Going to seek gold in Montana—Senator Disanto’s FB profile picture, posted 2019.09.25.
A spokeswoman for Gov. Kristi Noem confirmed Tuesday to the Journal that DiSanto, a Republican from Box Elder, has submitted her resignation to the governor’s office, effective Dec. 31. That confirmation came after DiSanto posted a message to her personal Facebook page saying she is planning a move out of the state by Jan. 1.
…DiSanto was known as “Lynne” for most of her political career but legally changed her first name to “Lyndi” in September. DiSanto’s husband, Mark DiSanto, is a Pennington County commissioner, but court records show they are in the midst of a divorce [Seth Tupper, “DiSanto Resigns from Legislature,” Rapid City Journal, 2019.11.26].
DiSanto is the fourth Senator to quit this year, bringing to seven the total number of legislators who will occupy their seats thanks to the good graces of Governor Kristi Noem, who gets to fill Legislative vacancies. Six vacancies have arisen in the last twelve months, and Noem created a seventh by moving John Lake from the House to the Senate to fill one of those vacancies.
DiSanto’s departure gives Noem a chance to fight Senate Majority Leader Lee Qualm’s efforts to overcome any hemp veto. Of the four Senators who have departed this year, only Justin Cronin voted to uphold her veto of House Bill 1191, the popular industrial hemp bill that Noem smoked. DiSanto, Stace Nelson, and Alan Solano all voted aye on the failed veto override. Interestingly, Lake voted to override in the House, but Noem can now override his potential override with three anti-hemp appointments… or at least three people who will be so tickled with a free ticket to the Senate that they won’t cross the Governor on anything in 2020.
Bob Mercer suggests that four Senate appointments in four months might rekindle Legislative interest in amending the constitution to strip the Governor of her appointive power and fill vacancies in a somewhat more checked-and-balanced way. In the 2019 Session, Representative Tom Pischke and Senator Jim Stalzer proposed the reasonable idea of having the Legislature pick replacements for its own early-departing members, but then the House went bonkers and rewrote that into the unworkable and undemocratic idea of letting party leaders pick replacement legislators. The Senate considered fixing it, then bailed on the whole idea.
The best way to fill vacancies is to hold special elections. More voting, more voice for the people is good! 25 states let the voters decide who should represent them, and that’s how it should be done every time. Let DiSanto finally do South Dakota some good: let her departure prompt us to become #26!
Good riddance to bad trash, as they say. Here in Pennington County, we are sad that she isn’t taking her husband with her. I sure do feel sorry for Montana folks.
I always try to remain optimistic. But in a state that could care less about what the voters think (how many times has our so-called government here, overturned the will of the people?) , I don’t have high hopes that things would ever change about how we replace these departing folks. Even though it costs additional money, it SHOULD be done with special elections. It should.
Donald Pay
I second the motion to hold special elections. Special elections ensure the people in legislative districts are represented. Legislators appointed by a Governor represent the executive branch, not the people of the district. Although the separation of powers argument isn’t there if the Legislature appoints, how does that happen without a special session? If the Majority Leader picks the replacement, the replacement represents the party of the Majority Leader (or Speaker). That’s no improvement over the Governor. If you are going to go to the expense of a special session, you might as well fund the special election.
Wisconsin holds special elections if the vacancy is not within a certain number of days of the normal general election. Since Wisconsin’s legislative sessions are spread out throughout the year, that means they are all special elections. We even hold special primaries, which I think could be done away with.
In South Dakota you could do a simple special election (no primary preceding) and run it like a snap election in Great Britain. If the death or resignation came in the legislative session, the legislature could appoint. If the death or resignation came after the second legislative session of the election cycle, the seat could remain open until the general election.
Grudz, write up that Constitutional Amendment.
jerry
Montana have that sucker puncher Gianforte, that is a pain in the neck and now they will get Lyndie Lout as a pain in the arse. Montana is now, big sigh country.
There must be some kind of tragedy there that didi mau can capitalize on. In the meantime di di mau. (go quickly)
I know we’re supposed be thinking about being thankful, but were I a betting man, I would say there’s even odds that Noem will appoint someone worse.
Debbo
“Voters in northeast Minneapolis will head to the polls on Feb. 4 to elect a new state representative to replace the late DFL Rep. Diane Loeffler.”
There’s actually another district having a special election that day too. Their senator retired due to health issues. Gov. Walz scheduled a primary if necessary, on the day college students return from Christmas break. See, he’s a Democrat so he tries to Include as many voters as possible, rather than Exclude them, as the GOP does.
Donald Pay
Before it was gerrymandered, District 35 was a diverse district. It had some wealthier neighborhoods in west Rapid, Lakota Homes, north Rapid, the School of Mines neighborhood, a bit of the valley. It was a district that actually looked like Rapid City. It elected Democrats. It elected Republicans. It swung back and forth, depending on issues and candidates. No candidate, no party had a lock. You had to pay pretty close attention to the district, show up at meetings and forums, and knock on doors to have a chance at winning. That’s the way I think democracy should work, and that’s what Republicans took away through gerrymandering.
I doubt any Democrat, or even a decent Republican, could win that district now. Poor folks and minorities in the old District 35 have been parceled out to several districts, making their votes unimportant to any candidate.
The district now elects kooks and ciphers. What a come down for District 35.
Mark
Good riddance.
Now, if we can get Jim Bolin from Canton to go with her …..
