Five hopefuls compete for 2 House seats in District 25

Talk about it

Voters in legislative District 25 will see a bulging slate of candidates when they go to the polls Tuesday.

Five candidates, including one incumbent, are competing to win two seats in the district’s state House race.

Incumbent Oran Sorenson, D-Garretson, seeks re-election to a second term. The rest of the field includes fellow Democrat Dennis VanOverschelde, of Salem; Republicans Jon Hansen, of Dell Rapids, and Stace Nelson, of Fulton; and independent Kevin R. Crisp, of Dell Rapids.

The Senate race features two experienced candidates: incumbent Dan Ahlers, D-Dell Rapids, and Rep. Tim Rave, R-Baltic, who is running for a seat in the opposite chamber because of term limits.

District 25 is made up of Hanson and McCook counties, and part of Minnehaha County.

Candidates’ responses to an election questionnaire sent by The Daily Republic are listed below.

House race

• What qualifications do you possess to be a state lawmaker?

Kevin R. Crisp: I feel I have a great, rounded background from serving in the U.S. Army to a South Dakota State University grad to full-time farming starting in ’80. I still farm but no longer have livestock, so I also have a labor job in Sioux Falls. I am also a former Republican South Dakota House representative for two terms in the Janklow times.

I have been very fortunate to have served on many local, state and national boards, from township government at all levels to chairman of long range planning with U.S. Grains Council serving 13 offices around the world promoting corn and sorghum. However, it is the local boards of Dells Lumber, Minnehaha Planning and Zoning, Southeast South Dakota Experimental Farm, Minnehaha Crop Improvement Association, Minnehaha County Extension Advisory Board and my state legislative committees that keep it more local.

I also worked for Raven Industries’ Flow Control Division for many years as a sales representative in the southeast United States, achieving all my sales goals and meeting so many good people with interesting and diverse backgrounds in agriculture, and I keep many of these businesspeople as close friends yet.

Jon Hansen: First, I am a small, limited government, low tax, fiscal conservative. I think every candidate should meet those philosophical qualifications before being considered to handle our money in our state government.

I hold my degree in business administration. I work in Dell Rapids at a local, small business, and I have also served as the president of the Dell Rapids Chamber of Commerce. As president, I gained invaluable experience promoting local, small businesses and agricultural industry that creates jobs and a thriving economy in our state. I balanced our budget during an economic recession without sacrificing essential services to our members. I also converted individual chamber programs from money-losing events to budget neutral or money-making programs. I will use this experience in our state Legislature to the same end. I will balance our state budget without sacrificing essential services, and make individual programs more efficient to save taxpayer money.

Stace Nelson: I am an honest public servant who loves our state and country with 23 ½ years of dedicated service as a Marine and federal agent as proof of my devotion to our state and country. I am not a politician; I am a leader with proven moral courage and integrity. I have five years of college in sociology and criminal justice and 23 ½ years of advanced training in criminal law, terrorism, espionage, violent crime, public security, etc. I have vast real world government experience having traveled and worked in 20 different countries and 20 different states/U.S. territories in the service of our country. I accepted the call to run to be District 25’s representative for the same reasons I joined the Marines as a young man — the duty to serve.

Oran Sorenson: First, I would say my love for the state of South Dakota and the people in it. I love to drive across our awesome state on the back roads and stop in small town cafes and meet the people. Second would be my teaching experience. I have taught all my years in South Dakota, such classes as government and history. In Dell Rapids, I started a popular new class called South Dakota State and Local History and Government.

Third, I would say my 20 years of experience in local government as a township supervisor and the fact that I currently chair the Minnehaha County Association of Towns and Townships. Fourth, the leadership I have gained as a past president of my church council, being charter president of the Garretson Area Jaycees, and the current president of the Garretson Area Historical Society. And finally, I am the only incumbent of the District 25 House candidates and I would love to go back to work on the House Education and Agriculture and Natural Resources committees.

Dennis VanOverschelde: Married to wife Linda, three daughters. Employment: 38 years in education as a counselor, teacher and principal, retiring in 2007. Formed a farming partnership with my brother in 1976 and my current line of work. Public service: Served eight years in the state House from 1986 to 1994, 10 years on the Salem City Council, two years on McCook County Development Board and now serving on the Salem Zoning Board.

A person elected to the House of Representatives will be one among 70. To be effective, it is necessary to listen to opposing views and build a consensus on issues, especially when those issues are contentious. From my experiences as a past state representative, as a past member of the Salem City Council and as a past educator, I was successful because I know how to build consensus. I know the issues that affect agriculture because I have been a part of a farming partnership since 1976.

