South Dakota Searchlight has a good article by Josh Haiar which if you haven’t read it is an ominous foreshadowing of how some of the people running for governor view bringing new industries and the jobs that come with them into South Dakota, as they promise a future lacking vision and aspiration:
“You’re using tax dollars to bring in companies that compete with current South Dakota businesses,” (Jon) Hansen said. “You’re using their tax dollars to fund their competition.”
He has pledged to put an end to what he describes as “corporate welfare.”
and..
(Toby) Doeden told South Dakota Searchlight he hopes to change the focus of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. He said the state should shift its focus away from job creation, pointing to South Dakota’s 1.9% unemployment rate.
and..
“We will grow the economy with new small businesses, new energy production, expanded dairy, and bringing high-tech jobs home to South Dakota. We will keep tax rates low by growing the tax base,” the statement said. “This is growth with a purpose — not growth for its own sake, but growth that creates opportunity for the next generation.”
..(Dusty) Johnson said during a recent public forum that he is “befuddled” by blanket opposition to economic development, including data centers and other large projects. He said South Dakota leaders need to be “visionary” and bring new industries to the state “or we are saying that our children will have diminished opportunities.” That, Johnson said, is “absolutely unacceptable.”
“It’s un-American and it’s not at all capitalist,” he said.
Candidate Jon Hansen’s NIMBY campaign is being built on the back of the BANANA (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything) movement and Candidate Toby Doeden’s self-funded campaign directly coming out against investment in job creation is so anti-leadership, it immediately puts him in the reject pile for being conceived as a viable leader for South Dakota.
They both lack ambition, and they lack basic leadership. They lack vision. They both disqualify themselves from consideration for the job of governor because of their short-sightedness and lunkhead pandering.
I always counsel people thinking of running that candidates should be inspirational and aspirational. Those are huge leadership qualities. Why do I point this out? Elections are not about the past – elections are about the future.
If you want your future to be kids moving away because they have no opportunity, leading to schools shutting down, and towns dying, then keep on the Hansen/Doeden path. Just because someone born on a farm in 1950 South Dakota couldn’t dream about working in an AI data Center in rural South Dakota doesn’t mean their kids won’t.
Governors have to think big and always about tomorrow. Bill Janklow brought Citibank to South Dakota (And starting under him, his COS Dave Knudson was the architect of SD’s Trust success), George Mickelson was the father and architect of today’s economic development prosperity, and why South Dakota is a good place to do business. When Janklow came back, he wired the schools for data. Mike Rounds took a deep hole in the ground and turned it into a word class research lab, created research centers at state universities to attract federal and private funding, and worked with the federal team to save Ellsworth.
While it’s in vogue to throw rocks at Governor Kristi Noem, she was far more visionary than people would care to remember. Early on, Kristi launched an effort to bring high-speed, sustainable broadband to every home and business in South Dakota. Her Cybersecurity initiative with DSU to bring a new applied research lab in Sioux Falls was a huge investment in training graduates for jobs. I can cite a few more that people ignore, but those were HUGE.
With most all of these initiatives to benefit the state for the future, there was opposition – in some cases, strong opposition. But there was a vision for the state, and there was leadership to make their vision happen.
The best takeaway from the article was a statement from Nathan Sanderson of SD Retailers talking about South Dakota’s success in the dairy industry; “If the state didn’t get involved, that growth wouldn’t have happened. This isn’t about picking winners and losers — it’s about building partnerships to improve quality of life.”
Thinking big and thinking about tomorrow isn’t just an aside when running for Governor. It’s central to the job description. And we don’t need people who don’t get that.
I do not understand why we wouldn’t want to live in a business-friendly state.
DJ2026
Amen!
I want to see a list of businesses funded through state economic development that are in direct competition with existing businesses.
“FOR THE PEOPLE, NOT THE POWERFULL”
Oh wait, I am rich and powerful, but don’t tell anyone ~ Toby
and a known bully.
Capitalism is the greatest engine for prosperity and peace ever seen. Capitalism depends on innovation, a willingness to adopt to today’s realities (economic and social) and dogged competition. Dusty
Marxism is the false promise of empty bromides (the powerful elites in the government will give us smart growth) and there is no need for courage and innovation (protection for the status quo).
Dusty, I’m befuddled too. Dodoby and JonCrow are closer to Mondami than they are Reagan or Trump.
I don’t think the economic engine of South Dakota can afford more wishy washy Larry Rhoden.
Lieutenant Governor Larry Rhoden “Today, we get to celebrate South Dakota’s continued growth. I’m excited about the long-term partnership that this facility will have with our farmers.”
PIERRE, SD – In a historic victory for landowners and citizen advocacy, South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden has signed HB 1052 into law, banning the use of eminent domain for private CO2 pipeline projects. This landmark legislation marks a major win for property rights and rural communities, ensuring that corporations can no longer use government-backed land seizures for private gain.
Noems broadband expansion, just like Biden’s was a bit of a boondoggle. Lots of people who chose to live on the outskirts without certain services were given broadband access. It’s nice but it was certainly not necessary. Capitalism provides other means like Starlink. Capitalism also said it didn’t work to bring broadband to these small developments outside of Pierre – the private companies couldn’t pencil it out. But government money did make it work. Again, nice for those people but I’m not sure it was the governments job.
Lots of examples of developers getting super wealthy off of tax increment financing as well. I’m all for government help when it makes sense. But there are many deals made with companies that have become pros at figuring out how to get government help for their private projects.
Speaking of “data centers”, what have you heard of the rumor of one proposed for Rapid City?
Data Centers are the new CO2 pipeline to people here out west. What they don’t understand is if we do not keep up with the AI development as a country, like it or not, our grandkids will probably be speaking Chinese. No one fully understands data centers and they are making huge assumptions based on what elected officials are telling them. I thought the A1 memes were only about Linda McMahon but one gentleman at a city council meeting in Rapid, during public comment, actually said we cannot allow A One center to come into our communities.
If either Hansen or Doeden become the next Gov, then may we reap the harvest from politically empowering the delusional and more idiotic aspects of our society.
While it’s in vogue to throw rocks at Governor Kristi Noem, she was far more visionary than people would care to remember.
Amen to that!!!
Let’s see economic development created in the state without the green energy scam, courtesy of hard-working Americans taxpayer dollars. The problem stems from rhino Republicans that are in love with the Biden Harris Green energy, obtrusive, windmills, solar panels, and the unnecessary CO2 pipelines. Mehlhaff who has been groomed by the green energy loving PUC is a special kind of stupid. He supports the CO2 pipeline dream because they took away the Keystone pipeline? Seriously? He’s too incompetent to realize our country needs petroleum pipelines, not the BS of CO2 pipelines. He should be disqualified from running for the PUC because he has time again proving he will completely disregard anything not supporting his green pipe dream.