I just got my hands on this ad. Apparently a group called the Tenth Amendment Project has their own advertisement up criticizing Attorney General Marty Jackley for his handling of the Laura Kaiser sexual harassment lawsuit, and has placed this ad on the air based on the KELO TV Coverage:

The website for the group promoting this ad can be found at www.tenthamendmentaction.com.

(Not a lot of political ads that have the word “horny” in it.)

From my mailbox (again), comes a second commercial involving Laura Kaiser, this time featuring Kaiser herself:

From my mailbox:

Another Lance Russell mailer has gone out to delegates, this one a postcard. (Much better than long letters you have to open).

(Is that a blurry Fitzgerald in the first pic?)

From my e-mail box, a reader is passing on this mail piece I haven’t seen yet where the Jackley campaign is striking back at the Kristi Noem Campaign:

USDA Announces New Relending Pilot Program on Tribal Lands in South Dakota

Decision Comes in Response to Delegation’s March 2018 Request for Implementation

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) today welcomed U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue’s announcement that USDA, at the request of the delegation, will implement a new Section 502 relending pilot program on tribal lands in South Dakota. The USDA Rural Development (USDA-RD) Section 502 Direct Loan Program helps low-income families pursue home ownership. According to USDA, South Dakota and North Dakota are the only states that have been authorized for this pilot program.

“Home ownership has always been part of the American Dream, and as a result of today’s announcement, more families throughout South Dakota will hopefully get the opportunity to see their own dreams realized, too,” said Thune. “I can’t think of a better place than South Dakota for this pilot program to be implemented and look forward to seeing the positive effect this will have on families living in tribal communities throughout the state. I want to thank Secretary Perdue for seeing the potential in this pilot program and taking quick action to see that it moves forward.”

“Access to credit is critical for families who are trying to purchase a home,” said Rounds. “The USDA’s new Section 502 relending pilot program will help those living on tribal lands secure a home loan. We thank Secretary Sonny Perdue for his leadership on this initiative.”

“Strengthening families is a direct investment into strengthening the future, and expanding home ownership opportunities is a key part of that,” said Noem. “I am thankful Secretary Perdue and USDA recognized the potential of South Dakota tribal communities for this pilot program. I am hopeful it will help ease the path to home ownership for tribal families in the years ahead.”

“To thrive, rural America needs a creative and forward-thinking partner in USDA,” said Assistant to the USDA Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett. “Under Secretary Perdue’s leadership, USDA is harnessing innovation so we can be a better, more effective partner to Tribal communities in building their futures.”

In March 2018, the delegation requested this pilot program, which is supported by the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Association and the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition, be implemented in South Dakota because while the current Section 502 program is highly utilized, only 23 of the 7,187 loans that were issued in fiscal year 2017 went to Native American families on tribal land. Under its current structure, USDA-RD lacks the adequate staff resources that are required to build relationships and deliver loans in tribal communities.

Recognizing the lack of Section 502 direct loans in tribal communities, officials from USDA-RD, both in Washington, D.C., and South Dakota, collaborated with two Native American community development financial institutions (CDFIs) in South Dakota to develop this pilot program.

Both CDFIs, Mazaska Owecaso Otipi Financial in Pine Ridge and Four Bands Community Fund in Eagle Butte, are institutions in good standing with USDA-RD and, as a result of today’s announcement, are now eligible lenders under Section 502. Each will receive $800,000 in Section 502 direct loan funding from USDA-RD and be responsible for contributing $200,000 in additional funds to the pilot project. These funds would be used to relend to Native American families in tribal communities in South Dakota and North Dakota that meet the program’s requirements.

Families that are interested in learning more about this pilot program should contact the eligible CDFIs or one of the congressional delegation’s offices in Washington or South Dakota.

###

From the Rapid City Journal editorial section, the RCJ has endorsed Marty Jackley for Governor:

There is little distinction between the two candidates on the primary issues of a Republican race. They are both pro-Second Amendment, pro-life, pro-traditional family values, open to signing a transgender bathroom bill and support school districts that want to arm teachers, staff or volunteers in a bid to improve safety. They also believe the state needs to improve education, workforce development and health care, which includes mental health. Neither wants to raise taxes.

