Good afternoon District 27. While many of you perhaps were watching the Vice-Presidential Debate last night, I was on the “debate stage” at the Wall Badlands Area Chamber of Commerce Candidate Forum which was moderated and hosted by local businessman John Tsitrian. As the only Republican candidate in attendance, I felt I had won the debate on style and substance and walked away with a big boost of confidence for a winning victory in November. I felt comfortable answering the questions from both the moderator and the audience as I was well-versed and prepared to speak on the issues that are on the minds of the voters in the State of South Dakota.
The candidate forum started on schedule; however, one of the Democratic candidates showed up late and another of the Democratic candidates left before the forum was over. A small crowd of people were in attendance (about 15 people) including City of Wall Mayor Mary Williams and District 30 Senator Julie Frye-Mueller in attendance. State Senator Fry-Mueller gave a brief presentation to the attendees as to why the voters should vote “No on Referred Law 21.” Not in attendance was District 27 State Representative Liz May who could not attend at the last minute due to a medical emergency.
I want to extend a special thanks to all my supporters whom I confided in before determining whether I should attend the debate or not. I prayed for clarity and a sign as to whether I should attend. I said to one of my supporters, “I am all in to win!” She then replied, “So what do you have to fear, if you are all in to win?” That was the sign and words of encouragement that I needed to hear to decide to attend the candidate forum in Wall.
Attending the forum could be detrimental to my campaign if the moderator was biased toward one candidate over the other. I did not find that to be the case throughout the debate forum. I thought the moderator did a good job of keeping the discussion moving forward. I thought the questions from the audience members were good. I was eager to engage the voters in the audience, mainly Democrats, but there were also some Independent and Republican voters in attendance. I had the opportunity to engage my supporters after the debate performance and to get additional campaign materials into their hands to pass out to people and to encourage their friends and family members to vote for me.
Before attending the candidate forum, I had spent all day putting up my jumbo signs in the Kadoka and Belvidere area – the last area that I needed to cover with my signs. I then drove to Wall and attended the daily mass at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with several parishioners in attendance praying that God would bless me with words of wisdom and strength to guide me throughout the debate in a professional manner. I want to extend heartfelt thanks to all of those individual prayer warriors who said a quick prayer for me before going onto the debate stage.
Lastly, I want to send a special thank you to Matt Olson who accompanied me on the trip to Wall. Matt is a music teacher in the Kadoka School District and serves as a leader in our Men’s Fraternal Group which meets on Sundays. Matt is responsible for taking the video footage while I was on stage debating the Democratic Legislative Candidates.
I will be in Kadoka attending the Kouger Homecoming Parade this coming Friday. On Saturday, I will be attending the Hog Roast in Long Valley. Finally, on Sunday morning, I will be attending the reservation-wide mass at Holy Rosary and the potluck after mass. I look forward to meeting the people of District 27 as I continue to count down the days (T-35) until the November 5th General Election. Have a great week. God bless.
Candidate Forum Video Highlights
Opening Remarks - Videos 1, 2, and 3
NOTE: I misspoke. I retired from the USPHS in 2012, not 2004.
My response to why I am concerned about the direction of South Dakota (regarding skyrocketing land values) and the catalyst that got me to run for office and what I will if elected into office - Video 4
Part of my response to the question from the audience as to whether the closing of the STAR Academy near Custer, SD by then Governor Daugaard was a missed opportunity to detain and reform teenagers that end up in prison in the long term - Videos 5 and 6
Part of my response to the current governor of South Dakota declining to join a 2024 summer federal feeding program to provide low-income families a $40-per-child monthly grocery benefit when schools close for the summer - Video 6
Part of my response to closing the budget gap if the voters in November repeal of the sale tax on consumables (Initiated Measure 28) - Video 7
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