As long as they don’t reproduce.
bearcreekbat
I have resided in District 35 for many years and unfortunately, in my experience Donald Pay is accurate in his analysis of current voting trends here. If DiSanto’s replacement was left up to District 35 voters I wouldn’t be surprised if they found someone to the right of DiSanto.
grudznick
Mr. Bat, just be glad you don’t live in the district numbered 30, where the insanest of them all are.
Bennett C.
She is nothing but a hateful vengeful person.. She does what she does for nothing but publicly.. She attacks anyone that disagrees with her and has no respect for anybody but herself.. She thrives on on chaos and like any one with a narcissistic personality she makes it all about her.. She lies and talks behind her own constituents.. She tells them one thing and does the other cause I believe she is corrupt.. and I strongly believe when she’s out of office they’re going to find the true nature why she left office in the first place.. mark my words she left for a reason and it’s not to move to Montana And the reason why she’s getting a divorce cuz she wanted to wear the pants in the family her husband the dress what does that tell you about her.. I am one glad she is leaving good riddance you’re fake blonde hair does no justice..
Good riddance to bad trash, as they say. Here in Pennington County, we are sad that she isn’t taking her husband with her. I sure do feel sorry for Montana folks.
I always try to remain optimistic. But in a state that could care less about what the voters think (how many times has our so-called government here, overturned the will of the people?) , I don’t have high hopes that things would ever change about how we replace these departing folks. Even though it costs additional money, it SHOULD be done with special elections. It should.
I second the motion to hold special elections. Special elections ensure the people in legislative districts are represented. Legislators appointed by a Governor represent the executive branch, not the people of the district. Although the separation of powers argument isn’t there if the Legislature appoints, how does that happen without a special session? If the Majority Leader picks the replacement, the replacement represents the party of the Majority Leader (or Speaker). That’s no improvement over the Governor. If you are going to go to the expense of a special session, you might as well fund the special election.
Wisconsin holds special elections if the vacancy is not within a certain number of days of the normal general election. Since Wisconsin’s legislative sessions are spread out throughout the year, that means they are all special elections. We even hold special primaries, which I think could be done away with.
In South Dakota you could do a simple special election (no primary preceding) and run it like a snap election in Great Britain. If the death or resignation came in the legislative session, the legislature could appoint. If the death or resignation came after the second legislative session of the election cycle, the seat could remain open until the general election.
Grudz, write up that Constitutional Amendment.
Montana have that sucker puncher Gianforte, that is a pain in the neck and now they will get Lyndie Lout as a pain in the arse. Montana is now, big sigh country.
There must be some kind of tragedy there that didi mau can capitalize on. In the meantime di di mau. (go quickly)
She’s contributing to South Dakota’s blonde drain.
At least the brain drain isn’t affected.
My heart is deflated.
No doubt this deflated much for you, Bob.
Pretty clever, Buckobear.
Special elections are the way to go imo. Minnesota does that, but it doesn’t come up so often as it seems to in SD. Reminds of GOP bailing out of DC.
I know we’re supposed be thinking about being thankful, but were I a betting man, I would say there’s even odds that Noem will appoint someone worse.
“Voters in northeast Minneapolis will head to the polls on Feb. 4 to elect a new state representative to replace the late DFL Rep. Diane Loeffler.”
There’s actually another district having a special election that day too. Their senator retired due to health issues. Gov. Walz scheduled a primary if necessary, on the day college students return from Christmas break. See, he’s a Democrat so he tries to Include as many voters as possible, rather than Exclude them, as the GOP does.
Before it was gerrymandered, District 35 was a diverse district. It had some wealthier neighborhoods in west Rapid, Lakota Homes, north Rapid, the School of Mines neighborhood, a bit of the valley. It was a district that actually looked like Rapid City. It elected Democrats. It elected Republicans. It swung back and forth, depending on issues and candidates. No candidate, no party had a lock. You had to pay pretty close attention to the district, show up at meetings and forums, and knock on doors to have a chance at winning. That’s the way I think democracy should work, and that’s what Republicans took away through gerrymandering.
I doubt any Democrat, or even a decent Republican, could win that district now. Poor folks and minorities in the old District 35 have been parceled out to several districts, making their votes unimportant to any candidate.
The district now elects kooks and ciphers. What a come down for District 35.
Good riddance.
Now, if we can get Jim Bolin from Canton to go with her …..
As long as they don’t reproduce.
I have resided in District 35 for many years and unfortunately, in my experience Donald Pay is accurate in his analysis of current voting trends here. If DiSanto’s replacement was left up to District 35 voters I wouldn’t be surprised if they found someone to the right of DiSanto.
Mr. Bat, just be glad you don’t live in the district numbered 30, where the insanest of them all are.
She is nothing but a hateful vengeful person.. She does what she does for nothing but publicly.. She attacks anyone that disagrees with her and has no respect for anybody but herself.. She thrives on on chaos and like any one with a narcissistic personality she makes it all about her.. She lies and talks behind her own constituents.. She tells them one thing and does the other cause I believe she is corrupt.. and I strongly believe when she’s out of office they’re going to find the true nature why she left office in the first place.. mark my words she left for a reason and it’s not to move to Montana And the reason why she’s getting a divorce cuz she wanted to wear the pants in the family her husband the dress what does that tell you about her.. I am one glad she is leaving good riddance you’re fake blonde hair does no justice..