Author: Pat Powers

As we’re still trying to figure out if it’s safe to go back out in the water, and we’ve finally just figured out how to make the backgrounds for our Zoom meetings, web traffic continues to be great as we move forward in the election cycle.  And Dakotawarcollege.com continues to be a great place to get your message in front of elected officials and opinion leaders via an advertisement in Advertiser’s row.

If someone is making laws, keeping up on the issues or what’s happening in campaigns, or promoting legislation, they’re stopping here to check the temperature on South Dakota’s political climate. South Dakota War College provides candidates, companies, and organizations a unique opportunity to direct a targeted message at South Dakota’s politically active elected officials, and community opinion leaders.

Advertising on the Dakotwarcollege.com website is based on a first come, first serve basis for available positions.  Advertising slots on the right are 300 px wide up to 350 px tall, and may be either static image, animated .gif, or other, as long as the file size is within acceptable file parameters, does not impede the loading of the website, or interfere with existing code.  All ads run through-site, and are not rotated in their positions.

Information on ad prices, ad positions, and required ad commitments may be directed to the webmaster by clicking here.

And if you’re just an avid reader, as always, please don’t forget to visit our advertisers who make it possible to bring you the best in South Dakota politics such as the South Dakota Bankers Association, the SDGOP, State Representative David Anderson, Alex Jensen for Sioux Falls,  the South Dakota Chapter of Americans for Prosperity,  Kristi Noem for Governor, John Thune for US Senate, Mike Rounds for Senate, and Dusty Johnson for Congress.

Drop a note today to find out more!

Okay now. This is the second year in a row where South Dakota Democrats think they’re a charity.

Lsat year it was Billie Sutton’s wife who wanted you to open up your wallet to the Billie Sutton organization . Now, Reynold Nesiba wants you to give to the Democrats’ PAC as a charity:

Just as last year, it’s a crass attempt at grabbing cash on Giving Tuesday by politicians.

Please do support Make a Wish & Feeding South Dakota, or any of the thousands of other worthy charitable organizations on Giving Tuesday.

Not the Democrats PAC.

Hot out of my mailbox, Dusty Johnson has received the endorsement of the national Right to Life organization in the 2020 South Dakota Republican Congressional Primary:

The National Rifle Association continues to offer it’s endorsements in this years’ primary elections, and has gone with the incumbents in two more contests:

Senator Mike Rounds was endorsed in the US Senate race over Scyller Borglum, and Congressman Dusty Johnson was chosen over “that other person” in the congressional race.

It’s official.

From the field, a Liz May for Congress sign has been spotted in Sioux Falls. Which means that an inanimate piece of plastic with her logo has spent more time in Sioux Falls for the entirely of the campaign season than the candidate Liz May has herself.

I do notice that they’re specifically designed for the primary campaign. …which means that they already expect they’re going no further.

Secretary Vanneman Announces Retirement;
Lieutenant Governor Rhoden to Step In as Interim Secretary

PIERRE, S.D. – Secretary Kim Vanneman, Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Agriculture, publicly announced her retirement today. Her last day as Secretary of Agriculture will be May 8, 2020. Lieutenant Governor Larry Rhoden will step in as Interim Secretary of Agriculture.

“Kim and I have worked together on agriculture policy for almost twenty years, and she is a dear friend to me and to South Dakota agriculture,” said Governor Noem. “Her service has been invaluable for today’s farmers and ranchers, the next generation to follow them, and the state of South Dakota as a whole. While her title will change, she will continue to be a valuable advisor and advocate to me on behalf of South Dakota farmers and ranchers.”

Prior to her time as Secretary of Agriculture, Vanneman served as a director for Farm Credit Services of America, Farm Credit Council, Farm Credit Foundations, and FCC Services. She was a member of the State House of Representatives from 2007-2013, serving on the Agriculture and Natural Resources committee all six years.

“I want to thank Governor Noem for the opportunity to serve as South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture. It has been an honor to work with the producers and agricultural organizations promoting, protecting, and preserving South Dakota agriculture,” said Secretary Vanneman. “The remote work model the past several weeks has made me aware of what I am missing out on with my family and operating our family farm. It’s spring—a time of new beginnings. It is time for me to spend more time home with family and focus on our 111 year old family farm.”

Vanneman and her husband, Clint, own and operate Vanneman Farms north of Winner. Their diversified operation includes row crops, small grains, feeder pigs, a commercial beef cow herd, and a feedlot. Kim and Clint have three children and four grandchildren.

“I also want to thank Kim for her years of service fighting for South Dakota agriculture,” said Lieutenant Governor Rhoden. “I realize these are big shoes to fill, but given that my life’s work has been in agriculture, I appreciate the opportunity to advocate on behalf of our state’s number one industry. My immediate focus will be on helping our state’s agriculture industry turn the corner following this pandemic, especially the meat producers who have become all too familiar with supply chain bottlenecks.”

