An announcement is coming this morning that District 25 State Senator and Senate Majority Leader Tim Rave has resigned from the South Dakota State Legislature, effective immediately. This comes on the heels of Senate Assistant Majority Leader Dan Lederman on Monday after session, leaving a large void in Senate Republican Leadership.
In a note that went out last night from Rave to his colleagues, Rave noted:
Recently, the position of Enterprise Vice President of Public Policy at Sanford Health became available and I was honored to be offered that promotion. As I weighed this opportunity, I gave careful consideration to the fact that this new role would mean I could not continue my public service as an elected official.
After much thought, I decided to accept the promotion to Enterprise Vice President of Public Policy effective April 1st, 2015. Accordingly, I am hereby resigning as a member of the South Dakota State Senate effective March 31st, 2015 at 11:59 PM.
It has been an honor and privilege to work with all of you, and to represent and serve the citizens of District 25 and the State of South Dakota for thirteen legislative sessions. The relationships I have built and experience I have gained during my years of service have been exceptional. I am a better person for it.
I spoke with Rave this morning, who is already moving at a more frenetic pace. Regarding his resignation, Tim noted to me:
The job is right in my wheel house doing public policy for Sanford health both at the state and federal level The timing of the opportunity could’ve been better had it waited a couple years, but I couldn’t pass it up. I’ve done my public service for 13 years and decided it was time to move on and do what was best for my career and for my family.
The Governor’s office is set to issue a press release at 10 AM to note the resignation officially, and to speak to the processes they will follow in making a replacement appointment. Current house members in the district are Representatives Kris Langer and Roger Hunt.
With both Lederman and now Rave leaving a massive void in Senate Leadership, sources inside the Senate indicate to the SDWC that the caucus will be be meeting sometime in the next few months to select a new Majority Leader and Assistant Majority Leader as they move to the 2016 elections; an election cycle which will start far earlier for 2016 as a result of the passage of petition reform legislation this past session.
At the SDWC, we wish Senator Rave the best, both thanking him for his years of service for the time he’s given to the people of South Dakota, and congratulating him on the opportunity.
I know that Tim would never do this, but I cannot help a smile at this news being broken on April 1. Honestly, I wish it was an April Fool’s joke.
Tim has been a great public servant, both for his constituents and for all residents of South Dakota. He will be greatly missed, but I join many others in wishing him all the best for his family and future! Family is the most important vocation and Tim has more than satisfied his pledge of public stewardship. Thank you, Tim, and good luck!
I had someone telling me who commented “I hope this isn’t an April Fools Day joke.” My reply was that it would be an epic one.
I don’t think it is either. Tim has a great opportunity, and I’d take it too. Sometimes new positions require us to give up things we’ve put lots of time and energy into, but there’s an opportunity for new rewards. This is one of them.
Senator Rave has been the type of leader where he didn’t grasp limelight or credit. He kept the ball moving forward. Very big shoes to fill both in the Legislature but also the party.
Best to you Senator Rave.
Yeah, men of character always abandon their commitments when other opportunities (opportunities based upon their political connections) arrive.
sounds like a man with no opportunities through no fault of his own…
It will be interesting to hear him arguing for Sanford’s position in favor of Medicaid expansion.
A legislator leverages his power for personal gain and then abandons his commitment to his district. This should be sanctioned, not celebrated.
An enlisted soldier can’t abandon his contract and take a higher paying position with a private security firm. Doing so would be punishable under the law.
There you go. The legislature should be filled entirely by people who are independently wealthy and in no need of employment! I like it!!
That obviously isn’t what was being said, Anne. But you already knew that.
Just another day in South Dakota politics! Hahaha! Conflict of interests abound.
it was, and like the man of honor he is, he resolved it.
Senator Rave is a good man and I thank him for his selfless service to the State.
His departure leaves a void that will not be easily filled.
How is it selfless to ditch your responsibilities lecithin 5 months after being re-elected?
Tim Rave was never the brightest bulb and only did what he was told to do. He was liar frankly and the state of south is better off with him no longer in pierre.
oh sibby, you will do well on the school board and leave Rave alone.
Time to shut your pie-hole, Stace… all you ever did was abandon the dumbest voters in the state, to chase your ego into a race that you and everyone else knew you had no chance of winning.
As far as replacements go, when you look at the House, Langer is already an appointment and has only served 2 sessions. Hunt has served forever and is getting pretty old. But maybe give the old boy one year in the Senate, especially since they only have one lawyer and he’s the newbie (Rusch).
Does this mean Deb Peters will resign too?
We can only hope. Maybe she can get a desk next to his at Sanford & Son so she can giggle and hold his hand.