Release: Deadrick named Deputy Secretary of State

Deadrick named Deputy Secretary of State


(Rapid City, SD) – South Dakota Secretary of State-elect Monae Johnson announced today that Thomas J. Deadrick will be joining her office as Deputy Secretary of State. “As an attorney, former legislator, and former deputy, Tom brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position that will be invaluable to me. Tom has a long history of service to our state and the people of South Dakota, and I am thrilled to have him as part of my team,” Johnson said. Deadrick previously served as Deputy of Business Services from 2015-2018 under former Secretary of State Shantel Krebs.

A graduate of Platte High School, Deadrick earned a Bachelor of Science degree from South Dakota State University and holds a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Loyola University School of Dentistry, Chicago and a Juris Doctorate from the University of South Dakota School of Law. He practiced dentistry in Philip, SD for five years before transitioning to law. He practiced law in Philip and Parker, SD and served as state’s attorney in Turner and Charles Mix counties. From 1995-2014, he operated Deadrick Law Office and Platte Title Company in Platte. A Republican, Deadrick served in the South Dakota House of Representatives from 2003-2010 and was Speaker of the House from 2007-2008. Since 2019, he has worked as an Assistant Attorney General for South Dakota. Deadrick and his wife, Cindy, have two grown daughters and reside in Pierre.

21 thoughts on “Release: Deadrick named Deputy Secretary of State”

  1. I was hoping Secretary Elect Johnson could be a little more forward thinking.

    I would suggest the incoming Secretary read the Harvard Business Review “9 Habits That Lead to Terrible Decisions”

    #4 -Remaining locked in the past.

    My crystal ball tells me she is going to have a rocky road ahead of her.

  2. How many people know starving dentists?

    How many know starving attorneys?

    How many know someone who gives up being either to work as middle management in a state office?

    I’m sure this will go well.

    1. He will be good for her. Not my top choice but I think a solid double.

      Monae needs to hit some singles and not come in swinging for the fences. She should avoid the media and not get pulled into session fights. If everyone forgot about her for 1 year that would be the best thing for her. She can prove herself and she will.

      If she realizes 95% of SD election laws are fine then she will be just fine.

  3. We need to go back to hand counting ballots. It is the only way to restore trust in a broken election system. I have faith in the incoming Secretary of State and her ability to do what’s right for the voters of South Dakota.

    1. We need more robots and computers that can count the ballots. The rinky-dink county that tried it by hand this year failed and got it wrong and took all night. Ms. Monae, she of the receptionist skill, is not the sharpest pencil in the desk.

  4. Another person leaving the Attorney General’s office??

    This comes on the heels of Jeff Tronvold the head of the civil division leaving.

    1. I think you meant “not many” respect. He was full of himself when he was speaker and came in third when he ran for Secretary of State.

      1. Didn’t he try a Michels and run for speaker twice (only Michels won both times because it wasn’t a power grab).

  5. Kia has 20 years of experience and was a natural choice. With all the problems that have happened cross the country with elections Monae had the opportunity to show the legislature and the public that she had the ability to make good decisions.

  6. Monae will do a fine job, shes gonna come in swinging to fix and restore faith in the election process. We will check the Domicle lists to the master voter lists to see ow many citizens reside in and out side the state. Nothing wrong with living outside the state, but we need to know how much outside influence is effecting the voting.

  7. Anyone else think it’s odd that Monae campaigns as the anti-establishment candidate, and then picks the most establishment deputy she can find?

    1. It’s just an act to defeat Barnett. She doesn’t like Taffy or her crowd. Everyone Westriver knows she isn’t a far right person.

      1. The Republican establishment in South Dakota includes politicians from across the political spectrum. Maybe Taffy Howard is more antiestablishment and Monae Johnson is actually farther right.

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