Category: Uncategorized

As you might expect, I’ve been watching the Legislative races, knowing that they can go from 0 to 60mph in a moment’s notice. And that was the case today, where the Republican primary in District 14 went from a sleepy-no-primary-June to a hard fought battle in which the two incumbents might end up with a horse race that could threaten them.

In House District 14 in Sioux Falls, Larry Zikmund and Tom Holmes were looking as safe as safe could be in their incumbency, which was won in last election season’s primary and then general elections.

But, there were rumblings. You hear them in several races, but it’s all rumbling until it goes past that.  I had heard last week that former Citibank attorney Dave Zimbeck was contemplating the race, but little more.

And this afternoon? Boom. Not only did I hear that he has petitions out and circulating for the GOP State House Primary in District 14, but I subsequently heard that Paul Ten Haken, Founder and CEO of Click Rain, has petitions out for the contest as well.

That just turned a sleepy non-contest into a four way free for all, in which the two top vote recipients walk away with the Republican nomination, and a chance at the big prize in November, which is the primary winners’ to lose. (We are a Republican red-state, after all).

So, put the District 14 House race on your radar. As it’s the sleepy race that just woke up with a bang!

Rapid City resident, businessman, & former City Councilman Bob Fischer is at the forefront of a national movement to find an alternative to Donald Trump for conservatives to vote for, should Trump end up as the Republican nominee.

From Politico:

Three influential leaders of the conservative movement have summoned other top conservatives for a closed-door meeting Thursday in Washington, D.C., to talk about how to stop Donald Trump and, should he become the Republican nominee, how to run a third-party “true conservative” challenger in the fall.

The organizers of the meeting include Bill Wichterman, who was President George W. Bush’s liaison to the conservative movement; Bob Fischer, a South Dakota businessman and longtime conservative convener; and Erick Erickson, the outspoken Trump opponent and conservative activist who founded RedState.com.

and…

The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, two days after winner-take-all Florida and Ohio vote in what many Republican operatives believe will determine whether Trump is on an unstoppable march to the nomination or is likely to stall out short of the 1,237 delegates he needs.

and…

Fischer, in 2012, helped bring together a group of more than 200 conservatives from across the country to unite around Rick Santorum’s candidacy. An event in Houston he put together raised $1.8 million in a day.

Read it all here.

So, do you applaud what Bob is doing, or not?

From the Rapid City Journal, the Jacqueline Sly versus Phil Jensen primary is examined:

and…

Both legislators made statewide headlines this year. Sly was co-chairwoman of the task force that proposed the one-half of 1 percentage point sales tax increase adopted by the Legislature — over Jensen’s opposition — to pay for teacher-pay increases.

Jensen drew statewide criticism for comments he made while discussing failed legislation that would have allowed the governor to close the borders of the state to refugees. Speaking to the Journal in February, Jensen said one of his constituents had witnessed dozens of South Americans fleeing a van parked in downtown Rapid City.

Rounds Statement on President Obama’s Nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today delivered remarks on the Senate floor after President Obama nominated Merrick Garland, chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, to the United States Supreme Court.

“Whoever is confirmed to fill the open seat on the Supreme Court will be serving a lifetime appointment,” said Rounds. “Keeping in mind the current political makeup of the court, the man or woman who will replace Justice Scalia has the potential to hold incredible influence over the ideological direction of the court for a generation to come. It is critically important that the next justice is committed to upholding the principles of the Constitution. We owe it to Justice Scalia, our judicial system and the Constitution to uphold the highest standards when determining our next Supreme Court Justice. We also owe it to the American people to make certain their voice is heard in this election.”

 

Thune Statement on Obama Nominee to Supreme Court

“The American people deserve to have their voices heard on the nomination of the next Supreme Court justice, who could fundamentally alter the direction of the Supreme Court for a generation.”

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement after President Obama nominated Merrick Garland to the U.S. Supreme Court:

“For the last seven years, President Obama has attempted to circumvent Congress and the will of the American people with unconstitutional, overreaching regulations. The Senate Republican majority was elected to be a check and balance to President Obama.

“The American people deserve to have their voices heard on the nomination of the next Supreme Court justice, who could fundamentally alter the direction of the Supreme Court for a generation. Since the next presidential election is already underway, the next president should make this lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court.”

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Governor’s Statement On Mid-Central Charges 

PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Dennis Daugaard issued the following statement today in response to the charges filed against individuals involved with Mid-Central Cooperative:

“Today’s announcement shows that Secretary Schopp was right to cancel Mid Central’s management contract and that there was misconduct that went beyond incompetence to actively attempting to deceive the Department and to undermine audits and oversight. I appreciate the work of the Attorney General and the Auditor General in getting to the bottom of this.”

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I guess my question from back in November was answered today….

Attorney General Files Charges in Connection to GEAR UP Financial Investigation

PIERRE, S.D.- Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that Complaints have been filed charging three individuals for their roles in the financial misconduct case surrounding the GEAR UP Program.

“There has been a tragic loss of a young family and financial decisions made affecting funding set aside for important purposes including Native American children. As Attorney General, I will continue to address what has happened with state, federal and local authorities and restore the public’s trust,” said Jackley.

