn’t wear the new position on his sleeve.

There’s been no putting on of airs by the Senator, even though his new office is a little nicer.

It’s as politically important an event as anything else that happened this year, and well worth recognizing!

Governor Noem Announces Staff Changes for the New Year

PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Kristi Noem today announced the addition of Maggie Seidel as Senior Advisor and Policy Director, as well as the departures of Joshua Shields, Chief of Staff to the Governor’s Office, and Emily Kiel, Communications Director.  

 

Seidel joins the team after having served as Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Communications for the American Property Casualty Insurance Association. Prior to that she worked for the Charles Koch Institute, the Consumer Bankers Association as well as conservative Members of Congress from Nebraska, Virginia, Texas, and New Jersey on Capitol Hill. She holds a Master’s degree in Economics from George Mason University. 

 

“I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining the Governor’s team,” said Seidel. “Her vision for South Dakota and its wonderful people is one that should be replicated across the country. Her commitment to preserving liberty and long-term, sustainable economic growth is inspiring, and I look forward to helping her advance her agenda on behalf of the people of the state of South Dakota.”

 

“Josh has been an integral part of my leadership team over the last year, and we will miss him,” said Noem. “I am very thankful for his dedication and hard work for the people of South Dakota. Josh worked longer hours than most of us realize, and his expertise and insight has been so helpful to me personally. I’m certain God will continue to bless him and his family.”

 

“It has been one of the great honors of my life to serve my home state of South Dakota,” said Shields. “I am thankful for the opportunity the Governor provided me to help make a difference on behalf of the citizens of our great state. While there is more work to be done, we have accomplished much in the first year of Governor Noem’s tenure, and the team is well-equipped to build on that success in year two.”

 

Prior to serving as Chief of Staff, Shields was the Chief of Policy & Communications in the Governor’s Office. Previously, Shields worked in politics, policy, and communications in varying capacities including with then-Congresswoman Noem. Shields also served as Noem’s campaign manager for her first congressional run in 2010.  

 

Governor Noem’s Communications Director, Emily Kiel, also will be pursuing new endeavors in the New Year.

 

“Emily has been fantastic to work with this year,” said Noem. “The people of South Dakota are blessed that she will continue to serve them in state government.”

 

During the transition, Seidel will assist with the day-to-day management of the communications team. 

 

Tony Venhuizen, who is outside legal counsel to the Governor’s Office and previously served as Chief of Staff to Governor Dennis Daugaard, will take on additional duties, on a temporary basis, for the 2020 Legislative Session. Venhuizen will focus on legislative relations and administrative matters.

Well, that’s interesting…

2019 dem dec fec by Pat Powers on Scribd

After reworking their financials a month or so ago, South Dakota Democrats had been showing a little rosier picture. But a month later, despite dumping expenses, they’re still spending as much as they’re taking in, if not a little more.. but now they’ve got a loan to pay back.

Watch out for flying binders on Monday!

Because Minnesota Presidential candidate and nominee for least favorite boss of the year Amy Klobuchar is coming to Sioux Falls for a Rally.

Klobuchar is scheduled to be at the home of former US Attorney Brendan Johnson on Mon, Dec 23, from 11:00am to 12:30pm.

It’s kind of a win/win for Brendan. He gets to host a presidential candidate now, and then can host a different candidate after she drops out.

Stay tuned.