Heidelberger Hosts Public Forum July 31: “Public Education: Who Needs It?”

As part of my campaign for District 3 Senate, I’m hosting monthly public forums on major policy issues facing the South Dakota Legislature. First up: “Public Education: Who Needs It?” On Tuesday, July 31, 7 p.m., at the K.O. Lee Public Library, I’ll speak and entertain questions from my neighbors on our public schools, their role in promoting democracy and economic development, and the state’s role in funding that vital civic institution.

The Aberdeen paper gives my first public forum a little notice in this morning’s edition. That notice was part of a larger press release laying out three major issues on which I will bring a far more pro-democracy, pro-South Dakota approach to government than our current District 3 Senator:

Aberdeen writer, teacher, and consultant Cory Allen Heidelberger is formally launching his campaign for District 3 Senate. Heidelberger says his campaign will focus on defending voters, supporting education, and fighting for American principles of equality.“South Dakota needs legislators who will defend our right to vote,” says Heidelberger. “The current Legislature has waged war on our voting rights, overturning Initiated Measure 22 and passing law after law to make it harder for us to petition for our right to vote on laws. I’ll fight to protect initiative and referendum from Legislative override, repeal the bureaucracy and burdens that our current senator has thrown in our way, and restore your petition and voting rights.”

Heidelberger promises to make education as high Legislative priority. “The Legislature let teacher pay languish in the cellar for 30 years, then imposed a huge tax increase that somehow only raised our teacher pay to 48th in the nation. Plus, the Legislature continues to resist support for preschool and needs-based college scholarships. We need to make education at every level a priority every year. We need to pay our teachers a regionally competitive wage, give our littlest learners and their parents a boost with public pre-K services, and help all of our high school grads get vital post-secondary ed with less debt.”

Heidelberger shares the alarm many Aberdeen voters feel knowing that their current senator attends local anti-immigrant rallies, advocates racial and ethnic profiling, opposes freedom of speech and women’s rights, and espouses Internet hoaxes and hateful views that are not only prejudiced but also harmful to South Dakota’s vital workforce recruitment efforts. Heidelberger says the public needs elected officials to speak out against such un-American and unproductive views and defend the equal rights of all South Dakotans.

“When you send me to Pierre,” says Heidelberger, “I won’t waste your time or the Legislature’s time promoting hateful, discriminatory, unconstitutional legislation intended to score points with the culture-war crowd. I’ll focus on practical bills promoting education, voter rights, economic development, and other issues that promote liberty, justice, and opportunity for all South Dakotans, regardless of sex, race, or religion.”

To help inform this practical policy agenda, Heidelberger is hosting monthly policy forums to discuss major issues facing the South Dakota Legislature. The first public forum, titled “Public Education: Who Needs It?” will take place Tuesday, July 31, at 7 p.m. at the K.O. Lee Public Library. Heidelberger will speak about his diverse experience in education and state policies affecting our K-12 system. Heidelberger will also take questions at this free event.

Heidelberger will be on the general election ballot for District 3 Senate. Early voting begins September 21; Election Day is November 6 [CAH Senate campaign, press release, 2018.07.18].

If you’re in Aberdeen at the end of the month, come participate in my forum on public education, and bring a friend!