The following have been charged:

Daniel Mark Guericke, 58, White Lake, 2 counts of falsification of evidence, class 6 felony, punishable by up to 2 years imprisonment in the state penitentiary and/or $4,000 fine, 4 counts of conspiracy to offer forged or fraudulent evidence, class 5 felony, punishable as a Class 6 felony, with a maximum sentence of 2 years imprisonment and/or $4,000 fine.

Stephanie A. Hubers, 43, Geddes, 1 count of grand theft, class 4 felony, punishable by up to 10 years in the state penitentiary and/or $20,000 fine, 2 counts of grand theft by deception, class 4 felony, punishable by up to 10 years in the state penitentiary and/or $20,000 fine, 3 alternative counts of receiving stolen property, class 4 felony, punishable by up to 10 years in the state penitentiary and/or $20,000 fine,

Stacy Lee Phelps, 42, Rapid City, 2 counts of falsification of evidence, class 6 felony, punishable by up to 2 years imprisonment and/or $4,000 fine, 2 counts of conspiracy to offer forged or fraudulent evidence, class 5 felony, punishable as a Class 6 felony,  with a maximum sentence of 2 years imprisonment and/or $4,000 fine.

All defendants were given the opportunity to voluntarily turn themselves in on arrest warrants. They have cooperated and have been released by the Court on bond conditions. These individuals are presumed innocent until such time as proven guilty.

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Thune Examines How Self-Driving Vehicles Could Benefit Consumers and Businesses

“Driverless vehicle technology is at our fingertips, and Congress must work to ensure that the framework through which this technology is developed encourages growth and innovation and is not stifled by regulatory red tape.”

Thune learned firsthand about the advancements of driverless vehicle technology.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today led a committee hearing that examined the potential safety benefits driverless vehicle technology could have for South Dakota consumers and businesses. Prior to the hearing, Thune participated in a test ride with an industry engineer who demonstrated the advancement of this technology.

“Imagine a Sioux Falls family jumping in their car for a trip to Mount Rushmore and mom or dad never have to touch the steering wheel during their entire 350-plus mile drive,” said Thune. “Or how about a small business owner in Aberdeen who needs to deliver his or her product to a store in Watertown. With this technology, rather than focusing on the road, they could be filling out paperwork, making phone calls, or sending an email. Driverless vehicle technology is at our fingertips, and Congress must work to ensure that the framework through which this technology is developed encourages growth and innovation and is not stifled by regulatory red tape.”

Thune, who has chaired the Senate Commerce Committee since the beginning of last year, has made it a priority for the committee to examine ways for the United States to remain at the forefront of the technological revolution. Earlier this month, the committee passed Thune’s MOBILE NOW Act, which would help advance the nation’s wireless broadband future, and has held hearings on the “Internet of Things” as well as the challenges facing cybersecurity.

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I caught this ad for the first time while having Lunch yesterday, and it just resurrects earlier concerns over Trump’s electability.

If he’s the nominee (God help us), can he win while facing a constant barrage of advertising like this?

Finck declares candidacy for District 19 State Senate

TRIPP, SD– Tripp native Caleb Finck announced today that he will run for State Senate in South Dakota’s 19th District. Finck is currently South Dakota State University as student body president, and recently served as a legislative intern with the South Dakota House of Representatives.

Petitions for his senate campaign were taken out on Monday, and Finck plans to share his campaign platform with voters on a one-on-one basis as he gathers signatures.

The maintenance of a strong education system in South Dakota will be a priority in Finck’s campaign. “I want our state’s education system to be vibrant and competitive,” Finck said. “The taxpayers of District 19, and the state at large, will know that if they send me to Pierre, they will have an advocate for an education system that promotes growth and opportunity.”

Finck, who grew up on a farm six miles south of Tripp, will return to the family farm upon his graduation from SDSU in May, where he will be awarded a degree in Agricultural Leadership. Finck also plans on furthering his education with an online masters in Community Development.

“I am a strong supporter of new technology and precision in farming, and I want to be a solid voice for agriculture in South Dakota,” he said. During his campaign, Finck will emphasize the pivotal role that education plays in the state’s economic development.

Finck’s rural roots guided him to select community development as his area of graduate study, and intends to put the knowledge acquired in that program to use by promoting economic growth in rural South Dakota.

“When I was a kid I heard the phrase, ‘We are only as strong as our smallest community,” Finck said. “We need to do everything we can to keep our small towns strong and continue to make them stronger.”

An active member of the South Dakota College Republicans and a volunteer for numerous statewide political campaigns, Finck is excited to begin his own campaign in District 19.

“I am absolutely ready to put in the hard work necessary to earn this seat,” Finck stated. “As I continue to meet the people of District 19, I am encouraged by my decision to pursue this path of public service, and I look forward to building a relationship with them throughout this campaign.”

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Just a note from the Editor –

If you want to support Caleb in his race for District 19 State Senate, feel free to send a donation to:

Caleb Finck for State Senate
29248 410th Ave
Tripp, SD 57376

Oh, and lest I forget – GO JACKS!!