Press "Enter" to skip to content

Cory’s Final Policy Argument in District 3 Senate Race

I published my final 2016 campaign newsletter in Monday’s Aberdeen American News. Along with a nice picture of Stephanie Herseth Sandlin and me and a big campaign card on the back, the newsletter features my final policy argument for electing me to the District 3 Senate seat. I contrast my position with that of my opponent, Rep. Al Novstrup, on four bills that made the news over the last two years:

Referred Law 19 (2015 SB 69): My opponent voted to take away your right (if you belong to a political party) to sign petitions for independent candidates. I will vote No on RL 19 to protect your rights and  the ability of independents to get on the ballot.

Referred Law 20 (2015 SB 177): My opponent voted to cut the minimum wage for our kids. I will vote to protect young workers’ ability to earn money for college and for their families.

2016 House Bill 1008: My opponent voted to punish transgender kids with heavy-handed government decisions about who goes potty where. Governor Daugaard vetoed this mean and distracting bill, and I applauded our Governor for doing so. I will protect all students and all South Dakotans from discrimination.

2016 House Bill 1182: My opponent and I both supported the Governor’s plan to raise sales tax to fund teacher pay. However, I supported an alternative Democratic plan that would have exempted food from sales tax, made teacher pay more competitive, and laid less tax burden on the lowest 20% of South Dakota income earners.

Cory's final campaign card, November 2016.

District 3 voters, you have a clear choice. You can re-elect a seven-term incumbent who voted in the last two years to take rights away from voters, teen workers, and transgender kids and to impose more tax than necessary on our lowest-income workers. Or you can elect me.

Vote on policy. Vote on what’s right. And for Pete’s sake, vote.

25 Comments

  1. Dave Baumeister 2016-11-08 07:11

    Good luck tonight, Cory!

  2. Hogan 2016-11-08 07:18

    CAH Are you saying the Brown County Democrats that voted for Novstrup over you are mistaken?
    Voted for Briscoe over Dennert mistaken?
    Voted for Kaiser over Bootz mistaken?

    We certainly did not feel mistaken and discussed it for quite a while looking back at various posts and policy proposals or the lack of.

    btw! If you spell Aunt Chillottas any other way to an Aberdonian that was around when it was open they will probably correct you. They were going to try to sell franchises about the same time as Super 8 was taking off but Aunt Chillottas never really took off but it’s single location with the advertised 2nd floor view of the Hub City was enjoyed by Aberdonians.

  3. Rorschach 2016-11-08 07:26

    Good luck to all of the Democrats bold enough to put their names on a South Dakota ballot. You fought the good fight. May you continue to do so in Pierre starting in January!

  4. jerry 2016-11-08 07:50

    Good luck Cory, you have the right message on what is on the ballot and would do a great job in Pierre against the good ol boys that only want the change in our pockets after stealing the tidbits in our wallets.

  5. Darin Larson 2016-11-08 07:57

    Hogan, you are a fraud. You don’t believe in Democratic issues? That’s fine. But quit representing yourself as if you were a Democrat. You are voting for two Republicans and one Democrat? Please, spare us the drama. You are not a Democrat.

  6. caheidelberger Post author | 2016-11-08 08:13

    [Hogan, you haven’t replied to my e-mail. Please respond, so I know I’m speaking with a real person. Thank you.]

  7. Hogan 2016-11-08 08:17

    Darin We are not Democrats because we do not vote straight ticket every election?

  8. Hogan 2016-11-08 08:28

    CAH you have mail. Your email was sent to my junk mail folder.

  9. Darin Larson 2016-11-08 08:37

    Hogan, you’re voting for 2 out of three Republicans and you are claiming to be a Democrat? Right! Tell me what other Democrats you are voting for then. Oh, let me guess, you are voting for Thune and Noem, but you are really a Democrat. Got it.

  10. Hogan 2016-11-08 08:45

    Darin so the purity test for a South Dakota Democrat is to vote straight ticket at each election. Right?

    We should not carefully consider each party candidate’s qualifications, conduct past and present, policy stances and how they will not only represent your district but will they be good for the party in the short and long term?

  11. Hogan 2016-11-08 08:53

    Hey Bud what about the guy that ran as a Democrat down in Brookings and had names like Daffy Duck on his petitions? If those petitions would of slid thru were the Democrats in his area supposed to vote for this guy without question or we were frauds and not Democrats?

  12. Rorschach 2016-11-08 09:13

    Hey Darin. Some South Dakota Democrats have become so accustomed to being surrounded by so many Republican friends and family members that it’s just easier to go along to get along to be one of the crowd. It’s the Stockholm Syndrome. Hogan is to be pitied, not reviled.

