Proposed map puts Jerauld in District 20

• Proposed district lines

Shown here are the proposed new legislative districts, which the South Dakota Legislature will consider on Oct. 24. (Legislative Research Council Graphic)

Talk about it

Proposed legislative redistricting for South Dakota would place Jerauld County with Davison and Aurora to constitute District 20.

A special committee made up of 15 legislators has been hashing out new districts all summer. The change is required after new census data was released.

State Rep. Lance Carson, RMitchell, and Rep. Tona Rozum, RMitchell, said they don’t see a problem with Jerauld County joining Aurora and Davison.

Jim Burg, a former representative, senator and public utilities commissioner from Wessington Springs, also said he doesn’t see the move as a bad one for Jerauld County.

Currently, District 20 consists of Davison and Aurora counties and Jerauld County is part of District 22, which is represented by three people from Huron.

Burg said a similar situation will probably continue to happen if Jerauld is moved to District 20 — residents will likely vote to elect representatives and a senator from Mitchell, given most of the district’s residents live there.

“The people think people from cities will bring better representation to the Legislature,” Burg said. “That’s our biggest disadvantage.”

Since current legislators for District 20 are incumbents, Burg said it will be difficult for anyone from the rural areas to win a legislative seat.

Sen. Mike Vehle, R-Mitchell, said he’d be happy to represent Jerauld County if the map is approved. Having been born and raised in Lyman and Brule counties, Vehle said he’s familiar with rural areas and won’t have a problem representing a larger geographic area.

Elsewhere in the Mitchell region, the people of Brule and Lyman counties were concerned they would be split, but the proposed map has them together with Jones and Buffalo counties.

The district would be changed to 26B from 21. District 26B would have one representative and share a senator with District 26A, which would be consisted of Todd and Mellette counties.

Tripp and Gregory counties, which currently make up District 26B, would be in District 21, which would include Charles Mix and a small portion of western Bon Homme County.

Hanson and McCook counties would be removed from District 25 and included in District 19 with Douglas, Hutchinson and the rest of Bon Homme County.

Miner and Sanborn counties would remain in District 8.

The proposed map will now go to the Legislature, which will meet in special session Oct. 24 to consider the proposal.

Legislative Research Council Graphic Shown here are the proposed new legislative districts, which the South Dakota Legislature will consider on Oct. 24.

Tags: news, state, legislature, redistricting, jerauld, davison, aurora