Six Republicans seek seat in District 30 House

By Jason Ferguson

 

A crowded field of Republicans will tangle for two seats in the South Dakota House of Representatives during this  June 4, with incumbent Trish Lander joined in the field by five other candidates for two, two-year terms in the house. The other seat open belonged to Dennis Krull, who chose not to seek reelection.

The two GOP winners of the primary election will advance to this fall’s general election, where they will face Democrat Susan Scheirbeck of Hill City.

The five other candidates are Pat Baumann, Tim Goodwin, Matthew Monfore, Steve Saint and Matt Smith.

Trish Ladner

Ladner, the executive director of Visit Hot Springs SD and partner/owner of the PR Marketing Group, LLC, has served in the state House for years and said she seeks reelection because she enjoys working for the people of District 30 in Pierre and being their voice in committee and on the House floor, whether it is taxes, education, medical or social issues.

“Over the past two sessions, I have developed the relationships and experience to get things done,” Ladner said.

Ladner said she brings proven legislative leadership and corporate experience to Pierre, having managed a successful nonprofit business with 154 employees and a $6.3 million dollar budget.

“Politics is all about relationships and as such, I have developed an extensive network across the state,” she said. “These contacts will help to navigate legislation through the House and Senate against all odds. When re-elected, I will pursue my goal to cut property taxes with determination and expertise.”

Ladner said she considers it her responsibility to reach out to different constituents to gather their feedback on a bill that aligns with their areas of expertise.

“I appreciate the valuable perspective this provides me with when the time comes to make decisions on your behalf,” she said.

When it comes to escalating property taxes in District 30, Ladner said she has worked on various taxes over the past four years, including Agricultural grassland, elderly and disabled and property taxes. 

Ladner points to statement by fellow state representative Mike Derby, chair of the House Committee on Appropriations who said in a statement, “No legislator has worked harder these past two legislative sessions on property tax reform and relief than Representative Trish Ladner.”

“Going forward, I will join with other legislators, lobbyists, commissioners and property owners to review various tax models to reduce the property tax burden while meeting the budget needs of the state, county, cities, and schools,” she said. “Property taxes is now a statewide issue. As your legislator, I will continue to spearhead the fight to reduce property taxes.”

In addition to property taxes, Ladner said fire safety and flood mitigation—including securing money for the repair of West Dam—is important in the next two years, as is seeing Custer County reimbursed for the money it spends on emergency services in Custer State Park.

“I have been working with the Custer County Commissioners and department heads to gather budget/expenditure information. Secretary Robling of Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) has been very accommodating and is more than willing to meet regarding the reimbursement issue,” she said. “That door is open, and I am looking forward to continuing the conversations between GFP and the commissioners going forward.”

Ladner has an A rating with the National Rifle Association, an A- rating with the South Dakotas for Criminal Justice, and 100 percent ratings with SD Right to Life and Family Voice. She is also state chair for South Dakota, American Legislative Exchange Council, Washington, D.C. and was awarded Legislator of the Year by the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association in 2022.

“I don’t go to Pierre for a mere ‘cause.’ I go to Pierre to advocate for the constituents and serve as their commonsense voice of reason in the House of Representatives,” she said. “This responsibility is one I take very seriously. I pledge to always speak the truth. I will stand up for our district and the state of South Dakota, safeguarding and upholding our cherished South Dakotan lifestyle.”

Pat Baumann

Baumann, of Custer, is retired and has lived in District 30 for 34 years. He graduated from Custer High School in 1975 and the University of South Dakota in 1979. He and wife, Ginger, are building their own home and have an “amazing ministry” near Custer.

“Like most of you, I have enjoyed freedom all of my life,” Baumann said. “ I pledge to help preserve our freedom, our constitutional rights and our South Dakota way of life for future generations to come.”

Baumann said he seeks election to the State House of Representatives because he sees basic freedoms under attack every day.

“I stand to push back upon unconstitutional laws and to protect our freedoms for ourselves and for our future generations,” he said. “Our great nation was established so that government answers to ‘We the People,’ not the other way around.  I would be honored to be District 30’s ‘grassroots advocate’ in the South Dakota Legislature and to protect our families, our children, our businesses and our constitutional rights.”

Baumann said he knows the people of District 30 and what is important to its residents, saying his career includes agriculture, sales, tourism, timber, mining and the ministry. 

“I know what makes District 30 thrive,” he said. “I’ve lived in Rapid City, Custer and Edgemont. I’ve heard District 30’s voice.”

