…Heinemann, 63, stated his decision not to run for a fourth term was made after “…weighing the commitment I have to my (District 8) constituents versus those of my patients in our rural dental offices in Flandreau and Dell Rapids.”
…”While I had every intention to run for re-election, after careful consideration and lengthy discussions with my wife Libby and family, I have decided to withdraw as a candidate from District 8 in the S.D. House this fall,” Heinemann stated. “This decision has truly been one of the most difficult I have ever had to face” [Chuck Clement, “Heinemann Withdraws from Re-Election Bid,” Madison Daily Leader, 2018.06.07].
District 8 county party officials—i.e., leaders of the Moody, Lake, Miner, and Sanborn GOP—have until August 14 to file a name to take Heinemann’s place on the November ballot. As it stands, incumbent Republican Rep. Marli Wiese remains on the ballot in what will be her first electoral test since Governor Daugaard appointed her to fill disgraced former Rep. Mathew Wollmann’s seat during the 2017 Session. Gee, maybe Wollmann will take this opportunity to jump back up from volunteering for his pal Dusty Johnson and attempt to persuade his party leaders to let him back into the club.
Gunning for Wiese are District 8 Democrats Joan Stamm of Madison and Mary Leary of Howard.
