Rep. Susan Wismer Announces Campaign for Democratic Nomination for Governor

Susan Wismer

State Rep. Susan Wismer, (D-Britton) announced today that she will begin collecting signatures for a campaign for the Democratic nomination for Governor this week.

“South Dakotans need and deserve a state government that works for them,” said Wismer.  “It’s time we had a Governor that stands up for middle-class South Dakotans, invests in education, and brings a fresh voice to the conversation, instead of the machine that has controlled Pierre for a generation.  That’s the kind of leader I intend to be.”

Wismer is a third term Democratic legislator from Britton. She is a small business owner; she and her sister have operated a tax and bookkeeping practice for over 25 years.

She and her husband Mark, also a Britton native, are the parents of three children. Her family has a long history in South Dakota politics. Her grandfather Art Jones was a rural electric leader and State Senator; her uncle Curt Jones was a State Senator from 1970-1986.

Wismer has served on Appropriations Committee since the beginning of her legislative service. She is a current member of Government Operations and Audit Committee, and has served on the Legislative Redistricting, Legislative Planning, and various summer study committees. She is a representative to the Midwestern Higher Education Compact and on the planning committee for the International Legislators Conference. She is an alumnus of the Midwestern Council of State Government’s Bowhay Legislative Leadership Development Program. She was a member of the first class of South Dakota Ag and Rural Leadership.

Wismer is a 1978 graduate of Augustana College in Sioux Falls, with a major in English and a minor in Journalism, and passed the CPA exam in 1982. In her community she has served as secretary treasurer to the Britton Economic Development Corporation and Britton Area Hospice for over 20 years. She is a member of First Presbyterian Church of Britton and has participated on several Presbytery committees.

“I owe the voters notice that they will have a choice in the race for Governor this spring in the primary and in the fall. I will continue the important work of being a state legislator through the course of this year’s session.  I would appreciate your patience as I work through the legislative session, along with my busy tax season at my office. I owe my constituents and my clients my full attention until April 15, after which I will turn my attention to the campaign full-time.”

An official statewide kickoff tour will be announced in the coming months.

Tribal chair endorses Weiland

Below is text of a press release received this morning from the People for Rick Weiland U.S. Senate campaign:

Rick Weiland has won the endorsement of the Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Association (GPTCA). The GPTCA is composed of the tribal chairs and presidents of South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, and Iowa.

“Rick Weiland has worked extensively with American Indian Tribes and Tribal leaders his entire career and we trust him. As the FEMA Regional Director and later as CEO of the International Code Council, Rick helped forge consensus on complex issues. He has a personal connection with many of our tribal people. He has helped a number of our Tribes in times of crisis, such as after the tornado in Pine Ridge, when he was able to help get emergency housing and clean-up to the Oglala Sioux Tribe in a hurry. We know he will effectively represent all of South Dakota very well in the United States Senate, just as he will do a good job for Tribes and Tribal Members,” said Chairman Robert Shepherd, Sisseton Wahpeton Tribe and Vice- Chairman of the Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Association.

Weiland’s first public event after announcing his Senate candidacy on May 8th was a trip to Rapid City where he attended the Great Plains Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Summit.

“My campaign for the United States Senate is built around a simple theme – our government has been hijacked by big money special interests and it has hurt the people of South Dakota, especially many on Indian reservations. We need to stand up as citizens and take our government back.”

“It is unacceptable that many of the largest, most profitable companies in the world avoid paying taxes. Their irresponsibility has triggered deep cuts in education, health care, and infrastructure in rural America. Many of those cuts have most affected vulnerable populations like our rural communities including those on Indian reservations. I am honored to have the support of the Tribes in this race.”

Herseth Sandlin will not seek political office in 2014

Former Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin announced moments ago, via facebook, that she will not be a political candidate in 2014.

She writes:

Dear Friends,

I hope you enjoyed a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend. With this post this morning, I’d like to do three things. First, to share this recent picture of Zachary—one of my favorites!Second, to say thank you for your friendship and kindness, your political support over the years, and the encouragement many of you have offered over the past few weeks to consider another campaign in 2014.

And third, to let you know that after carefully contemplating that option, my family and I have concluded that the future should continue to be focused on the plans we laid last year at this time. We’re looking forward to more quality time with family and friends here in Sioux Falls, up at the farm and out on the river. And my career at Raven Industries is everything I had anticipated and more, and continues to be very highly rewarding.

While I know you share my confidence that working together we could win a statewide race next year, I’m also confident that the decision not to run is the right decision for Max, Zachary, me and our entire family. Zachary will be starting kindergarten in the fall of 2014, just weeks before next year’s general election. Further, I have tremendous respect for my fellow team members at Raven, and I’m committed to the success of the company.

Please know that serving others will be in my heart always, and I will continue to do so, just not in the political realm for the time being. There is no way of knowing if there will be another opportunity to serve South Dakota in elective office, but I’m so grateful for the opportunity I did have in an earlier and different stage of my life and for all the great friends I made along the way.

My warmest regards to each of you. Enjoy a wonderful summer.

Stephanie