South Dakota State Legislative Election 2018 Political Courage Test

Abortion & Reproductive

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice

2. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- Yes

3. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- I support existing laws governing the women's reproductive rights. The decisions made for termination of pregnancy should be protected as a decision to be made between a woman and her physician.

Budget, Spending, & Tax

1. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions?
- No

2. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees?
- No

3. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients?
- No

4. Other or expanded principles
- Generation of additional sources of revenue to support expansion of community mental health and to support expansion of educational opportunities might be identified to encourage investment in the youth of our communities as an investment in our workforce development. Encouragement of industries to work in partnership with technical institutions might better support their expansion and best prepare our youth for effective matching within new evolving technologies. Investment in our offender population to offer substance abuse treatment within the institutions should be developed with revenue saved by offering diversion and drug court community based treatment services.

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

1. Do you support any limits on campaign contributions to state candidates?
- Yes

2. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Yes

3. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
- Yes

4. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- Yes

5. Do you support South Dakota transitioning to an open primary election system?
- Yes

6. Do you support prohibiting out-of-state contributions to state ballot initiative committees?
- Yes

7. Other or expanded principles
- Campaign finance reform seems clearly need to restrict the massive infusion of funds from special interests seeking to pay for the future votes of their funded candidates. I believe that we can reach our constituents without obscene amounts of monetary expenditures that might be better utilized for research and development of industry and infrastructure measures that would benefit all citizens of South Dakota.

Crime & Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- No

2. Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
- No

3. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- No

4. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- I believe that we must continue to examine humane treatment to offenders and that life imprisonment without parole is sufficient. Crimes against persons at every age should also include a psychological assessment of the mental health of the offender. Youth who suffer with mental illness or developmental delays should be afforded a fair and consistent assessment opportunity to determine their capacity for trial and punishment under adult statutes. Appropriate measures that include realistic and responsive sentencing and appropriate efforts to rehabilitate offenders should be supported with fair and consistent practice that would reduce disparate demographics currently found within SD.

Economic

1. Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

2. Do you support lowering state taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

3. Do you support reducing state government regulations on the private sector?
- No

4. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- No

5. Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
- No

6. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of South Dakota?
- Yes

7. Do you support legalized state-sponsored sports betting in South Dakota?
- No

8. Other or expanded principles
- I do not support legislation that might become intrusive or punitive. Existing state laws to monitor public safety and provide oversight to industries within the state must confirm to environment standards. Relaxing such monitoring practices could be detrimental to public safety. Practices of state departments are always subject to oversight and monitoring as each departmental practice identifies. Because of my professional background I understand addiction and if someone is drinking or using illegal drugs they should be offered treatment but not terminated from benefits that would most likely include medicaid coverage to permit them to receive needed treatment.

Education

1. Do you support adopting federal education standards in South Dakota?
- Yes

2. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
- Yes

3. Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from South Dakota high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- No

4. Other or expanded principles
- I encourage state standards for educational practice in SD that parallel the federal standards but for a base line of proficiency. South Dakota should be encouraged to continue to strive for academic excellence above federal standards and if the federal standards are not being met it might then serve as an indicator that additional resources may need to be directed toward their improvement. I believe that Charter schools may receive federal funding if they adhere to federal standards.

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- Yes

2. Do you support state government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes

3. Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- South Dakota should support partnerships with renewable and sustainable energy sources. Environmental regulations should work in partnership with such development. Public safety measures must always be the priority and economic stability to grow our expanding industries that offer advanced technologies that promote economic growth and safe environmental practices should be embraced and supported by our state government.

Gun

1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- Yes

2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- Yes

3. Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom?
- No

4. Should a license be required for gun ownership?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- I support background checks for all gun owners and safety course requirements. I believe that trained professionals are best equipped to respond to the safety and security needs of our population in and outside of a school and in all public settings.

Health

1. Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
- Yes

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through South Dakota's health care programs?
- Yes

3. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
- Yes

4. Do you support legislation that grants citizens the right to choose to die through euthanasia?
- Yes

5. Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
- Yes

6. Other or expanded principles
- If we are to achieve health care coverage as a public health initiative then the mandate was found to ensure that all participate. If we can find a way to insure our citizens without such a mandate then I am in favor of eliminating that measure. Unfortunately public safety has been compromised with the relaxing of vaccine measures. We have a resurgence of infectious diseases that could easily be eliminated with proper and consistent vaccinations. There may be health exceptions identified but I advocate for proper immunization schedules as recommended by established medical practice.

Social

1. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in South Dakota's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

2. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in South Dakota's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

3. Do you support greater efforts by South Dakota state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- Fair and equal pay is a human rights issue and discrimination of any kind should be addressed in a fair and non-partisan manner. Discriminatory practices reduce economic growth, restrict opportunity, and create unnecessary hardship. I believe that equal pay and opportunity promotes economic growth and stability that to the benefit all South Dakotan's.

Legislative Priorities

In the following area, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- I support transparency and accountability of the legislature. I support amendment W that would establish an independent and bipartisan ethics commission to review complaints of abuse or corruption. I encourage a fair and open practice for citizens to be informed of pending legislative measures and to speak with testimony as stake holders in the public review process. I support medicaid expansion to provide health coverage to more of our citizens to fund substance abuse and mental health treatment at the community level. I encourage development of diversion programs and drug courts to reduce incarceration rates.