• Roads have become an issue this year because of extensive flooding causing a lot of damage, forcing some counties to seek opt-outs or wheel taxes. What action do you think the state Legislature should take to assist counties and municipalities with funding? What proposal would you introduce?

Jon Hansen: Due to the largescale budget deficit we face as a state today, I think we are in highway funding maintenance mode. I know the conditions of our highways, and I’ve driven over many patched and pothole-filled roads that need to be remade. However, I would rather drive over a dozen filled potholes than see a dozen workers out of a job. As our economy rebounds, I will look to restore adequate funding to our roads. Anyone who says we can afford, in our current economic climate, to put more funding into roads, is either dishonest or ill-informed.

Stace Nelson: I believe the Legislature needs to work closely with counties and municipalities and explore all avenues to address this problem with an eye toward empowering local solutions. Wet conditions have made our highway infrastructure more susceptible to damage; however, there are other adverse conditions that ruin our roadways that we can control. Illegal, overweight vehicles on our roadways can cause serious damage in a very short amount of time. I would be for increasing fines and enforcement of our weight standards on overweight vehicles with any monies realized being directed toward repair and maintenance of our roadways and support of the citing agency.

Oran Sorenson: First, I would not raise gas taxes or license fees during a recession. That could slow down or stifle the recovery.

I am fully aware of the deteriorating condition of our roads and highways, but I have committed to a year of cutting waste and spending in Pierre first and would use that money to start fixing our infrastructure. Only after all such cuts should there be any increased burden on our citizens.

Dennis VanOverschelde: As a body, the Legislature in this area would need first to gain an understanding of the scope of the damage caused by flooding across the state. Once there is clear assessment of the damage, it would be necessary to assess the cost of reconstruction and from there begin to review the options available to infuse construction money where it is needed. An increase in funding would have to come through a state appropriation — very unlikely in what appears to be the deficit on the state level, leaving only the raising of license fees and or registration fees.

Kevin R. Crisp: Our roads do need to be looked at and reviewed. We may need to fund some of these more and should be able to do so if we can cut some of the foolish spending that has been going on the last eight years. It is also a time to review if some township roads can be eliminated for the benefit of the local farmers and township boards, but they need to make the call. I am not a proponent of opt-outs but some counties may need to match the wheel taxes many have already enforced.

• Do you think education is underfunded in the state? If so, please explain how you would increase funding and where the money would come from. If not, please explain why you think that way.

Stace Nelson: I have two daughters in public high school and two in state colleges. I think every parent would like to see more money directed toward education, to include monies that help keep costs down at our state colleges; however, with South Dakota looking at a projected budget shortfall of $60 million to $100 million, and with the national economic recession continuing to adversely affect our state economy, significant increases in funding without dramatic cuts in other programs or significant increases in tax rates is impossible.

I think that every budget item should be fully justified under a critical eye for cuts due to the budget deficit; however, I think that areas that move South Dakota forward should be as protected as possible. The best way to solve our current funding shortage is to increase South Dakota’s economy, which will in turn increase the state’s revenues. I think creating an environment conducive to business investment in the heartland of South Dakota is the solution for our current economic problems and a way to ensure South Dakotans’ futures.

Oran Sorenson: Yes, education is surely underfunded in South Dakota. Last year, we didn’t even live up to our commitment of the 1.25 percent rate of inflation increase education was supposed to be guaranteed by law. Some say that our students already do well on test scores. My answer to that is with the quality of kids we have coming from homes where people care, we should be blowing the top off the charts in our state. The share that our state pays to each pupil’s education is the smallest percentage-wise of any state in the union. The percentage of our state budget that goes to education has dropped from around 38 percent down to 31 percent in the last eight years. My answer would be to tie our state budget to the same standard of growth of no more than 3 percent or the rate of inflation just as we expect our townships, counties, and school districts to do and use that savings to put into education.

Dennis VanOverschelde: The money budgeted to education in the last two state budgets has decreased for K-12 and postsecondary education. To make up for the lack of state funding, local school districts have had to bear the burden. I believe we need first to scrutinize the proposed budget to find efficiencies and allocate those dollars to education, making it a goal to get the state portion back to 39 percent. If the budget cuts do not raise the necessary dollars, then I would advocate appropriating interest earned from the reserve funds.

Kevin R. Crisp: I may or may not say education is underfunded, but I am open to being very creative on future education. I think they should look at themselves with the possible 10 percent cuts needed but I can’t see the money leaving that area. We have put the so-called formula under glass and treat it like it’s the mighty force no one can change when it needs to be. Communities need to be able to educate the youth, especially in their own area.

