SD District 2 House candidates share views
Dave Kull
Gary Leighton
DAVE KULL
Brandon • Republican
Retired law enforcement officer/
former Chief of Police in Brandon
What motivates you to want to serve
as a District 2 legislature?
After the redistricting, we only had one of our legislators left in the new district, Doug Barthel, and he had made the decision not to seek re-election. I was then approached by an individual who encouraged me to run for one of the House seats and, after taking some time to think it over, decided to put my hat in the ring. As many are aware, I served full time in law enforcement for 41 years and currently serve on the Brandon City Council. I believe there are benefits having both of those perspectives to the legislature as bills being debated can have lasting impacts on both of those disciplines.
Through the campaign process, what state-related
government issues are of the utmost concern to
District 2 voters, and how do you plan
to address these top concerns?
(I’m going to answer this question and the fourth question you’re asking at the same time as Constitutional Amendment D and Initiated Measure 27 are probably the questions many people have asked me in the run up to Election Day.)
I’ve been asked how I feel or intend to vote on the two ballet issues that are getting a lot of attention during this election cycle, those being recreational marijuana and Medicaid expansion. On the marijuana issue, I am not in favor it being legalized beyond medical cannabis and plan to vote ’No’ on that measure. In regard to Medicaid expansion, I’m leaning toward voting for its passage at this time.
Both those issues will be decided by the voters at election time. If recreational marijuana does pass, I will respect the voters’ decision and will work on the development of regulation rules needed for it to enter the market place. Same applies for Medicaid expansion.
What are 2-3 needs that must be priorities
for South Dakota, in your opinion?
Why do you see these as needs?
I recently joined a number of other people from the Brandon and Sioux Falls area for a tour of a number of businesses located in Brandon. The one thing that we heard time and again related to the need for additional workers, so workforce development needs to continue to be a priority for the State.
A second issue that is already in the hopper and will need further attention is the correctional system. Whether it’s a need for new facilities or the expansion and updating of current facilities, this is an issue that needs to be addressed, will be expensive and cannot be kicked down the road.
Lastly, there are concerns within the law enforcement community about the parole and probation rules in place and whether there are currently a number of individuals out on the street that are a danger to the public as well as those charged with policing our communities. Case in point would be the number of shootings in general and, more specifically, the officer involved shootings that have occurred in the past year in Sioux Falls. In many, if not most cases, those involved in these shootings are on parole or probation at the time of committing these crimes.
I’m not one that would say ‘lock them up and throw away the key’, but care must be taken to insure that the safety of our neighborhoods needs to take priority. Also, those on parole or probation need to know that they will be helped to succeed in getting their lives turned around, but also need to know that they’ll be held accountable if they violate the conditions of their parole or probation.
I would like to thank the Journal for putting together the questionnaire and hope it provides insight to the voters we hope to represent in Pierre next year.
GARY LEIGHTON
Sioux Falls • Democrat
Retired school administrator/educator; current out-of-town courier for Sanford Health
What motivates me to want to serve
as a District 2 legislator?
A life-long interest in public affairs and my 43-year career as a social studies teacher/school administrator in South Dakota gave me both an understanding of our state’s system of governance and the need to have legislators interested and able to work with others when serving the citizens of our state.
Through the campaign process, what state-related
government issues are of the utmost concern to
District 2 voters, and how do you plan
to address these top concerns?
The issue I have heard most about is the need to keep education free of undue political interference. The work of the first social studies review group was thrown out and now voucher bills are being written for next session of the legislature that would take funding away for public schools. I would fight against all political attacks our system of public education in the state. My grandchildren attend BV Schools and I want to insure they continue to receive the best education possible.
A second issue concerns eminent domain and the authority it now gives to take private property by for-profit corporations. Eminent domain is a provision of the constitution but its original purpose was for the government to acquire private property for “public” use. Laws related to eminent domain expanded its use to private for-profit corporations with limited or no public purpose. I will work with other legislators to change the eminent domain laws that enabled these situations to occur.
Third issue concerns the closures of so many nursing homes and assisted living centers in the state including last week’s announcement of the closing in November of the Florence, S.D. nursing home. Florence is the NE South Dakota community where my wife and I served as educators for most of our working careers. Nursing home closures occur primarily because Medicaid reimbursement rates set by the SD legislature are simply too low to permit them to operate financially. I will work to see that Medicaid reimbursement rates are set at a level sufficient to keep nursing homes and assisted living centers open and providing care for our elderly population.
What are 2-3 needs that must be priorities
for South Dakota, in your opinion?
