Good morning District 27. Today I am off to Kadoka for the second time this week attending the Kougar Homecoming Parade – this is the ninth and final parade I will have participated in this year before the general election.
The Kougars play the Warriors from Bennett County. Will the Kougars pull out another win against the Warriors this season? Who shall I root for? Kadoka teacher Matt Olson has lent me one of his purple Kougar polo shirts to wear in the parade. I will be jamming to the music beat of “Beat It” and "Thriller" by Michael Jackson while tossing out my campaign flying disks to the spectators along the parade route since “The 80s” is this year’s homecoming theme. It couldn't be a more appropriate theme since I grew up in the 80s listening to Michael Jackson. Irene Saunders once again offered to drive while I jam out behind the flatbed trailer showcasing my Kougar pride.
Today is also the first anniversary of when I issued my press release in the Bennett County Booster and officially declared my candidacy to run for State Senate. Check out the posted press release.
I had spent over three months traveling over 1115 miles across the district to learn about the issues before making my announcement. For those of you who know the back story to my campaign, it was two years ago from today (October 4, 2022 – the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi) that the basement of my home was flooded with sewer (Category 3 water damage) which served as the catalyst that got me into the campaign after the South Dakota State Chief Administrative Hearing Officer in Pierre refused to lower my assessed property value due to the $50,000 damage to my property, causing my homeowner’s insurance premiums to skyrocket with the possible threat of my insurance company dropping me if I filed another claim. (Note: My basement was flooded not once, but twice due to the city sewer backup.)
It has been a privilege to meet the voters of this large district which is the size of Connecticut and Rhode Island combined. We have some complex issues ahead of us. I look forward to being your voice, if God willing, I am elected to be your next state senator in the 100th Legislative Session in Pierre. I have spent countless hours and resources throughout my campaign to be a better-informed candidate and to get my name out there. It hasn’t been easy, but again, nobody said life would be easy. Regardless of the outcome in November, this “job interview” has made me a better person after saying yes to answering the call to enter the political arena for the first time. I have no regrets. I have put all of my faith and trust in the Lord and He continues to tell me, “Anthony, I got your back.” Have a great Friday everyone. God bless.
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