Why is it the smaller the school, the better the results in many areas? So let’s have the community tell us what they need for best results. Is this going backward to consider an older-style county school education system? Absolutely not, and it also may be time to emphasize with a class on how this country was founded at the same time. Let’s get together and get creative on a new system.

Jon Hansen: Over the course of the last six months, I have met thousands of people at their doorsteps and in our local town parades. Dozens of those people have been teachers, a few administrators and most had a child or grandchild currently enrolled in school. From what I have heard from those within the system, the current funding formula is OK insofar as it is fully funded. I am fully committed to working with the districts on an ongoing basis to ensure their needs are met. We owe it to the next generation of South Dakotans to provide them with the highest quality education possible.

• Other than education and road issues, what legislation do you plan to introduce next year if elected or re-elected?

Oran Sorenson: I have never run with a personal agenda and do not believe in passing extra or unneeded legislation, but my efforts will evolve around bringing our state budget back under control and ending no-bid contracts and the elimination of pay-to-play.

Dennis VanOverschelde: At the present time, I do not have any specific legislation that I will introduce, but I am more focused on becoming more informed through discussions with the people of District 25. In discussions with District 25 voters, the one area I will be researching is the impact when an injured worker applies for worker’s compensation and exercises the “doctor’s choice” option. I have had four individuals tell me that when they did this, it adversely impacted their anticipated benefits.

Kevin R. Crisp: Campaign funding needs to be addressed. Gag laws need to be addressed. We have an exciting future in agriculture with areas we need to expand, and finally we need to address no-bid contracts.

Let’s get back to the Gov. Janklow and Gov. Kneip years and get government cleaned up for the South Dakota people.

Jon Hansen: I look to bring a new, fresh perspective to our state government. The challenges we face as a state today deserve nothing less. For example, I would like to introduce legislation to sell off some or all of our interstate rest areas to private individuals or companies. We currently have 25 rest areas that cost the state tens of thousands of dollars each year to maintain. If we were to sell these prime pieces of real estate, we could in one painless action cut at least one-quarter of our budget deficit, along with cutting tens of thousands of ongoing expenses in future years. It is that sort of legislation and perspective I will bring as a representative to reduce our government’s size and cost.

Stace Nelson: There is much that I hope to be part of in accomplishing for our great state. I hope to be able to help cultivate a projob environment within South Dakota that will facilitate the creation of good jobs, and our economy, in rural South Dakota. By improving the economy within South Dakota, we will reap the benefits in our tax revenues that go to support our schools and other public services, and we will be able to keep our children in the area. I will fight to keep taxes/fees low, limit/reduce the size of our state government, protect the rights of law-abiding South Dakotans and push for tougher laws to protect our children from predators. I will also support common sense low/no cost measures that will assist the expansion of alternative energy sources (wind, biodiesel, ethanol); help establish a veterans cemetery in eastern South Dakota; support measures to facilitate/support openness in government; and support measures to fight illegal immigration within our state, just to name a few issues.

• What issues are occurring within your district that will prompt you to propose legislation to address them?

Dennis VanOverschelde: From my contacts with the voters of District 25, the issues most generally mentioned are stop the growth of state government, increase funding for K-12 education, promotion of alternative energy and the need to repair township roads. If elected, I will be seeking support from members of the Legislature to address these areas.

Kevin R. Crisp: I have represented Minnehaha and McCook counties before but Hanson County is new to me. The district is generally all the same being agriculture based with smaller communities. Education needs to be looked at and ag and non-ag needs to work together to find better solutions and not become split over it. We need to become creative on a new education future to better the communities and the state for the benefit of all.

Jon Hansen: I will support giving more control to local school districts. I believe that parents, educators, administrators and school boards know what is best for their local school districts, and they should be free to make decisions accordingly. I do not support the state government setting arbitrary caps on certain fund balances, and I would look to repeal those laws. I also favor more control of curriculum on a local level.

My primary focus will be to balance the state budget without raising taxes or fees. I will work toward and only vote for a general appropriations bill that meets that standard.

Stace Nelson: In addition to the specific issues above, I would support legislation protecting South Dakotans’ rights to run for elected offices, legislation that would require random drug testing of elected law enforcement and legislative positions commensurate with established procedures for the Highway Patrol and Division of Criminal Investigation agents, legislation that specifically outlaws political campaign signage in public rights of way and closes the perceived loophole currently exploited by candidates and public officials.

Oran Sorenson: See answer to previous question.

Senate

What qualifications do you possess to be a state lawmaker?

