Yesterday afternoon, an e-mailed survey went out to a number of South Dakotans asking them to respond to the question they were dying to know the answer to…

They recognized the first name.. but when it came to the other one..

A few hours later, the same Toby Doeden in the poll was announcing that he was forming an ‘exploratory committee’ regarding a congressional run..

Toby Doeden of Aberdeen is announcing his intentions to challenge Johnson, who has been in Congress for three terms.

and..

Doeden tells The Dakota Scout that his status as a political outsider is what he believes could make him an attractive alternative to voters.

Read the article here.

Doeden started right out of the gate going hard negative on Congressman Johnson in the video announcing his exploratory committee, without making any case why people should support him, aside from being a Trump supplicant.

Where have we heard all this before? Exploring the race for Congress against Dusty, while going hard negative.. It IS like the Taffy Howard effort, without even Taffy’s limited name ID, and starting fully 6 months later than Taffy was in the cycle.

Doeden claims his outsider status will make him attractive to South Dakota voters. The problem with that assumption is believing Dusty is somehow not popular. Basically ignoring polling showing that Dusty ranks as high as the second most popular politician in South Dakota among Republicans, and overall the most popular politician in the state.

I would say that it’s going to be a long campaign, but it really isn’t.

We are in the hot campaign NOW, and anyone thinking an ‘exploratory committee’ in mid-January is a good gimmick or idea is listening to bad advice. Dusty has had the best ground game among the state’s political campaigns for at least the last four years, and he’s already out collecting petition signatures with an established volunteer team.

Doeden joining the contest along fellow wannabee candidates Patrick Schubert & Justin McNeal might add more flavor to the race, and Doeden might be better funded than the other two. But he is a long ways off from showing he can run a real race.

Don’t want to be ageist, but….from Dakota News Now:

A Watertown man is behind bars following a hit-and-run that involved a child on Thursday afternoon.

Police said 98-year-old Sylvester Korbel was driving through a school zone when he hit an eight-year-old boy walking in the crosswalk.

Read the entire story here.

I think most of us would agree that once you start bumping up around 100, it might be best to turn the keys over.

Good, but not surprising news from the South Dakota Supreme Court on a Friday Afternoon, as they have denied the Application for Writ of Habeas Corpus on behalf of District 30 State Senator Julie Frye Mueller as “deficient on the face of the petition.”

Julie Frye Mueller Writ Denied by Pat Powers on Scribd

Basically, what it means is that she will continue not being named to legislative committees.

Gov. Noem Appoints Justin Zajic to the Board of Education Standards

 PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem announced that she will appoint Justin Zajic to serve on the South Dakota Board of Education Standards.

“South Dakota’s educators are building our kids and grandkids into the leaders of tomorrow,” said Governor Noem, “I am confident that Justin will foster the growth of our students as he serves on the Board of Education Standards. I look forward to working with him.”

Justin Zajic holds doctoral degree in PreK-12 Administration from the University of South Dakota and a Master’s Degree in Teaching American History. He also has a Bachelor’s Degree from Southwest Minnesota State University.

“I want to express my gratitude to Governor Noem for appointing me to the South Dakota Board of Education and Standards. It’s an honor to be entrusted with a role that plays a crucial part in ensuring quality education across our state,” said Justin Zajic. “I am enthusiastic about the chance to serve as a board member and will take pride in actively contributing to the discussions and decisions that influence the future of education in South Dakota. I respect the governor’s confidence in my ability to make a meaningful difference in education, and I am committed to contributing positively in this capacity.”

Zajic is currently the Superintendent at the Chamberlain School District. Prior to this position, he was the principal of the Mitchell Middle School.

A photo of Justin Zajic can be found here.

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Among the campaign committee filings showing up today is a paperwork for a new committee for losing congressional candidate Taffy Howard, who filed Statement of Organization yesterday for SD House in District 33:

Taffy Howard 2024 campaign … by Pat Powers

No official announcement yet from Howard on running, but after her last session where she skipped nearly 15% of all floor votes, it remains to be seen if voters will trust her again. Although, this is the same district that puts Phil Jensen in office, so expectations are not high.

Also forming a committee is Heather Baxter, a Republican running for District 34 House. No specifics on Baxter, although she has testified in front of the Rapid City School board regarding library materials, and is currently the Secretary of the Pennginton County GOP.

– Big Update! – 

I’m informed that while Taffy Howard filed a new statement of organization for District 33.. apparently, due to redistricting, her house is very much in District 34.  We’ll see what happens when Taffy figures out where she’s running versus where she actually lives.

Attorney General Jackley Names New Chief Deputy, Criminal Litigation Division Director

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has named Brent Kempema as the new Chief Deputy for the Attorney General’s Office.

Kempema has been with the Attorney General’s Office since 2012 and is currently Criminal Litigation Division Director. Kempema replaces former Chief Deputy Mark Barnett who left the office last summer.

“Mark Barnett joined me from the very beginning and did an excellent job leading and transitioning our office. I continue to value his counsel,” said Attorney General Jackley. “Brent has provided great leadership to the Criminal Litigation Division, and I have no doubt that he will do the same for the entire office.”

