We have fifteen days until the March 29 deadline to submit petitions to run for Legislature, county commission, and other partisan offices.
Candidates, you’re welcome: if we had not referred last year’s Senate Bill 69, the incumbent protection plan, your petitions would have been due two weeks ago, on March 1. Just think how many candidates out there haven’t even decided for sure whether they want to run. SB 69, now Referred Law 19, would have forced candidates to decide whether they wanted to run before we knew the fate of the Blue Ribbon teacher pay plan, the state budget, tax incentives for riparian buffer strips, and other measures that weren’t decided until the last week of Session. The last Tuesday of March is still too early for candidate decisions, but it’s not as bad as the first Tuesday.
But the deadline is coming, and even though no Legislative candidate needs more than 50 signatures, anyone wanting to have time to gather signatures and get that nominating petition to Pierre without rushing ought to make the call now.
As of 9 a.m. Central, the Secretary of State’s candidate’s list shows 16 Democrats and 58 Republicans filed to run for Legislature. None of those Democrats are running against each other, although official candidate Patrick Kirschman, who has filed to switch from House to Senate in District 15, will face a challenge from multitasker Reynold Nesiba. District 17 is the only district fielding a full slate of Dems so far, with incumbent Rep. Ray Ring joined by up-and-comers Mark Winegar for House and Shane Merrill for Senate. (We’re close in District 3: I’m in for Senate, and prospects for Dems for House are looking up!)
The only official GOP primary challenges are in the Senate seats in Rapid City Districts 33 and 34. Rep. Jacqueline Sly will finally push radical right-winger Phil Jensen out of the District 33 Senate seat, while Janette McIntyre will test whether Rep. Jeff Partridge’s support for increased sales tax to fund the Blue Ribbon pay raises will keep him from winning votes for Senate. Other primary challenges are coming, even here in District 3, where Drew Dennert and Todd Kolden are planning to join inactive but filed incumbent Rep. Dan Kaiser on the House ballot.
There 105 seats in the Legislature. To guarantee full general election contests in every district, we need 89 more Democrats and 49 more Republicans to circulate and file petitions. 15 days, people—let’s use those days that we took back from the Legislature and fill those slots!
Speaking of Rep. Kaiser, I’m sympathetic to the multiple challenges facing his family right now. But he has just taken the entire legislative session off because of those challenges. District 3 has a right to have a legislator who shows up and votes. Mr. Kaiser should not put voters in the position of choosing whether to cast a sympathy vote for an absentee legislator. When he is spread too thin to serve he should make the decision himself to step away. He can run again when it’s clear he has the time and the commitment to do the job.
Whatever happened to that organization South Dakota Progressive that was born after the last election to help recruit, train fund raise for candidates?
They even elected officers and were seeking funding.
Funny, Roger.
Cory, District 25 will have a full slate of Democrats running. We might even have a Democratic primary in the District 25 House race. I’m sure announcements will be forthcoming.
I don’t want to steal anyone’s thunder, but I think it is a really strong bunch of candidates for the Democrats in District 25 with current and former public office holders, a former 12 year school board member, and business owners, including a family farmer. They all understand the importance of proper education funding and reforming our regressive system of taxation.
I look forward to their announcements!
From District 8, Scott Parsley is, of course, running for re-election to the Senate, and there will be at least one Dem candidate running for a House seat, along with a strong possibility of a second candidate to take on both Wollman and Heinemann.
Niki Boots and Brooks Brisco have just announced in Dist. 3 house.
Sorry Larry, I was actually referring to South Dakota Progress that Lorri May, Katrina Wilke and a handful of others had started.
Roger. they can speak for themselves but I believe most are very active in the democratic party now.
No worries, Roger. Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to bruise.
Brooks is in?! Holy cow! Where’s his announcement?!
Are those real names Mark? They sound like adult film stars.
I just talked to both Brooks and Niki. They are picking up their petitions today. Niki announced on her Facebook page today.
We have a full slate in District 11 and we hope to get rid of the nut cases that we now have!!!!
All cylinders in 11! Well done, Darrell!
I see Susan Wismer got her petition in today for District 1 House—welcome back, Susan!
No new Republicans appear to have filed today, so we’re at 17 Dem, 58 GOP.
http://www.gowatertown.net/2016/03/15/brittons-wismer-files-to-run-for-legislative-seat-in-northeast-south-dakota-audio/
dude we werkin on gettin people to sign for green party in south dakota! go green and not for big moolah partys.
Kris, for those interested in winning ballot access for the Green Party, please tell us who is circulating the Green Party petition and where we can meet those circulators to sign.
Roger Cornelius, unfortunately SDP is apparently defunct. I was one of the original organizers but after we elected officers, not much action resulted. Not sure what went wrong but hope we at least generated some interest and enthusiasm!