And…

The experience these candidates bring to the race is the critical difference. Noem has been a lawmaker for the past 12 years, including eight spent mostly in Washington, D.C., a place known for dysfunction and grandstanding. Jackley has been working with local officials and lawmakers for the past eight years in the minutiae of state government. He has managed two law enforcement offices and has more specific ideas on how to shore up the state’s performance in education, health care and economic development. He also is a Sturgis native who understands the particular needs of Western South Dakota.

Marty Jackley is the best Republican candidate for governor.

Read it all here.

Hundreds of Rape Kits Left Untested until Public Outcry Forced Jackley to Act

Earlier this month, Marty Jackley stood before reporters to say: “I feel strongly that those victims deserve better protections and better rights.” But as Marty Jackley pointed out during Tuesday’s South Dakota Public Broadcasting debate, there’s a difference between a Republican that “talks about things” and a Republican that “does things.”

South Dakota had the capacity to test every rape kit. Still, Marty Jackley’s poor leadership left hundreds of rape kits untested, even though the evidence could have helped “put potential predators behind bars.”

WHY TEST ALL RAPE KITS?

“Mandatory testing of every rape kit can make or break a criminal case… Kit analysis can also expose serial offenders…” (Argus Leader, 19 July 2015)

HOW LARGE WAS THE BACKLOG?

The “Sioux Falls Police Department had been sitting on more than 350 untested rape kits, including 225 that it sent to the state crime lab [which Marty Jackley oversees] in 2014.” The backlog meant “officials could be missing opportunities to match DNA samples with known offenders….” (Argus Leader, 19 December 2015)

DID SOUTH DAKOTA HAVE THE CAPACITY?

“South Dakota has the capacity to test all its rape kits – the state’s forensics lab in Pierre is quicker and more efficient than the national average, and the cost is minimal.” (Argus Leader, 19 July 2015)

IF SOUTH DAKOTA HAD THE CAPACITY, WHY WASN’T THIS A PRIORITY?

“Jackley said there is no time table for clearing the backlog of untested kits, and that expediting the process would require money to hire another examiner. He said he’s reluctant to request that funding from the Legislature….” (Argus Leader, 19 December 2015)

WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE PUBLIC OUTCRY?

Despite the December 19 reluctance over hiring an additional forensic scientist to help clear the backlog, “Marty Jackley … approved the new position Monday, a day after the Argus Leader reported on the state’s slow progress clearing the backlog.” (Associated Press, 23 December 2015) The following year, the state legislature passed legislation requiring “the testing of all rape kits going forward.” (Argus Leader, 27 October 2016)

IS INACTION A PATTERN FOR MARTY JACKLEY?

>>> Only after the Argus Leader drew attention to the backlog of rape kits did Marty Jackley act.

>>> Only after a federal judge ordered Jackley’s DCI director to appear in court to explain why the state had delayed Laura Kaiser’s settlement did Marty Jackley act.

>>> Only after Kristi Noem spoke out did Marty Jackley bring the Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training Commission into compliance with state transparency laws.

“Marty Jackley is right. There’s a difference between a Republican that talks about things, and a Republican like Kristi Noem that does things,” said Justin Brasell, Kristi for Governor Campaign Manager.

In District 34, Janette McIntyre has noticeably started shifting her campaign from running for the District 34 State House seat into running her campaign against Governor Dennis Daugaard:
This comes on the heels of her opponent Jess Olson sending out a mailer with a Daugaard endorsement, and posting a Daugaard Letter of endorsement on her website…
…which has come under attack by some of the fringe Republicans in Rapid City.

Daugaard endorsements have come under fire (mainly from people who don’t get them) ever since he’s made them. But some of the same people sit stonily silent when lesser known political figures endorse the candidate of their preference.

What do you think? Is the endorsement of Governor Daugaard an overwhelming act significant enough to swing a race in a Republican Legislative Primary that needs to be actively fought and discounted by the person not getting it?

I’d heard this was running, and finally caught the Neal Tapio for Congress commercial on last night’s news: