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After my post, the Argus Leader came out with a story of their own on former PUC Chairman and Daugaard Chief of Staff Dusty Johnson’s plan to run for the congressional seat that Kristi Noem is going to be leaving in her own bid for Governor:

With Noem set to step down following her two-year term, the race has begun for someone else to fill the House seat.

“I’m certainly planning to run,” Johnson, 40, told Argus Leader Media Wednesday. “And the reality is that people have been asking me how they can contribute and to be able to accept those contributions I need to file the paperwork.”

The former chief of staff to Gov. Dennis Daugaard said he doesn’t plan to launch his campaign right away, but wanted to be straightforward about his intentions.

Read it here.

And if you are interested in donating to the campaign, I believe you can do so here.

Attorney General Jackley Coordinating Efforts to Implement Marsy’s Law

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota voters have passed Marsy’s Law, Constitutional Amendment S, supporting victims’ rights. The Amendment received 60 percent of the vote.

“South Dakota voters have emphasized the importance and priority of helping victims.  I am working to help our counties and to make sure victims are receiving the information that they need,” said Jackley. “I have authorized 100,000 victim notification cards from our consumer fund settlements, and I am working to expand our state’s victim notification program to incorporate our new law from funding sources other than victim use fees or counties. Counties are already working on very tight budgets and putting the entire cost of program implementation on local government would not be in our best  interest.”

With the passage of the law, constitutional requirements must be met including victim notification cards distributed to victims via law enforcement. The Marsy’s Card outlines all the victims’ rights and the process to invoke them.

Marsy’s Law expanded the definition of a victim and will require more access to the newly implemented Statewide Automated Notification System (SAVIN). SAVIN System, which was rolled out in August 2016, is a free, automated service that provides crime victims with vital information and notification 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  Victims can access the SAVIN website at https://savin.sd.gov/portal/ or contact the call center at 1-844-299-4608.

See the link below for  a copy of  the Marsy’s Card, which includes a full list  of victims’ rights.

http://atg.sd.gov/docs/MarsysLawCard11.15.2016.pdf

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This AM, if you notice in the feeds at the right of the page under our sponsors, there was a filing with the FEC for Friends of Dusty Johnson.

I spoke with Dusty on the campaign this morning when this popped up on my website feed, and he offered the following statement.

“It’s an important time for our country, and I want to make a difference.  I think I’d be an effective voice for South Dakota and I’m planning to run for Congress. 

The election is a long way away, of course.  We are months away from parades and commercials and postcards and debates . . . thank goodness.  I’m not launching a campaign today, but I do want to be honest with people.  I’m not good at dropping political hints or being coy, so I will come right out and say it:  Our seat in Congress is important, and I’m interested in serving.“

All I have to say is “Go Dusty!”

Paige Wilbur Bock Appointed by Attorney General Jackley to Board of Pardons and Paroles

PIERRE, S.D – Attorney General Marty Jackley announced today the appointment of Paige Wilbur Bock of Sioux Falls, SD to the Board of Pardons and Paroles. Bock will fill the vacancy left by Greg Erlandson.

“Paige has demonstrated a strong desire and commitment to public service and public safety. Her strong business and legal background will serve her and our state well in the difficult and important decisions of the board,” said Jackley.

“We want to extend our appreciation to Greg Erlandson for his dedicated service on the Board of Pardons and Paroles. He has been a strong leader in protecting our communities and strengthening rehabilitation efforts for nonviolent offenders,” added Jackley.

Bock is the Contract Administrator at Zuercher in Sioux Falls, SD. She also worked as an Assistant Attorney General from 2008-2014.

The Board of Pardons and Paroles is a nine member appointed board charged with the authority to make decisions of parole, the revocation of parole, and parole policy and procedures. Three of the board members are appointed by the Governor of South Dakota, three are appointed by the Attorney General, and the remaining three are appointed by the South Dakota Supreme Court.

This appointment is subject to final confirmation by the South Dakota Senate.

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Thune Statement on Re-Election to Senate Republican Leadership

“The Republican-led Congress will work with President-elect Trump and our colleagues across the aisle to continue the work we began two years ago to improve Americans’ economic security and protect our nation.”

