From the Twitterverse:
South Dakota needs a Governor who will stand up for agriculture and support our farmers and ranchers. Senator Erin Tobin understands that better than anyone. Thank you for your support! Let’s keep working together to feed the world. pic.twitter.com/DmKxh2EMVm
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) November 3, 2022
Guest Column: The Case for Kristi
by Maggie Seidel
Folks – Election Day is closing in. Because I spent a year and a half working in the Noem administration, several friends have asked me about the Governor’s race and why I’m voting for Governor Noem. Here’s why.
You may have noticed, especially at the national level, that the progressive left is relentlessly attacking some of the pillars of society—faith, family, and work. Because South Dakota has a part-time legislature, our constitution (for better or worse) gives considerable power to the Executive Branch, and so it is incredibly important that it stays in the hands of someone standing on the side of the proven tenets of a democratic society.
There’s also an increasing disregard for our constitutional structure and the rule of law. Reasoned debate is no longer considered to be an objective of public discourse. Individual freedom, our rights, our families, our children’s education, and so much more are under attack. But South Dakota has been a beacon of hope.
During Governor Noem’s tenure, constitutional carry has passed, religious liberty protections strengthened, parental choice in education expanded, government agencies combined, girls’ sports safeguarded, and significant investments have been made to help ordinary people. We are now learning the full extent of the abuses committed by government autocrats across the country in dealing with Covid19. South Dakotans were spared such mistreatment because of the leadership of Governor Noem.
Her commitment to individual rights and self-government is tremendously significant. It has taken many years to build one of the greatest states in the nation – flaws and all – but we stand to lose it in a tiny fraction of that time if Jamie Smith takes the helm.
The simple truth is that Jamie Smith has attached himself to certain people and ideas that undercut the most fundamental rights we hold –freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to reap the benefits of your work, and equal justice under law.
To those of you thinking he’ll be hindered by the legislature, think again. We can expect Jamie Smith to fully cooperate with the Biden administration in ways that will make it very hard for our Republican legislature to resist implementing initiatives that would significantly disturb our way of life. On top of this, he’ll be a thorn in the side of those who want to protect the exemplary fiscal position South Dakota currently enjoys. And, he will have control over every agency in the state, including the Departments of Health; Game, Fish, and Parks; Labor and Regulation; and Agriculture and Natural Resources. Mull that over for a second or two.
The moment we are living in is a pivotal one. As I said, our rights, our state, and the prosperity and well-being of our families are in jeopardy. The beauty of being a Republican is that we can have periodic differences and a lot of tactical skirmishes, but in the end we must come together. This election, we have a choice that has serious consequences for us in South Dakota.
It’s no secret that Governor Noem has had her share of challenges, but if you believe in the people of South Dakota, our liberty, security, and Constitutional rights, there’s only one choice for us on November 8 – it’s Kristi Noem. And that’s why she has my vote, and I hope she has yours too.
Stay well,
Maggie
The Mitchell Daily Republic has more on the Joel Koskan story, having obtained the probable cause statement before it was sealed via an order of the South Dakota Office of the Attorney General.
And if you thought the story couldn’t get worse, you’d be wrong.
A woman told investigators that, from age 14 through 19, Koskan was constantly monitoring her via surveillance cameras and GPS and would “require” the girl to engage in sexual activity with him.
The investigation was spurred May 6, 2022, when a retired DCI agent contacted county and state investigators seeking assistance in a sexual assault investigation involving a 19-year-old woman who is related to Koskan. According to the retired agent, the woman disclosed that Koskan had been “raping her since she was a young child.”
and..
“You promised you’d never do this,” Koskan texted. “I’m begging you, you don’t want to do this.”
and..
In a Thursday email to Forum News Service, South Dakota GOP Chairman Dan Lederman focused on the severity of the allegations, adding that the party is against all forms of child abuse.
“The allegation against Joel Koskan is very serious, and the South Dakota Republican Party unequivocally opposes child abuse in all forms,” Lederman said. “The South Dakota Republican Party trusts the justice system to work through the allegation.”
I’m sure there will be more coming on this..
Court documents filed in the case against District 26 State Senate Candidate Joel Koskan illustrate that this case may be far worse than the early reports made it sound. And it sounded pretty bad before. Dakota Scout has followed up to their earlier story, and according to court documents filed today, the prosecution is using the term “sexual grooming” in conjunction with the horrible allegations:
The Attorney General’s Office is alleging that Joel Koskan, a 44-year-old Republican candidate for state Legislature in District 26, sexually groomed a minor over the course of six years, according to a criminal compliant made Thursday in Mellette County. The charge is one count of exposing a minor to foreseeable harm, a class 4 felony that could land Koskan behind bars for up to 10 years.