• Dan Ahlers: Family: Wife, Amy, and 3-year-old son, Jackson. Education: Bachelor of arts degree in government and international relations from Augustana College. Occupation: Small business owner.

My degree in government and international relations has an emphasis in criminal and constitutional law. This background in government has allowed me to adapt quickly to the legislative process. I own two small businesses in my hometown. As a business owner, I work directly with many of the departments in state government. I understand how the laws we write in Pierre impact us at work and at home. I have leadership experience. I serve as president of the Dell Rapids Community Haven, president of the Dell Rapids Community Fund and past president of the Dell Rapids Chamber of Commerce. I also serve on the executive board for the state Legislature. This leadership experience has helped me become an effective lawmaker who can work with legislators in both parties.

Tim Rave: I have been a state lawmaker for the past eight years, but what makes me qualified is I believe that a lawmaker should have the heart of a public servant, and I have been a public servant in my private life for the past 20 years as a paramedic. I enjoy working for the people, and both my private and public life show that.

• Roads have become an issue this year because of extensive flooding causing a lot of damage, forcing some counties to seek opt-outs or wheel taxes. What action do you think the state Legislature should take to assist counties and municipalities with funding? What proposal would you introduce?

Tim Rave: I think we need to look again at all the options discussed in the last session and I agree that this is the year to move forward on a solution to make the highway fund soluble for the foreseeable future.

Dan Ahlers: Local governments were struggling with road funding even before the fall flooding. I was a member of the Long Term Highway Needs Study the past two years. During that time, local governments demonstrated a clear need for additional funding. The cost of materials for road construction has increased exponentially.

I would support an increase in road funding for local governments. The money collected for vehicle license plates fees goes directly to local governments. One way I would seek to improve fund- ing is through tax reform. Over the last 50 years, the Legislature has increased license fees using a flat fee increase. The tax structure was designed with weight categories, so flat fee increases in all categories has created inequity in our license fee system. Using a formula that I developed during our summer study, we can realize half of the funding needed by local governments with minimal impact in license fees for 85 percent of all registered vehicles in South Dakota. This would mean an increase of $15 or less for most vehicles registered in South Dakota.

• Do you think education is underfunded in the state? If so, please explain how you would increase funding and where the money would come from. If not, please explain why you think that way.

Dan Ahlers: Education is underfunded in South Dakota. The Consumer Price Index for inflation with respect to education costs has increased an average of 5.6 percent over the last seven years. Meanwhile, the state of South Dakota has funded education at an average increase of 2.9 percent, with the exception of no increase in 2010, over that same time period. The state aid to education formula should reflect true inflation for education and should include a safety mechanism so that the increase in funding does not exceed the increase in state revenues. This mechanism would help the state in years like 2010 when revenues were stagnant.

In order to abide by the statutory increase for this fiscal year, we need to look for cuts in state travel budgets, eliminate funding for unfilled positions in state government and freeze any additional tax refunds to TransCanada. The tax refund program that TransCanada is receiving was created for the ethanol industry and was not intended for anything else. I would rather invest the remaining money in our children’s education.

Tim Rave: I don’t believe the question is whether education is overfunded or underfunded, but how much the taxpayers are willing to pay. Currently, 50 percent of the budget is spent on education and to make a significant impact we must either discuss openly increased taxes or significant cuts to major programs, i.e. Medicaid (taking care of those who can’t take care of themselves, or corrections/law enforcement) and I don’t believe either of those options are realistic at this time.

• Other than education and road issues, what legislation do you plan to introduce next year if elected or re-elected?

Tim Rave: I have never gone into session with a personal agenda. I wait to see what issues we will be facing during that session and act accordingly. This will not be a year to bring any bills that include spending unless you are willing to bring along a bill to increase revenues, which I am not willing to do.

Dan Ahlers: I will continue to work for budget reform in South Dakota. We need to modernize our state constitution for the Legislature. The Constitutional Revision Commission modernized both the judicial and executive branches but ran out of steam and did not review the legislative branch. This inaction has left disconnect in the budgetary roles of the executive vs. legislative branch. will submit legislation to address this issue.

• What issues are occurring within your district that will prompt you to propose legislation to address them?

Dan Ahlers: Since my first year in the Legislature, I have worked on educational issues for people with disabilities. Every South Dakotan deserves equal access to a quality education, but that is not the reality in our state. I will continue to work with these children and their families in order to improve their educational opportunities in South Dakota.

Tim Rave: I believe the issues that face District 25 are the same issues that face the entire state — education funding, Medicaid funding challenges and funding the highway fund. I will work hard to ensure that we come up with the best, most cost effective answers to these very important issues.

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