Governor. Larry Rhoden’s weekly column: A Shared Challenge – with Communities Leading the Way

@SoDakCampaigns

A Shared Challenge – with Communities Leading the Way
By: Gov. Larry Rhoden
April 25, 2025

In South Dakota, we value personal responsibility, strong families, and local control. We believe parents should remain the primary decision-makers when raising their children. However, we also recognize that child care is part of a community structure that supports a strong workforce. Across South Dakota and the nation, I hear from families that are struggling with child care availability.

While the issue is often raised as an urgent crisis, it is important to recognize that many of the solutions being proposed are not always grounded in what families and communities need. Some argue that the government should take the lead in solving this issue, often suggesting that subsidizing more taxpayer dollars into the system is the answer. While that may provide temporary relief, it’s not a sustainable solution.

Before we rush to create new programs or expand programs beyond their intended purpose, we should first consider the needs of families and take note of the solutions already developing in our South Dakota communities.

For instance, during my Open for Opportunity tour, I visited a successful, community-driven child care solution in Watertown. Our Little Village Learning Center is opening next month. This project shows what’s possible when a community comes together with a shared purpose.

Through the support of local donors, sponsors, and volunteers, the center was designed to address the area’s child care needs. This approach fosters a broader sense of shared responsibility for the well-being of children. The City of Watertown, Codington County, Harmony Hill Watertown, and a wide range of local businesses and private donors played a critical role in making the project a reality.

In addition to strong local support, Our Little Village Learning Center accessed a South Dakota Works Loan and received a one-time grant from the South Dakota Office of Homeland Security. These funding sources enabled the program to scale quickly without depending on ongoing state support. The center also received technical assistance from the Department of Social Services to support operations and ensure compliance with state regulations.

When I was in Winner on my Open for Opportunity tour, I stopped by a local in-home daycare. This is a nimble solution that remains a core part of the future of child care. I am proud of the South Dakotans who take initiative to invest in our children.

In Madison, the Early Learning Center is another project that demonstrates the importance of community-driven child care solutions. This center received funding through a Community Development Block Grant and ARPA funds during the Noem-Rhoden Administration. However, continued local investment will be crucial going forward. EmBe Education, Lake Area Improvement Corporation, and several local donors within the community will work together to build the support our children and families deserve.

This combination of targeted state resources and sustained local investment has created a model that demonstrates how communities can unite to solve pressing challenges like child care.

If we want lasting solutions, we need continued community support and the investment of local businesses. Together we can meet this challenge and keep our families strong, safe, and free.

###

Guess we already triggered Hansen Lems to go back to Hobby Lobby for a new campaign slogan.

@SoDakCampaigns

That was unbelievably fast.

Remember just a few days ago when we were pointing out that the Hansen Lems campaign had adopted a slogan used by Hillary Clinton’s campaign:

Last night, Hansen Lems unveiled a completely revamped slogan, discarding Hillary‘s:

It looks like the duo has dumped the overused stronger together in favor of the wildly overused faith family freedom.

Where else have I seen those slogans before?

I can’t help but get the impression that someone is walking around Hobby Lobby, or Bed Bath & Beyond to pick out the campaign’s political slogans based on the pre-made signs from Amazon.com that your aunt or grandma hang in their bathroom.

Hopefully the next slogan won’t involve putting the seat back down after you use it.

HansenLems appears to be using Jim McIntosh for campaign. Pretty sure Dusty already beat him once.

@SoDakCampaigns

Just caught this notation on the HansenLems for Governor website, on the page with the stale, days-old release announcing today’s announcement:

I recognize that name. Texas-based consultant Jim McIntosh is the media person? Pretty sure we’ve heard that name before, in connection with the Liz May for Congress campaign.

That’s good news. For Dusty Johnson, that is.

Considering he utterly kicked her tail 3-1.

More to come.

Hansen/Lems event is a TWO-teleprompter show. And not much more.

@SoDakCampaigns

Had someone ask me if anyone was posting about the Hansen/Lemming announcement soiree’ tonight… and there really isn’t much out there. A few pics of a room that’s filled with dinner tables, and a few people.. kind of a so-so “Lincoln Day Dinner size crowd.” Maybe 100-150?  Could be less, as the number of tables in there give an artificial impression of the room being full, since they take up a lot of space.

Stu Whitney has the best social media on it at the moment, and you can find his photos here on twitter.  The things that caught my attention in his photos are that they didn’t have one, but TWO teleprompters for the candidates to read their canned speeches from.

They have a gubernatorial announcement, with more than a week to prepare for the big day, and the candidates have to read off big TV’s strategically placed around the room?

I’m sure they were quite impressed with themselves at the venue, but in terms of making a media splash, it has been coming out in dribs and drabs for a week now, so kind of an underwhelming impact now that they’ve reached the day.

No live-streaming seemed to be available, and even more egregiously, there is no release on their website, OR on the twitter page for “Hansen Lems for Governor of South Dakota.”

THAT’s confusing in and of itself, using a portmanteau mash-up of their names, much like “Bennifer” for Ben Affleck & JLo.

If they were using teleprompters, as they were, those speeches were canned – so WHY WOULDN”T THEY HAVE A PRESS RELEASE PRE-POSITIONED ON THEIR WEBSITE AND ALL SOCIAL MEDIA?!?   They could have put out both a release, AND speeches as prepared. Instead… crickets.

Literally, in terms of media, Steve Haugaard’s rollout was better. And that says a lot.

We’ll continue to monitor the Hansen/Lemmings effort as it rolls down the road like a Walmart bag in the wind. Such as it is.