Baumann said as District 30’s grassroots advocate, his primary responsibility would b to look at proposed laws from a Biblical and Constitutional viewpoint.  If proposed legislation aligns with these two documents, and if District 30 voters agree, he will vote yes, he said. If proposed legislation does not align with the two documents, or if District 30 voters disagree, he will vote no.

On the issue of skyrocketing property tax, Baumann said he is a third-generation Black Hills resident and owns the ranch his grandfather started.

“Like you, I have seen our property taxes sky rocket over the past years.  This tax explosion cannot continue,” he said.

Baumann said one solution is to cap the increase of property assessment at a reasonable annual rate. Once approved, he said, the present year assessment can be adjusted by using the individual’s actual 2020 assessment and applying the annual rate cap through present year.

Baumann said he would push back against government overreach and protect families by preserving private property rights (including lowering property taxes), supporting family values, Supporting Family Values, safeguarding the right to keep and bear arms, securing our elections and protecting your constitutional freedoms.

Other specific issues Baumann said he would like to address as prompted by District 30 residents includes the lack of adequate funding for first responders who serve the needs of Custer State Park and the border issues the country is dealing with, which Baumann said South Dakota is not immune from.

“I do not support our tax dollars being used to aid illegal immigrants. I support sending them back across the border where they may pursue legal immigration,” he said. “They should take their place in line behind millions of others who have been patiently waiting to become productive citizens of this great nation.”

 Baumann said if elected he will be a successful facilitator who holds steadfast principles, understands District 30 citizens and someone who defends the rights of “we the people.”

“By taking action, each one of us can help preserve freedom for our future generations,” he said. “Challenge yourself to attend meetings at your school board, city council, county commissioners or state legislature.  Get active and stay involved.”

Tim Goodwin

Goodwin is a retired businessman as well as retired from the U.S. Army. He has already spent time in Pierre as a state legislature for six years, from 2016-22. He lives in rural Pennington County.

Goodwin said he has sought reelection to the house upon learning Krull would not seek reelection.

Goodwin said he would bring experience to the position, having served two years each on Transportation and Taxation committees. He also served four years each on Ag and Natural Resources Committee, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee and State Affairs Committee. In addition, he served four years as House Majority Whip.

Goodwin said he has three items on his platform as he seeks office: “property tax reform, property tax reform and property tax reform.”

“I plan on attending property tax summer study meeting this summer and into the fall and be part of the solution to reforming  property  taxes,” he said.

Goodwin said the skyrocketing home assessment leads to property taxes increasing at alarming rates.

“If we don’t solve this there is going to be a revolt,” he said. “I’m going to Pierre to shift the burden of property taxes to another avenue of revenue taking this burden off of the homeowners.”

Goodwin said voters should cast a vote for him because he is the most experienced candidate and has a record of his accomplishments. His most noteworthy bill he prime sponsored was HB1110, which required the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints compound south and west of Pringle to get birth certificates within 30 days and death certificates within 45 days.

“This bill had such an impact that compound members they just moved away and so now it no longer exits,” he said. “Praise the Lord!”

If elected, Goodwin said he would resume writing weekly articles that appear in district newspapers throughout the year like he did the six years he was already in the state legislature.

“This was a very effective way to communicate with citizens of District 30,” he said.

Goodwin said he still gets emails almost daily from District 30 citizens. 

“Why? Because they think I’m still in the legislature,” he said.

Matthew Monfore

Matthew Monfore of rural Fall River County is a missionary and evangelist (Jesus Is King Mission.com) and said he seeks election to the House of Representatives for District 30 because he is concerned about what he said is the lower conservative voting records of the district’s last representatives on the lifetime  percent CPAC and 2022-23 South Dakota Citizens For Liberty Scorecards, which he cited for Goodwin (79.70 and 59.1) Ladner (78.68 and 71.4), and Krull (61.54 and 52.4).

Monfore said he believes he could bring proactive legislation that addresses limited budgets, which he said is the real “cure” to property taxes bring accountability to the Government Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System data for COVID-19 gene therapies (1.6 million deaths or injuries), ban election tabulator machines, which he said “are not auditable ‘black box’ machines from corrupt companies—auditors are parroting federal propaganda,” and making sure illegal aliens are deported among other legislation.

Monfore said he brings a fear of God (Exodus 18.21) that makes hima person of integrity according to the state motto: “Under God the People Rule”

“Really, legislation isn’t ‘rocket science,’ even though lobbyists and politicians try to make it confusing to ‘muddy the water,’” he said. “If there are enough conservatives we can ‘force the hand’ of the RINO (Republican in Name Only) establishment that associates with groups like ‘South Dakota Strong’ and ‘Elevate’ in Rapid City.”

