Ellsworth Task Force Leaders Announced
MADISON, SD–Today, the Executive Board of the Legislature announced the Senate membership on the Ellsworth Task Force, which will explore current and future developments surrounding Ellsworth Air Force Base.
Senate members of the Ellsworth Task Force are Senator Michael Walsh (Chair) (R-35), Senator Red Dawn Foster (D-27), Senator Helene Duhamel (R-32), Senator Jean Hunhoff (R-18), and Crabtree.
The formation of this task force underscores South Dakota’s commitment to the continued success and viability of Ellsworth Air Force Base and the surrounding region.
Majority Leader Casey Crabtree expressed his confidence in the Senators selected to serve. “The Senate has made economic development in South Dakota a major priority,” said Majority Leader Crabtree. “We have the opportunity to strengthen America’s national security and grow prosperity for the surrounding region. These Senators understand the importance of Ellsworth Air Force Base to our state and nation.”
“Ellsworth Air Force Base is an integral part of the Rapid City community and a strategic location for our nation’s military,” said Task Force Chair Walsh. “I look forward to helping ensure that we as a state are doing everything possible to support the Ellsworth Air Force Base.”
Walsh was appointed to the vacant District 35 Senate seat by Governor Kristi Noem earlier this year. He is a Marine veteran, volunteers as a Key Spouse at Ellsworth Air Force Base, and is a volunteer boxing coach on the base. District 35 is home to the air base and Box Elder School District.
“I’m especially appreciative of Michael Walsh stepping up to chair the committee,” added Crabtree. “With the air base in his district along with past military service and time spent volunteering on base will help this group land the plane and stay on target.”
The Ellsworth Task Force will convene for its inaugural meeting with House members at an upcoming date. The Ellsworth Task Force plans to convene for meetings in Box Elder and Sioux Falls in the legislative interim period.
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Senator Walsh has not even been elected to our legislative body he was appointed. Just now running for election not reelection so the choice for the Ellsworth commission may be premature.
He was also re-elected since then. This will be his 2nd time campaigning for senator and he will win by a landslide.
Crabtree is trying to boost Walsh because nobody knows who he is and he will get beat by Greg Blanc. Waste of time for the next month until that is decided.
Or, Sen Walsh’s experience as a combat veteran AND military spouse give him more knowledge about how are state should relate to the challenges of military families. There is always that possibility that this was just about qualifications and quality, which is refreshing
Hope you are right Mr. Shoenbeck. It’s a huge assignment, they are starting late in the game, and resources next year are strained.
Walsh spending most of his life in SF will benefit from some publicity in Rapid. He’s got a tough election on his hands and his district is a more right leaning district with Mullaly and Randolph in the house.
Well, at least the State Senate Majority Leader and staff of the Executive Board of the Legislature got correct in this version of the news (re-)release the party membership of the Chair of the Task Force.
More than a bit embarassing that the Majority Leader doesn’t know members of his own caucus such that he can corrrectly identify their party membership in a news release.
… or was it a Freudian slip foretelling the political ideology of one/both of the parties?