GOP candidates emphasize image

PIERRE — All five Republicans seeking to be South Dakota’s next governor want to improve schools, boost economic development, limit government, avoid tax increases and balance the state budget.

And of course, they support ethanol production, wind energy, farming and ranching.

So how are Republican voters supposed to decide in the June 8 primary, when the party picks its candidate for the fall election?

Sure, there are differences — some significant, some not so much — in their plans for running state government, promoting economic growth and supporting schools.

But in the campaign so far, each has promoted himself primarily with an image, an identity, instead of heavily touting a platform to create separation from the group.

Lt. Gov. Dennis Daugaard of Garretson describes himself as the experienced, compassionate business and government executive who used hard work to rise from humble beginnings.

Senate Republican Leader Dave Knudson of Sioux Falls calls himself Mr. Fix It, ready to solve any problem.

Sen. Gordon Howie of Rapid City touts himself as the tea party candidate, eager to limit government.

Former Brookings Mayor Scott Munsterman promotes himself as a business entrepreneur who balanced city budgets. Rancher Ken Knuppe of Buffalo Gap stresses his life as a cowboy, an outsider who can bring fresh ideas to the state Capitol.

The men have many similarities in their platforms, partly because of the state’s budget problems, but also because of a widespread worry that the federal government is taking more power away from states, said Bill Richardson, chairman of the political science department at the University of South Dakota.

“Even though they’re running for state office, they’re also running in the mood of the nation nationally, the tremendous passions that have been generated by what’s been going on in D.C.,” Richardson said.

In ads and on their websites, the candidates deal with issues. But they also promote their images and their philosophies of government.

Daugaard, 57, considered the front-runner and backed by current Gov. Mike Rounds, has run ads describing his work ethic and his compassion for helping people. He said his strengths include growing up on a family farm, working his way through college, working in a bank and then spending two decades leading the Children’s Home Society, which provides a home, education and therapy for children with emotional and behavioral problems.

Daugaard also spent six years in the state Senate before serving as lieutenant governor the past eight.

“I can hit the ground running. I won’t be learning on the job,” Daugaard said. “I’m not motivated by money or power. If I was, I wouldn’t have worked 20 years for a children’s charity.”

Knudson said he has a record of solving problems, first working as chief of staff for then-Gov. Bill Janklow about 15 years ago to put together a program that cut property taxes and changed the school financing system. He said he has sponsored more than 60 bills that passed during his eight years in the Senate and played a key role in balancing the state budget this year.

“I just have had a record of being able to get people together and get bills passed. They’ve been bills on important subjects or bills on smaller subjects, but always something that improved South Dakota’s business climate or solved a problem,” Knudson said.

“You can go back in my career and you don’t have to wonder whether I’m going to be able to deliver the goods because with all these governmental posts I’ve had, I’ve been successful in solving problems,” he said.

Howie, 60, said he has been a sponsor or co-sponsor of every bill supporting families or opposing abortion during his six years in the Legislature. He bills himself as the tea party candidate and voted against the state budget crafted by fellow Republicans because it increases state spending next year.

“I think the tea party movement is significant because it is comprised of men and women who believe it’s time to take government a different direction,” Howie said. “All the candidates will talk about that, but I’m the only one who’s been doing anything about it.”

Munsterman, 49, stresses his experience as a chiropractor who also started two other businesses. He said as mayor and city council member, he had to balance budgets by cutting spending, not raising taxes. He also developed a regional development plan that included smaller communities around Brookings.

“I take a whole different approach in planning and strategy on where we need to go as a state,” Munsterman said.

Knuppe, 51, includes a Code of the West on his website, and he believes government should involve more people so it’s not run just by insiders. He said as president of the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association, he learned how to bridge the gap between western ranchers and eastern farmers and city residents.

“I haven’t served in the Legislature before. The more I bring that up, the more people are saying they think that’s a good thing,” Knuppe said. “I think every once in a while we need to bring in some outside leadership into that political circle in Pierre.”

Tags: election 2010, dennis daugaard, dave knudson, gordon howie, scott munsterman, ken knuppe, news, state