The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the case, which involves a victim who is now 20 years old and was allegedly groomed by Koskan starting in 2014.
Read it here (Subscription required).
The thing is, this is alleged to have gone on since 2014. So, the prosecution is saying it went on during the time while Koskan was a candidate for legislative office in 2018 and 2020. I think it goes without saying that if convicted, Koskan would be ineligible from being seated. According to the State Constitution:
§ 4. Disqualification for conviction of crime–Defaults on public money. No person who has been, or hereafter shall be, convicted of bribery, perjury, or other infamous crime, nor any person who has been, or may be collector or holder of public moneys, who shall not have accounted for and paid over, according to law, all such moneys due from him, shall be eligible to the Legislature or to any office in either branch thereof.
While not specific, i think “infamous crime” would cover this, and also according to the constitution, each house gets to determine who is and who is not qualified.
His family are awfully nice people, especially his parents, and I can’t imagine what they are going through as more and more revelations are made in the case, including more details coming in open court, as noted in the article.
I’d ask that you offer your prayers for the victim and the family, but it goes without saying, if not seemingly a bit trite. Maybe you should offer your prayers for an adequate measure of justice and healing. Because it seems that in cases like this, those involved never seem to see a sufficient amount of either.
Kristi for Governor Campaign Launches New Ad: “Dream On”
SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA – Today, the Kristi for Governor campaign launched a new ad, “Dream On,” which details what Jamie Smith could do on his first day as Governor if given the opportunity to enact his liberal agenda.
“Imagine what I [Jamie Smith] could do on my first day as Governor,” the ad dreams. “Taxes, I’ll raise them. Girls’ sports, open them up to men. Vaccine mandates, done. Guns, we’ll take them. But I definitely won’t do anything about illegal immigrants. My buddy, Joe, will be pretty proud of me.”
Every extremist policy position included in the ad is consistent with Jamie Smith’s voting record. To find more information on that record, visit JamieandJoe.com.
“Jamie Smith is too extreme for South Dakota,” said Ian Fury, Communications Director at Kristi for Governor. “The people of South Dakota deserve a governor who will defend our South Dakota way of life and stand up to Joe Biden’s liberal agenda – and they have that in Governor Kristi Noem.”
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From Facebook – Governor Kristi Noem has posted photos if you weren’t there to see it in person..
Joe Sneve over at the Dakota Scout is reporting tonight that District 27 Republican Senate Candidate Joel Koskan is under investigation in a child abuse sex probe:
Joel Koskan, 44, is set to be arraigned on charges next week, Mellette County Sheriff Mike Blom said. Blom said the case is open, and he referred questions to the clerk of courts, where a complaint is expected to be filed on Thursday.
and…
Legislative candidates within the GOP were alerted of the pending charges Wednesday. Senate President Pro Tempore Lee Schoenbeck acknowledged the matter but would not be commenting.
“What I will say is that we’re aware of it and we’ll let it play out in the courts,” said the Watertown Republican.
Read the entire story here. (Paid subscription required).
There are no words at the moment. I would agree with Senator Schoenbeck that we all need to wait and see what’s going on. But it’s more than troubling to say the least.
Gov. Noem and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Hold Rally in Rapid City
SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA – Today, Governor Kristi Noem and former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard held a rally for the Kristi for Governor campaign in Rapid City. The event was set up for 600 attendees, but the event became standing room only due to the high demand for attendance. You can find pictures of the Rapid City rally here.
“The Democrat Party has become a party that has thrown our Constitution in the trash,” former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard said at the rally. “Governors serve as a check and balance on federal mandates that are being pushed and forced on the people. There is such a clear contrast and a clear choice for voters here in South Dakota between Kristi Noem’s leadership and her opponent. He will basically be a rubber stamp on whatever the Biden Administration wants to impose on people here in South Dakota.”
“It matters who sits in leadership positions – they impact our lives every single day,” Governor Kristi Noem said at the rally. “Tulsi Gabbard is absolutely fantastic and a woman of integrity. She’s a patriot and a freedom fighter, and I’m honored to have her support.”
While serving in Congress together, Kristi Noem and Tulsi Gabbard were friends and workout buddies despite their different partisan affiliations.
Governor Noem and Tulsi Gabbard are hosting another rally this evening at 6pm CT at the South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance. You can sign up for the Sioux Falls event here.
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