“Lieutenant Governor Rhoden has been instrumental in helping South Dakota’s producers handle the fallout from the Smithfield situation,” saidGovernor Noem.  “He’s well-prepared to step into this role.  I know he’ll serve as the strong leader our agriculture industry needs right now.”

For more information on the South Dakota Department of Agriculture, visitsdda.sd.gov.

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From Facebook, US Senator Mike Rounds announced today that he received the endorsement in his race from the National Right to Life organization:

Oakes announces candidacy for District 30 Senator

Gideon Oakes announced Tuesday he is seeking the state senate seat currently held by Sen. Lance Russell, who has opted to run instead for Fall River County State’s Attorney.

Oakes, 34, is a Keystone-area real estate agent and former restaurateur who currently serves as chairman of the Libertarian Party of South Dakota. He and his wife, Mary, have two children.

In addition to being elected twice to the Keystone Board of Trustees between 2012 and 2016, he has also served on the Keystone Fire Protection District as well as the boards of several civic organizations including Black Hills & Badlands Association, Keystone Economic Development Association, Holy Terror Days Association and United Way of the Southern Black Hills.

Oakes first ran for the seat in 2018 against Russell, a Republican, and Democrat Kristine Ina Winter, earning 2,134 votes, or nearly one in five of all votes cast. He also was endorsed by several prominent local leaders, including Mike Verchio, Lyndell Petersen, Phil Lampert, Jim Sword, Jared Carson and Sandi McLain.

“We brought a unifying message that resonated with Republicans, Democrats, Independents and Libertarians alike,” Oakes said. “And we’re going to do the same thing in 2020. If there’s one thing we need during these trying times, it’s unity.”

This year, with no Democrats in the race and no GOP incumbent, Oakes is optimistic about his chances. Once nominated at his party’s state convention in May, he will go head to head in November with the winner of the June primary between Rep. Julie Frye-Muller of Rapid City and Hot Springs Mayor George Kotti.

“Over the years, I’ve watched many principled candidates go to Pierre, only to be brought in line by their party leadership. And, I’ve also seen candidates go to Pierre with such a narrow agenda that they become a voice for only a select few,” Oakes said. “I will always put principle before party, and above all, I will always listen.”

Oakes said he and his team knocked on more than 3,500 doors across the district during his 2018 run. District 30 includes Fall River and Custer counties and most of Pennington County outside of Rapid City and Box Elder, stretching from the Wyoming border to east of Wall.

Repeating that feat, however, may prove difficult during the current pandemic.

“Hopefully people remember the conversations we had on their doorsteps two years ago,” Oakes said. “Nobody wants the election to be defined by illness, but the political landscape is remarkably different this year. The one thing COVID-19 doesn’t change, though, is the fact that our success will depend on how many of our neighbors we can reach.”

Oakes’ campaign website, ElectOakes.com, lists the candidate’s phone number and encourages voters to call, text or video chat with questions.

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The latest tweet form the Argus newsroom:

Isn’t “going too easy” on someone the same as “not hard enough?”   Not to mention the derogatory use of “People who belong to tribes.”

SOUTH DAKOTA LEADS 44 STATES IN FILING AMICUS CURIAE BRIEF TO JOIN US SUPREME COURT CASES DEFENDING STATE RULES REQUIRING ELECTORS TO HONOR STATE LAWS REGARDING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg is pleased to announce that a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general from 44 states and the District of Columbia have joined two United States Supreme Court cases which will decide whether presidential electors must honor state laws when casting their electoral college ballots for President of the United States.

A group of electors in Colorado and Washington, led by Harvard Law School professor Lawrence Lessig, have challenged state laws in those two states that require electors to cast their electoral college ballots for the presidential candidate who won the state’s popular vote.

The United States Supreme Court will determine the validity of the state laws in Colorado v. Baca and Chiafalo v. Washington.

“The historical record of the Constitutional Convention, and United States Supreme Court cases since, are clear that electoral college balloting is meant to reflect the vote of the state,” said Ravnsborg. “Electoral college balloting could become a free-for-all if electors cannot be required to honor the statewide popular vote.”

Electors in South Dakota and several other states currently operate on an honor system, but South Dakota may have a need to implement rules binding electors to the state’s popular vote in the future.

The United States Supreme Court postponed the April 28 argument in the cases due to coronavirus concerns.

“With or without argument, I am confident the United States Supreme Court will decide this case before the upcoming presidential election,” Ravnsborg stated. “It is important that voters know their vote for president will count and everyone knows the status of the law before voting begins in the general election.”

Joining Attorney General Ravnsborg in the amicus brief are the attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia.

A copy of the brief is available on the website of the Supreme Court of the United States.

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