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement after being re-elected chairman of the Senate Republican Conference. As Conference chairman, which is the third-ranking Republican leadership post in the Senate, Thune is responsible for creating and implementing the communications strategy for the Republican Conference.

“I’m honored my colleagues re-elected me to serve as chair of the Senate Republican Conference,” said Thune. “The Republican-led Congress will work with President-elect Trump and our colleagues across the aisle to continue the work we began two years ago to improve Americans’ economic security and protect our nation. We have a lot of work to do, and we look forward to bringing our country together to address the big challenges we face.”

 

U.S. Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) were elected Republican leader, Republican whip, Republican Policy Committee chairman, Republican Conference vice chairman, and National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman, respectively.
 

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Washington based Roll Call has an article out this AM as to possible contenders for the Congressional seat being vacated by Congresswoman (And Gubernatorial contender) Kristi Noem in 2018. Who are they hearing could run for the seat?

• Secretary of State Shantel Krebs, who previously served 10 years in the state legislature.
• Dusty Johnson, the former chief of staff to Gov. Dennis Daugaard. He left the governor’s office in 2014 to become the director of consulting for Vantage Point Solutions, an engineering and consulting company. He previously headed the Public Utilities Commission, an elected position.
• Current Public Utilities Commissioner and former Secretary of State Chris Nelson. He was considered the front-runner for the at-large congressional seat six years ago before Noem defeated him in the primary.
• State Sen. R. Blake Curd, who also ran for the seat in 2010.
• Former state Sen. Larry Rhoden, who just won a seat in the state House. He ran for the seat junior Sen. Michael Rounds won in 2014 and could throw his hat in the ring for the at-large congressional seat.
• Former state Rep. Stace Nelson, who was elected to the state Senate this year. He also ran for the U.S. Senate in 2014 and could run for the at-large seat.

Read it all here.

I think they’re on in some places, but off on their calculus in others.  Dusty Johnson and Shantel Krebs are clearly in the hunt, Dusty moreso that Shantel at this point.  But the article omits Senator-elect Neal Tapio who was Trump’s campaign person in SD.

Chris Nelson was just re-elected. But if you look back to his prior congressional effort, I don’t know if he could find a path forward that would give him any greater appeal to state voters in a primary.

I don’t know if Blake Curd would want to take the pay cut, and he’s taken a lot on professionally in the intervening years. He may not be at a point in his life when he can.

Now, Larry Rhoden was noticed working the room hard at a recent event. He might have a potential interest in the race. His handicap is the same one he faced when he placed second in the US Senate, in that East River voters don’t know him.

Any movements of Stace Nelson in the race would probably be a non-starter outside of a small circle of confederates. His third place finish in the US Senate contest underlined that while he has a small circle of fervent workers, he wasn’t able to raise the level of money needed for a statewide contest. And there’s the part about South Dakota’s sitting Senators (Rounds and Thune) who would both probably make a point to get involved in the race to oppose him for Nelson’s attacks on them.

I could go on, but you get the point.

I think we will see others putting out feelers for the congressional contest, but it’s a looong way off.

Senator Thune delivered a floor speech last night on the responsibilities the new majority is charged with:

A few excerpts:

“To all the Americans who voted for change in this election, to every worker who has felt left behind in this economy, I want to say again: We hear you.

“Republicans hear you.

“And we are going to fight for your priorities here in Washington.

“We are committed to earning the trust you placed in us on Election Day.

“Mr. President, the election is over, and it’s time to take up the work of governing the nation.

“Our country is facing many challenges, and it’s time for all of us, Democrat and Republican, liberal and conservative, to unite to address them.

“If we work together, I firmly believe we will once again be able to say, as President Reagan once said,

“’America’s best days are yet to come.

“’Our proudest moments are yet to be.

“’Our most glorious achievements are just ahead.’”

The Argus story on the internal strife among South Dakota democrats was updated this evening with some very pointed comments from democratic party member and former legislator Frank Kloucek:

Frank Kloucek, a former Democratic state legislator and member of the party’s executive board and central committee, said he agreed with Hawks’ assertion that Democrats need to move in a new direction.

“Ann has to go,” he said. “The ball keeps getting dropped.”

Read it here.

Marty Jackley Sdcf disclosure by Pat Powers on Scribd