Kempema said, “The people in this office are diligent in their service to the state. It is my honor to be part of the Attorney General’s leadership team.”

Attorney General Jackley also named Ernest Thompson to replace Kempema as the head of the Criminal Litigation Division. Thompson was serving as the Brown County State’s Attorney before joining the Attorney General’s Office in June.

Other members of the Attorney General’s leadership team remain the same:

• Charlie McGuigan, Deputy Attorney General, Civil Division.
• Sarah Thorne, Deputy Attorney General, Appellate Division.
• Chad Mosteller, Assistant Director, Division of Criminal Investigation, Field Operations.
• Dan Satterlee, Director, Division of Criminal Investigation.
• Tiffany Stoeser, Assistant Director, Division of Criminal Investigation, Administrative Operations.
• Paul Swedlund, Solicitor General.

Katie Mallery will continue to lead the Sioux Falls Attorney General’s Office and Scott Roetzel the Rapid City Attorney General’s Office. Stephen Blair of the Rapid City Office will serve as the director of the new Administrative Law Division, which will provide legal advice and representation to the State’s constitutional officers, appointed officials and various state government agencies, commissions, and boards.

“This past year has gone well thanks to this leadership team and the other staff members in the Attorney General’s Office who work exceptionally hard for our state,” said Attorney General Jackley. “It is an honor to work with such dedicated individuals.”

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Senator David Wheeler Announces Re-Election Bid

David Wheeler announced today his intention to seek re-election to the South Dakota State Senate from District 22.

“Over the past three years I have worked to find common sense solutions to the issues in our state,” said Wheeler. “My focus has been on producing results through hard work.”

His legislative accomplishments include authoring the new post-election audit process to strengthen our state’s elections, the creation of a $5 million grant program to expand vo-tech education opportunities in our local schools, and securing funding for the DEX at the State Fair.

Wheeler’s legislative leadership was recognized by his Senate Republican colleagues when in his second term he was elected to be Majority Whip. “Whether it is workforce housing, tax cuts, or education funding, when the important issues are being discussed, I have had a seat at the table to ensure that the voice of my constituents is being heard,” noted Wheeler.

Wheeler practices law in Huron in the firm of Blue, Wheeler & Banks LLP. He and his wife, Kristin, have three children. He is active in his church where he serves as a worship leader, volunteers with the local scout troop, and is active in various other community organizations.

District 22 includes Beadle County, Spink County and western Clark County.

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In the latest issue of South Dakota Right to Life “LifeFacts” Winter 2024 newsletter, the statewide pro-life organization announced the addition of two politicos to their Board of Directors.

Michael Boyle, who unsuccessfully ran for South Dakota District 19 House in both the 2018 and 2022 Republican House primaries was announced as joining the group.

Also added to the board was former Speaker of the South Dakota House, Spencer Gosch. Gosch was notable for being in the news during the Ravnsborg impeachment trial, as well as being at odds with Governor Noem during his tenure.  Gosch found himself in the news again for injuring himself cliff-diving in Hawaii at a taxpayer-paid legislative conference taking place after he lost his election to the State Senate.

I read with interest today several stories on education across some of the South Dakota websites, and the problems that are faced in educating out students.

First was an opinion piece by Hughes County “Moms for Liberty” chapter founder Maggie Seidel, telling us that schools are declining, we need to teach phonics and Superintendents are the devil.  Well, maybe not the devil, but she says we need to grade them, because we can’t get rid of the bad ones.  I don’t know that I agree, as while it took us a few years, Brookings was able to get rid of the one we had who tanked our school rankings & screwed up our accreditation.

I’m probably biased, as my wife has been both a classroom teacher and school administrator. But I don’t think Superintendents and School Administrators are the problem. In fact, their numbers are getting to be challenged, just like educators, because of the number of people leaving teaching (and not becoming administrators). My wife spent her time supervising nearly 150 or more educational professionals in a specialized discipline which dealt with everything from the care and education of children ranging from minor learning disabilities to terminal conditions. And trying to keep the school from committing errors that would end up in court.

Good teachers are led and empowered by good administrators. And we need more of both.

Second piece comes from the Argus Leader on why several teachers left the profession. According to the article, among their concerns, they cited the pay, burnout & stress, and the pay.  I’m sensing a trend here.

The third article was a live report from Keloland.com. On a shooting reported at an Iowa High School.

Low pay, burnout, and the possibility of people shooting at you.

You’d think we were talking about COPS on Fox, as opposed to the environment people are trying to educate our children in.

Attorney General Jackley Announces Spearfish Man Sentenced to Prison For Second Degree Murder

PIERRE, S.D. — South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that a Spearfish man has been sentenced to life in prison after earlier being convicted of Murder in the Second Degree in the 2022 shooting death of his wife.

Dreau L. Rogers was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He had earlier been found guilty by a Lawrence County jury in the shooting death of Destiny Rogers of Spearfish.

“This sentencing is an appropriate ending to a tragic case, and we extend our sympathies to Destiny’s family,” said Attorney General Marty Jackley.

The Spearfish Police Department and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. The case was prosecuted by the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office and the Lawrence County State’s Attorney’s Office.

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