Live by the sword…. Tom Pischke’s MInnehaha GOP Censure seems to be exactly what he wanted.

@SoDakCampaigns

I had someone ask me to post the Minnehaha GOP Code of Conduct, so I chased it down and discovered something very, very funny.

The subject of the recent censure – State Senator “sticky” Tom Pischke? He’s the one who brought the motion to approve the code of conduct he’s been told he’s violated:

Minnehaha County Republicans Executive Board Code of Conduct 1-30-25 by Pat Powers on Scribd

They only passed that on 1/30/25? Tom was censured on April 9, giving him about 69 days between his motion and his violation of the code.

I guess he should have been more careful of what he wished for. Because he got it.

More Minnehaha GOP drama regarding Pischke censure

@SoDakCampaigns

Hot off of the press into my email box, Minnehaha County Republican chairman Korry Petterson is taking to a mass email to explain his position over what is going on with the drama behind the scenes over State Senator Tom Pischke being censured for talking poorly about another Minnehaha GOP County committee member:


Response to Letter of Objection Regarding the Censure of Committeeman Tom Pischke
Korry Petterson, Chairman
Minnehaha County Republican Party
April 23, 2025

Dear Members of the Minnehaha County Republican Central Committee,

In response to the letter circulated by Vice Chair Marsha Symens on behalf of a portion of the Executive Board, I feel it is my duty as Chairman to clarify the facts, defend the integrity of my role, and reinforce the commitments I made to each of you when I was elected.

First, let me be clear:

The censure issued to Committeeman Tom Pischke was not only appropriate but necessary in light of a clear violation of the unanimously adopted Code of Conduct by the Executive Board on February 27, 2025.

This Code, which was introduced and discussed at our very first executive board meeting, included open questions from both Vice Chair Symens and Committeewoman Bridget Meyers—to which I clearly stated that the Chairman (myself) would be the individual responsible for determining violations and issuing appropriate responses. Following that discussion, the board voted unanimously to approve the Code of Conduct with that understanding.

For members of this same board to now claim ignorance of the process they agreed to is both inconsistent and misleading. Please follow this link to listen to the audio from that discussion.  In the next link Committeeman Pischke expressly talks about how he would like to see “decorum”.

Let’s review the timeline and facts:

  • Feb. 27: The Executive Board introduced, discussed, and passed the Code of Conduct unanimously. It was made clear that the Chairman would act in instances of violations.

  • March 18: I discovered a Facebook post made by Committeeman Tom Pischke stating that another committee member “has issues.” I reached out immediately and privately, and he removed the post—indicating he recognized the inappropriateness.

  • Afterward: I spent some time thinking about how to handle this situation going forward.  I also received outreach from several concerned committee members who had seen the post. I asked Mr. Pischke to apologize. His reply: “No thank you.” When I pressed the issue, he stopped responding.

  • After we adjourned our most recent executive board meeting I asked Mr. Pischke to remain for a a private discussion.  At that time I told him he has to apologize.  I informed him that several committee people expected him to apologize.  He wanted to address these individuals directly.  I told him I would talk to the members and get back to him.

  • In a phone call April 4: I informed Mr. Pischke that none of the members wanted to discuss this issue with him and that they wanted me to handle it.  I again asked him to take responsibility, suggesting a chance to lead by example. He refused and said, “Do what you have to do,” then hung up.

  • I spent time considering my options and chose to honor the commitment I made to the central committee: to uphold ethics, protect our members, and lead decisively

Now, in direct response to the objections raised:

1. Free Speech Argument (Section 1 – Republican Values):
Yes, we believe in the First Amendment. But the Code of Conduct exists specifically to ensure internal accountability. Freedom of speech does not shield one from consequences when that speech targets fellow members in a harmful and unprofessional way.

2. Transparency and Process (Sections 2 & 5):
There is no provision in the Code of Conduct or our bylaws that states a censure requires a vote of the full Executive Board. In fact, the board was informed at our first meeting that I would be the one handling violations. There is no lack of transparency when the authority was clearly stated, discussed, and agreed upon.

3. Respect and Professionalism (Section 3):
I handled this matter privately and respectfully, first via direct messages, then through a conversation and it ended with a phone call. Mr. Pischke was given multiple chances to apologize. The refusal came from him—not me.

4. Commitment to Community (Section 6):
This action was taken to protect the integrity of our committee and set a precedent that we will not tolerate public attacks on fellow members.  If we ignore clear violations, we erode trust within our party.

5. Accountability (Section 5.3):
Accountability cuts both ways. As Chairman, I am upholding the standards that were unanimously agreed to. Mr. Pischke violated those standards and refused multiple chances to take responsibility.

Regarding the Demands:

  1. I will not issue a written apology to Committeeman Pischke. He was given numerous opportunities to apologize and declined at every turn.

  2. I will not issue an apology to the Central Committee. I acted within the authority granted to me by the Central Committee and in line with the Code of Conduct we unanimously voted for.

  3. I will not resign. I made a promise to the members of this committee to lead ethically, and I will continue to do so.  According to the bylaws, the Chair serves a fixed two-year term and is not subject to removal during that period.   Whether or not certain board members choose to collaborate in good faith, this board will move forward successfully.

In Closing

Leadership is not about popularity. It’s about doing the right thing, especially when it’s difficult.

I remain committed to serving the Minnehaha County Republican Party with integrity, respect for process, and a clear focus on unity and growth.

Respectfully,
Korry Petterson
Chairman, Minnehaha County Republican Party

That’s a lot of words for saying I told Tom to quit being his awful self and he refused so I spanked him, and that’s that.

Never a dull moment.

Of course this is going to help us win elections next year. Won’t it?