Mike Derby Announces Candidacy for South Dakota House

LONG-TIME RAPID CITY BUSINESSMAN, CIVIC LEADER AND PRIOR LEGISLATOR SEEKS TO REPRESENT DISTRICT 34 IN PIERRE

RAPID CITY, SD — February 7, 2020 — Former District 34 State Representative Mike Derby has announced he is running again for District 34 State Representative.

Explaining his interest in returning to the political arena, Derby said, “Rapid City and the Black Hills   are changing, and I want to contribute to the economic growth and dynamic opportunities of our region.

It would be an honor and privilege to represent District 34 again. I’m excited by the potential to make  a brighter future for this wonderful place we call home.”

As owner of the Canyon Lake Resort in west Rapid City and Past Chair of the  Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce, Mike is very supportive of legislation that helps the small business owner to be successful and grow. Serving as a Board Member of Visit Rapid City, Mike wants to keep tourism’s top of mind awareness high in Pierre. And as a past Chair of the Ellsworth Task Force and Military Affairs Committee, Mike wants to introduce and support enabling legislation that protects and allows Ellsworth AFB to sustain and grow its vital missions.

“Mike is an enthusiastic activist getting things done for Rapid City and the State of South Dakota,” said area businessman and banker Randy Hamburg, who will serve as Derby’s Campaign Treasurer. “He is widely known for his far-reaching participation, demonstrated by many recognitions, such as the coveted Chamber George Award. Mike’s solid ideas and consensus building skill will lead us in the right direction.”

State Representative Mike Derby served three terms during the Janklow administration and was Vice Chair of Appropriations. He also served as Vice Chair of the South Dakota Legislative Executive Committee and Chair of the National Council of State Legislators Economic and Cultural Development Committee.

Mike has deep roots in District 34 having grown up and attended Meadowbrook Grade School, West Junior High and Stevens High School. Mike is a graduate of the University of South Dakota with a BS  in Business Administration. Mike and Carmen have two daughters, Danielle (Bryent) and Alyssa (Lee) and two granddaughters, Brianna and Aubree.

In the near future, Mike will be hosting three “Coffee and Conversations” to hear your ideas and concerns for District 34 and the State of South Dakota. These gatherings will be held at the Millstone Restaurant (West Main near Mountain View) on Saturday, February 15 from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m., Saturday, February 22 from Noon to 2:00 p.m. (following the Chamber’s Legislative Crackerbarrel) and again on Saturday, March 7 from Noon to 2:00 p.m. (following the Crackerbarrel). Look for more public events to come.

For more information, contact Mike Derby at 605-381-0992 (voice/text) or [email protected].

A Tale of Two Economies
By Sen. John Thune

It’s no secret that the agriculture economy has seen better days. Bad weather, low commodity prices, and protracted trade disputes have created an untenable situation for many folks in the heartland. What’s flyover country to some is home to others, particularly those who help feed the world, and I’ll never stop fighting for them or their way of life.

In 2018, we passed a pro-farmer, pro-agriculture farm bill that made meaningful improvements to existing agriculture policy, including by strengthening critical safety net programs. It also created new policy like my Soil Health and Income Protection Program, a pilot program for states like South Dakota that will serve as a short-term alternative to the popular Conservation Reserve Program.

As important as farm bills are, agriculture policy doesn’t begin and end once the bill is signed into law. It would be a lot easier if that were true, but the issues that are important to the agriculture community can evolve quickly, and it requires policymakers to stay focused and forward-thinking.

One of the most important things we can do to help the agriculture economy thrive is to continue negotiating good trade deals. I was a strong advocate for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a 21st century update to the decades-old North American Free Trade Agreement. USMCA, which was signed into law in January, maintains and expands access to the two biggest markets for American agriculture products and provides certainty about what these markets will look like in the foreseeable future.

The president also recently signed phase one of a trade agreement the administration has been negotiating with China. While we must ensure China maintains its end of the deal – something I’m committed to doing – increased U.S. agriculture exports would be a boon to producers in South Dakota and around the country.

In what can best be described as a tale of two economies, the agriculture economy has lagged far behind the broader U.S. economy. In fact, today’s economy is one of the strongest I’ve ever seen, thanks, in large part, to policies like tax reform.

The unemployment rate is near its lowest level in 50 years and has been below 4 percent for the past 12 months. The labor force participation rate – a reflection of the number of people who have found a job or decided to start looking again – is at its highest level in seven years. The economy has created an average of 171,000 jobs per month over the last year. Wages are growing. The stock market is up, which means 401ks and pensions are, too. If you could create a blueprint for a booming economy, this would be it.

While this is good news for American workers, they’re merely words on a page for producers who are worried about what steps they might have to take to make ends meet ahead of what could be another difficult planting season. Others are anxious that further trade disputes could close or further restrict market access around the globe. They crave certainty in what has been a highly uncertain time.