Why do you see these as needs?
Understanding that South Dakota has and will always continue to operate with a balanced budget, funding will play a role in almost every legislative decision. Specific citizen needs that must be addressed though with the No. 1 need mentioned above – solving the closures of nursing homes and assisted living centers.
A second priority needing to be addressed is the lack of mental health care services statewide. Related to this is having additional resources available to address suicide prevention. SD has a suicide rate in the top 5 nationally and its of paramount importance the legislature address this immediately to help its citizens in most distress. As a third priority I would work to see that salaries of both teachers and nurses are addressed to keep as many of those professionals in this state working and not looking for out-of-state employment.
South Dakotans will vote on a Constitutional
Amendment and an Initiated Measure in this election. Please explain why you approve/disapprove of the following: Initiated Measure 27 – An initiated measure legalizing the possession, use and distribution of marijuana (for those 21 and older).
I will be voting yes on Initiated Measure 27. Locking up adults for using small amounts of marijuana has served no useful purpose and has only cost society by making criminals of too many people. Law enforcement needs to concentrate its efforts on those who import and distribute deadly drugs like heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl.
Constitutional Amendment D: An amendment
to the South Dakota Constitution expanding
Medicaid eligibility.
I support Medicaid expansion and will vote in favor of it. All South Dakotans deserve health care coverage at reasonable costs and a large segment of our population – the working poor – lack this. With federal subsidies that have been available for at least a decade, costs to taxpayers will be minimal to non-existent.
JOHN SJAARDA
Valley Springs • Republican
Farmer/business owner
What motivates me to want to serve
as a District 2 legislator?
I am running because I want to have Christian Conservative Representation from my District in Pierre, so instead of expecting somebody else to do the job, I decided step up and serve.
Through the campaign process, what
state-related government issues are of the utmost concern to District 2
voters, and how do you plan to address
these top concerns?
As I have been talking to voters in the campaign process, I have heard a lot of concern about property rights regarding Eminent Domain and the proposed carbon pipeline plan to go through our District. They have concerns about the dangers of this kind of pipeline and how a company has the ability to take away their property rights for private gain. I fully support them and will work on ways to strengthen laws to protect the landowner against private companies’ use of Eminent Domain.
I’ve also heard a lot of concern from parents and grandparents about the things our kids are having to face in our culture. They want to protect them from the extreme things we’ve seen creep in the last several years. I plan to preserve traditional values this country was founded upon.
What are 2-3 needs that must be priorities
for South Dakota, in your opinion?
Why do you see these as needs?
I think a priority in South Dakota is keeping our kids safe. When that comes to the abortion issue, I will protect the unborn.
As a Foster Dad, I feel we need to strengthen our Foster Care system by making it easier for strong families to give kids a safe, loving home.
I also want to make sure our kids are continuing to get educated with necessary academic skills in school instead of kids getting indoctrinated with things that break our traditional values.
South Dakotans will vote on a Constitutional
Amendment and an Initiated Measure in this election. Please explain why you approve/disapprove of the following: Initiated Measure 27 – An initiated measure legalizing the possession, use and distribution of
marijuana (for those 21 and older).
I will be voting NO on IM27. I feel recreational marijuana will harm our kids, because if parents are using, are they taking care of their kids to the best of their ability?
Marijuana is a gateway drug to harder drug use.
Marijuana use will put a strain on our already struggling work force.
Constitutional Amendment D: An amendment
to the South Dakota Constitution expanding Medicaid eligibility.
I will be voting NO on Amendment D because it doesn’t actually benefit the people that need it, contrary to what the ads are leading you to believe. For example, the disabled adults, single moms and low-income families with children will have less access to health care because they will compete for appointments with the doctors who accept Medicaid with able bodied people.
As a farmer who is self-employed, I realize health insurance cost is a major issue and something needs to be done about it, but Amendment D is not the answer. You’re only eligible for expanded Medicaid if your individual income is between $13,500 and $19,250 or your family income (family of four) is between $26,500 and $38,300. A farmer’s income fluctuates significantly from year to year and if you go in and out of these ranges you risk having to go back and forth between Medicaid and your own health insurance, which is a hassle, especially if you have major medical issues.
Also, if you’re someone in the income range I mentioned above, right now you get a federal subsidy for insurance because South Dakota is not an expanded Medicaid state. If we vote to expand Medicaid, the individuals and families who would qualify for the expanded Medicaid will lose the subsidy. It just doesn’t make economic sense to do it. It’s just another way for the government to control more of our lives.