  13. Rorschach 2016-11-08 09:16

    Next Hogan will say that because a few Democrats on a blog were so mean to him he’s just going to switch to Republican. You and I know he’s already there.

  14. Hogan 2016-11-08 09:21

    Rorschach are you saying if they have a heartbeat and run as a Democrat we as South Dakota Democrats have to vote for them or we have Stockholm Syndrome?

  15. Hogan 2016-11-08 09:23

    This is hilarious!

  16. caheidelberger Post author | 2016-11-08 09:41

    Hey, guys, this post is not about “Hogan” (whose name does not appear in the Aberdeen voter rolls) or about Democratic purity. This post is about my closing argument for District 3 Senate. I welcome your comparisons of my policy positions with Al’s and your analysis of which positions are better for South Dakota.

  17. Craig 2016-11-08 09:55

    Cory I find your positions logical and well thought out. Not only those which you have discussed here, but the many other positions you have taken in the past. You would be an effective, articulate legislator and would be a benefit to South Dakota. I don’t always agree with your positions, but I recognize you have put thought into each one and you are able to support why you believe what you believe. I suppose your years as a debate teacher, coach, and judge have served you well.

    Also, even when you have posters insult you or your positions you never stoop to their level. You continually take the high road and steer discussions back to the issues. In that respect you’re a better man than I, but clearly this is a quality that would benefit the citizens.

    I wish I was in your district because the decision to support you would be an easy one. However since I’m unable to support you directly in the voting booth, I can still show support on ballot initiatives and amendments.

    If we really voted for the best candidate you would win this election easily, but I acknowledge many voters rely not upon policy positions or facts, but instead they resort to voting for a political party or a name they recognize. Those are your hurdles, but if you find yourself defeated this time I would encourage you to press on and continue in the future. Even Abe Lincoln lost a few elections before he was successful, and I’m confident as more and more voters hear your message and your logic they will move in line to support you just as they did with Lincoln.

  18. Rorschach 2016-11-08 09:56

    I certainly hope that Cory will join a legislature that right now is over 80% Republican. We simply need more Democrats in Pierre to call out Republican corruption and arrogance and to provide checks and balances and accountability. When one party becomes so dominant that it faces no accountability, such a situation breeds corruption and fosters poor management. That’s where we are in South Dakota right now. Cory is a watchdog extraordinaire! Let’s move him right to where the foxes are guarding the hen house and have him chase the foxes around.

  19. Rorschach 2016-11-08 10:36

    It’s over folks! Hillary wins!!

    The alternative would have been: President Donald Trump. Vice President Mike Pence. Secretary of State Newt Gingrich. Attorney General Rudy Giuliani. Secretary of Defense Vladimir Putin. Whew – we really dodged a bullet!!!

    Just getting that out of the way early.

  20. Roger Cornelius 2016-11-08 10:59

    It is essential that all Democrats in District 3 give Cory their vote today.

    You see, by electing Cory in Brown County he will also be a voice for ALL Democrats and liberals in South Dakota.

    Although I live in Pennington County I recognized early in the campaign the importance of Cory’s candidacy and supported him morally and financially as best I could, that is how important this campaign is to me.

    The arguing and debating is over, some tonight I expect to get the news that Democrats in South Dakota need to hear, that Cory is next Senator from District 3.

  21. Donald Pay 2016-11-08 11:34

    Good luck, Cory. You would be a great addition to the Legislature. South Dakota couldn’t do better.

  22. bearcreekbat 2016-11-08 11:41

    Good luck today Cory – we need folks like you to bring rational and compassionate thinking back to Pierre. And IMO you have set forth your policy positions in a very clear and helpful manner.

  23. caheidelberger Post author | 2016-11-08 15:53

    Thanks for the good wishes! Donald, I’ll note that South Dakota could do better than adding me to the Legislature: they could also add Mark Winegar, Clara Hart, Mary Perpich, Kathy Tyler, Michael Hanson, Haven Stuck, Red Dawn Foster, Russell Graeff, and a whole bunch of other Democrats to help me get things done!

  24. Jon H 2016-11-09 00:08

    Good luck Cory—Our state diserves to have your wonderful voice!!!

  25. grudznick 2016-11-09 00:13

    Mr. Jon, I expect that regardless of how Mr. Novstrup turns out in this election your town will have Mr. H (Cory, not Jon) still voicing his voice as he sees fit. I am sure Mr. H (Cory, not Jon) will be still bloging and going to the legislatures to watch and hand out papers and things.

    I, for one, commend Mr. H for his efforts.

Comments are closed.