Farming and ranching is a tough business, and it always seems like the hardest day is yet to come. Thankfully, South Dakota is full tough men and women who always seem to make it look a lot easier than it is, especially during hard times like these. That’s why we can’t let the strong economy overshadow what’s happening in farm country or cause lawmakers to overlook this reality.

As someone who is proud to represent America’s heartland and the hardworking people who help feed the world, farm country’s priorities are my priorities, and I stand ready to fight for them day in and day out.

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Improving Life in Rural America
By U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.)

The majority of South Dakota is rural. We’re a large state with a small population—we average just under 11 people per square mile. Comparatively, New York’s population density is nearly 40 times that, with approximately 421 people living per square mile. In New York City, the population jumps to more than 26,000 people per square mile. As Americans, we celebrate our country’s diversity and differences. But it also means we have unique challenges in different parts of the country. Rural and urban areas have different needs. Working as a senator from one of the most rural states, I’ve taken steps to shine a light on issues important to rural America and make sure the needs of rural communities are at the forefront of policy discussions in Washington.

I recently partnered with Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) to form the Bipartisan Senate Rural Working Group. Our group’s focus is to highlight what’s working in rural parts of the country, listen to people from our states about their concerns and find commonsense solutions to the unique challenges facing rural areas. My Senate office has been working on issues in rural areas since I took office, but collaborating with senators from other states and other political parties about what’s working and not working in their states can help us find the best possible solutions for South Dakota.

Our working group recently held our first meeting with groups that represent a wide range of rural priorities and topics. Our plan is to continue to partner with these groups so we can address the most challenging issues facing rural America, including reliable energy sources, adequate rural water systems, safe roads and bridges and access to services such as high-speed internet, essential air service, quality education, health care and lending services. We’ll also focus on affordable rural housing, veterans’ issues and tribal issues in rural areas.

While it may seem like a lot to tackle—and it’s true, there’s plenty of work to do—many of these issues are interconnected. We can work to expand broadband and create incentives for medical professionals to set up practices in rural areas, but we must also make sure local businesses have access to capital so they can grow and provide jobs for community members who will raise families in our small towns. We need to create opportunities for the next generation so that they have the ability to make a good living and raise their own families in their hometown.

South Dakota is the best place in the world to live and raise a family. We want to make sure it remains the best place in the world so our grandkids, great-grandkids and great-great grandkids get to enjoy it like we do. The success of rural America is vital for our state’s long-term economic health, as well as the prosperity of our nation. I’m looking forward to partnering with the other members of the working group to make changes that will benefit South Dakota.

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An Ounce of Prevention
By Rep. Dusty Johnson

As the old saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This is a concept that is often lost in Congress, however, this week was the exception. Legislation unanimously passed the House that will work to protect our borders and our number one industry – agriculture.

On Monday, the House passed S. 2107, Protecting America’s Food and Agriculture Act of 2019, which authorizes additional U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agricultural specialists to help intercept contraband and quarantine items to prevent African Swine Fever, an animal disease affecting only pigs and with no human health or food safety risks, and other foreign agricultural diseases that could devastate U.S. agriculture.

CBP’s and USDA’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) are tasked with preventing foreign introduction of pests into the country. One common prevention method is canine inspections from highly trained beagles that look for any plant or meat material that could be a potential carrier of a disease. Known as the “beagle brigade,” these dogs can quickly sniff out any contraband that poses a threat.

To understand the importance of keeping our borders secure from outside disease, look no further than the devastation of African Swine Fever in China. According to Rabo Research, even conservative estimates of losses suggest that the fatal hog disease is impacting an estimated 150-200 million pigs, a loss larger than total U.S. pork production and equivalent to Europe’s annual pork supply.

This has resulted in a tremendous opportunity for the growing pork industry in South Dakota and throughout the country. U.S. pork exports posted new volume and value records in 2019, reaching nearly $7 billion, according to data released by USDA. Pork exports soared to 282,145 metric tons in December 2019, up 34% year-over-year and surpassing the previous high by 9%.

Growth in the pork industry has had a ripple effect across the state. As livestock move into a county, there is a noticeable basis bump for corn and beans. According to the South Dakota Corn Growers Association, hogs consume 23 million bushels of corn annually. That’s value-added demand right here in South Dakota.

U.S. agriculture has proven time and time again that we are the most efficient producers in the world. Producers across the state do their best to maintain a healthy herd and we must do what we can to keep emerging threats at bay. Today, African Swine Fever represents a huge opportunity to provide safe, affordable pork to consumers in China and around the globe, but also a threat to our domestic pork industry. We must do what we can to secure our points of entry for the sake of our producers and domestic food security.

