Category: Uncategorized

Want to ask for money for a campaign? Make it personal.

@SoDakCampaigns

Candidates – There’s a great article that just came out from Campaigns and Elections that it’s worth taking 5 minutes to read that won’t only benefit you in fundraising, but in campaigning as a whole. It’s about Making Fundraising Personal:

Rarely do they volunteer the information that a contributor wants to know: Can you win and how will you win? Candidates often mask their discomfort with asking for money. They enjoy talking to constituents, going to meetings and being part of events, but put off whenever possible doing fundraising. Fundraising doesn’t have to be a negative experience — and it won’t be, if you make it personal.

Sure, asking for money doesn’t come easy to most people. To ask, you need to be ready to answer the question: Why should I give you money? And responding to the question requires a candidate to talk about his or her qualities. Most people have a difficult time talking about their qualities.

But if a candidate gets comfortable talking about himself or herself, fundraising will be a much easier and more pleasant task. Moreover, once that comfort level is achieved, here are some ways candidates can help grow their fundraising hauls.

Read the entire article here.

Rep. Hickey responds to Argus Story on 2012 Petitions

@SoDakCampaigns

From my e-mail, Rep. Hickey responds to Jonathan Ellis’ story at Argus Leader.com on questions about his 2012 Petitions:

hickeyThe following is neither an admission nor an apology, it is merely a statement. No hard feelings towards the Argus; Jonathan Ellis is a good reporter and someone I like, and he did his job well when someone who doesn’t like me handed him red meat. And I take no issue with Hartford city council people who’ve said what they’ve said. I want them to be honest and it’s always been important to me that I am as well.

Of course I’m bummed at anything that undermines my integrity and especially the trust of the people here in District 9. I do hope I have been sufficiently transparent and truthful in my years in office such that it is believable when I say now if I was aware of any monkey business with my petitions I would have not turned them in. I’m not sure how to explain that some who signed the two contested sheets say I was the circulator and others who signed say I was not. It was three years ago and of what I do remember , I remember feeling good about my petitions, was glad to have meet the deadline, was glad they were certified by the SOS and obviously they weren’t challenged that election year.

It is important to me that everything relating to me is above board and I welcome at any point for people to challenge me if something seems amiss. No one in my district is under the impression I have no flaws. I’m thankful even for these unpleasant days and the things I’m learning. The trust the voters put in me I pledge to never betray.

SH

Now it’s Steve Hickey’s petition signatures being questioned

@SoDakCampaigns

Dare I ask….. Here we go again?  From the Argus:

Several registered voters in Hartford who signed the petition to put state Rep. Steve Hickey’s name on the 2012 ballot say the lawmaker wasn’t present at the time, even though Hickey signed an oath that says he witnessed their signatures.

and..

But now questions have emerged about some of the petitions Hickey submitted in 2012. Two lawmakers at the time, Sen. Deb Peters and former Rep. Bob Deelstra, reportedly collected signatures for Hickey after his original signatures were disqualified because of a technicality by Jason Gant, who was then secretary of state. However, Hickey signed the petitions indicating that he collected the signatures.

and…

Some of the signatures submitted by Hickey were collected after a Hartford City Council meeting on March 20, 2012. Several city officials say they have no recollection of Hickey being at the meeting.

and…

But the petitions from that year do show that he had help from Lora Hubbel, who was then a state representative. Hubbel, however, signed the petitions she circulated and had them notarized.

and..

“My problem with Steve Hickey is he threw Annette Bosworth under the bus for something he did himself,” she said.

Read it all here.

If this is Lora making the accusation, I’d strongly consider the source. 

But it could be more problematic if the others named confirm her story.

Never a dull moment.

Gov. Daugaard’s Statement On RESTORE Resolution

@SoDakCampaigns

Gov. Daugaard’s Statement On RESTORE Resolution 

PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Dennis Daugaard issued the following statement today in support of U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds’ bipartisan Regulation Sensibility Through Oversight Restoration (RESTORE) Resolution:

 “Federal rules have huge impacts and are very burdensome on states and citizens, and I know my fellow governors are very concerned by it. I hope Congress will embrace Sen. Rounds’ proposal and will take this opportunity to reassert its authority over rule making, and I commend him for advancing it.”

 If passed, the resolution would create a Joint Select Committee to consider the practicality of establishing a rules review process for Congress. South Dakota and 40 other states use comparable processes at the state-level which allow legislatures to weigh in on executive branch rules.

 The committee would also hold hearings on the effects of current regulations and recommend ways to eliminate unnecessary or overly burdensome regulations. 

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Heading back to our nation’s capitol

@SoDakCampaigns

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It was planned, fell through, and with the purchase of my airline tickets, it’s officially back on. I’m heading back to Washington DC in a couple of weeks.

I’ll have a much fuller dance card than I did last July, as I’m going to be attending a conference sponsored by Autism Speaks, as opposed to tagging along with my wife and sightseeing. I’ll have the conference, as well as visits to the offices of our elected officials in the Senate and Congress.

But that doesn’t mean I’m not going to try to fit a few touristy things in.

The Arlington National Cemetery was one thing I didn’t hit last time I was there, and I’d like to see it, as well as the Air & Space Museum. And my wife wants to get to the lower levels of the Smithsonian American History Museum that I missed before.

Any other suggestions?

Lt. Gov. Matt Michels Weekly Column: “Be The Cure” In South Dakota

@SoDakCampaigns

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“Be The Cure” In South Dakota
A column by Lt. Gov. Matt Michels:

Matt MichelsI currently serve as South Dakota’s Lt. Governor, but I have had the opportunity to wear a lot of different “hats” throughout the years. Few have been as formative as my nurse “hat.” Nursing exposed me to people from many different walks of life and taught me about compassion, as well as countless other life lessons. But, it also taught me about the far-reaching impact of medical ailments and the importance of doing what we can, as a society, to confront those ailments.

Public health should be everyone’s concern. Over the years, the development of new medicines has been vital in helping people live longer and healthier lives. Clinical trials are the primary route by which patients can voluntarily participate in the drug development process, receive access to unapproved investigational medicines and contribute to the collection of data necessary for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval.

Successful clinical trials require diverse and robust volunteer participation. It is important that people of all races understand the benefits of clinical trials. Different racial groups can be affected by different diseases and may respond differently to certain kinds of medications. Unfortunately, minority groups are typically underrepresented in clinical trials, resulting in limited evidence for how effective such treatments may be for those individuals.

As Lt. Governor, I have the opportunity to participate in a bipartisan group called the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA). This year the NLGA is starting a new program called “Be the Cure.” The goal of the program is to increase education and awareness among legislators, policymakers, patients and providers about the clinical trial process, specifically the need for participation of diverse patient populations.

South Dakota is home to people of many different backgrounds, and we need to work to continue advancing medicines that could help all of our state’s residents. It is important that we all spread the word about the need for diversity enrollment in clinical trials and the value and benefits of increased participation by underrepresented communities.

I encourage you visit the National Lt. Governors Association “Be the Cure” web site at www.nlga.us  to learn more about the importance of clinical trials and increased participation by all.

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