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Driving Economic Growth, Protecting Local Control
By Governor Kristi Noem

South Dakota is the best state in the nation to do business. We have a lot of great things going for us – low taxes, low regulations, a strong work ethic – but we must constantly work to expand our horizons and advance our communities. We’re aggressively pursuing new industries and businesses that create good-paying jobs for our kids and grandkids. As we do that, we must also take a close look at existing issues that may hold back progress.

One of those problems is the conditional use permitting process – a sometimes long, cumbersome process that can take months, even years, to complete. This uncertainty is unfair to everyone involved.

Last month, I announced a plan that creates a fairer, more predictable process for businesses and families who want to create or expand their operations in South Dakota. Let me take you through some of the details of the legislation.

My proposal protects local control. This is incredibly important to me, as I believe the best decisions are made at the local level. Folks who live in a community should have a say in what is developed, so my bill establishes a majority vote process that ensures the local community gets to make decisions, not a fringe few. Nothing is changed in my legislation regarding public input or public notice.

Because local control is so important, my bill does not take away existing zoning standards adopted by a county, nor does it take away local ability to appeal a conditional use permit. Rather, the bill provides added clarity on how a county may adopt special permitted use criteria. Counties that require zoning may either follow the conditional use permit or allow certain projects that meet county established criteria to be approved by a special permitted use. The special permitted use is an existing county option.

Simply put, I want to set up a fair, certain, and reliable system for everyone – both community members and economic developers. We want to roll out the red carpet, not the red tape for those who want to create or expand their business.

While attending a national governor’s meeting in early February, I learned this problem is widespread.

Douglas Peterson, the CEO at S&P Global, said the thing that most frustrates companies, financial institutions, designers, and architects is the permitting process. Diane Leopold, the executive Vice President of Dominion Energy, echoed Peterson’s sentiments and said we need “consistency of process.”

To ensure economic progress is possible for our communities, this legislation is critical. I look forward to working with your legislators in the coming weeks to make sure our communities are equipped to open their doors to projects and industries that keep our kids in South Dakota for generations to come.

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The news came out this week that former State Representative Alex Jensen was approved for the ballot in the Sioux Falls City Council Race for the at-large seat..  and at the same time, Jensen reports that despite the inclement weather, he’s banging out the door to door and personal voter contacts:

While Jensen is officially on the ballot, actively out campaigning, and setting a record pace raising funds for his election, his projected opponent Theresa Stehly can’t make up her mind whether she can handle an opponent who is outworking her before she’s gathered signature 1.

I’m told in her last election, she drug it out until early March before making a decision, which she might be doing in 2020.

But. It’s a much different election against a much more experienced candidate running against a Theresa who now has tremendous baggage for her antics and grandstanding.

With negatives like that, while Alex Jensen is readying signs and going door to door, Stehly might choose to sit out because she doesn’t want to get that large of a dose of truth, instead remaining in the company of sycophants who won’t tell her that she has an image problem that isn’t going away.

Time is ticking away in the Sioux Falls City Council race. Especially for those who won’t make a decision.

A tale of two ballot measure committees coming out of Rapid City this evening.

There’s lots of cash flowing to groups for and against the big Rapid City School Bond issue. And the Rapid City Journal is noting that it looks as if one of the largest donors discovered he might have had money originating from his wallet going both for AND against the measure:

In addition to his donation to the Vote YES efforts, Shafai also wrote a column in the Journal announcing his support for the bond issue.

and..

(opposing the measure – editor pp)  The Taxpayers for Sensible School Bonds (TSSB)  group filed an amended report Thursday that included a $997 donation from a political action committee called the Shining Light PAC. Shining Light lists Jordan Mason as its treasurer on end-of-year documents filed in January. Hani Shafai was the primary contributor to the Shining Light PAC in 2019.

and..

According to a text exchange between Mason and Shafai, Shafai asked if any of the funds he donated had been used for the Shining Light donation to Taxpayers for Sensible School Bonds.

Mason assured Shafai via text that his funds hadn’t been used for that purpose. However…..

Read the rest of the ‘however’ (and of course the entire story) here.

Was that kind of like when Jordan explained working for both Neal Tapio and Shantel Krebs in the 2018 election cycle because he says his business has two divisions?

I guess we’ll have to wait until the next campaign finance reports come out to see.

Former gubernatorial, and rumored legislative candidate Lora Hubbel apparently has a problem with women working as police officers according to her latest facebook rant:

According to Lora, women .. or a “chick” should not be a police officer, and is “more suited for a day care worker.”

Add that one to the “Lora Hubbel is unfit for any public office whatsoever” file.

The Senate Democrat Caucus. Where guests & interns outnumber Senators.

Tragedies like the one @govkristinoem‘s family experienced happen too frequently and call for greater action, which is why I have signed a proclamation naming next week Grain Bin Safety Week. WATCH: https://t.co/XQoRjjGhqO

— Sec. Sonny Perdue (@SecretarySonny) February 14, 2020