Monfore said as a District 30 representative he would see his duties as  making sure he abides by the state constitution and U.S. Constitution and protect people from corporatism/fascism/socialism which he said is government and business working as one.

“Sadly our state government has become a big business instead of levelling the playing field,” he said.

When it comes to skyrocketing property taxes, Monfore said no one person is going to fix property taxes. In fact, he said, the state government is so corrupt, especially the Senate (35 total members), South Dakota would have to have a similar movement to North Dakota, which is proposing a ballot vote on abolishing property taxes  and cutting over $1 billion in “pork”/excess.

“I find it dishonest that there were many lobbyists who have testified against capping property valuations blaming people for wanting to ‘ruin the budgets’ and ‘make tax shift’ when record revenues, increased tax bases from people moving to South Dakota, are increasing budgets each year beyond inflation,” Monfore said. “Others propose shifting taxes to receipts, having our millions of annual tourists pay off the ‘tax shift.’”

The top issues facing District 30, Monfore said, are:

1. Mining. Foreign companies coming in and mining vs. USA Companies, water use, Environmental Impact Studies and how those will affect locals.

2. Wastewater – protecting French Creek, Battle Creek, etc. from potential pollutants, having transparent government, avoiding government abuse, and a possible solution of a state of the art filtration system that would clean up above and beyond the “legal” water quality limits.

3. Campgrounds. More said he thinks the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks and the state’s Department of  Tourism need to be severely limited in scope and people should not compete against their own government in the free enterprise

4. West Dam – Testimony on this at the legislature was not convincing in making the state pay for this, Monfre said, as it is on city property and goes back to a federal program, the WPA, which Monfore said many considered a socialist program under President Franklin Roosevelt.

“This was also comparatively different to other ‘water projects’ and no fire departments testified for this dam,” he said.

Other issues include Custer County vs. the state paying for emergency services, the new National Park Service and Federal Aviation Administration rules for helicopters and flights as well as proper forestry management, Monfore said.

Steve Saint

Saint is the owner and operator of Ft. Welikit campground just north of Custer. He said he decided to run for the House of Representatives because he believes there need to be more people who are not so far removed from what struggles people experience in District 30. He has spent the last three years at Pierre during legislative session and has not liked how he sees some of the legislators work.

“I see some do not pay attention to what their districts want, and they do for themselves first,” he said. “Some have forgotten what they are supposed to be doing and that is representing us.”

Saint, who has a bachelor of science in environmental science, served in the U.S. Army for eight years and was a deputy sheriff in Colorado for five years He said he would bring passion to get the job done if elected.

“I understand what issues everyone faces because I face the same issues. My drive to accomplish what needs to be done and to overcome any obstacle put in my path I believe is something that is needed,” he said. “I know what Pierre is about as I have been at the Capitol the last three legislative sessions and believe we need someone who understands what people want.”

Saint said if elected his duties would be first and foremost to listen to what the people of District 30 want.

“I plan on being engaged with the community and fighting for what they want at the Capitol,” he said. “Going to legislative session and doing everything in my power to ensure the people of District 30 are represented and heard.”

 On the issue of property taxes, Saints believe that what is currently being done to alleviate the skyrocketing taxes is not working.

“The bills keep getting killed during legislation and are complicated,” he said. “I think we need to find an alternative revenue source for the schools. If this is done, then we could reduce property taxes.”

Other important issues for District 30 over the next two years, Saint said, includes property rights. 

“There are several issues I am currently facing that need to be addressed. You worked hard for your property, and I believe you have a right to say no to how your property is handled by others and the government,” he said. “I also believe that the taxpayers should not be supporting any government agency. These agencies should be paying their fair share of any service that is being provided by the taxpayers of District 30. I will ensure this happens no matter how long I need to fight for it.”

Saint said there are many issues in District 30, some of which are confined to different communities within the district.

“I would tell everyone I want to know what your issues are and to please contact me anytime,” he said.

Saint his three years being at the Capitol during legislation session has allowed him to see first hand what happens there. 

“There needs to be a change,” he said. “Want we are doing isn’t working.”

Saint is the former president of the South Dakota Campground Owners Association, a position he held for three years. When the proposed campground in Custer State Park was announced he fought to prevent it, testifying at the Capitol to help stop it from happening.

“I am one of the people. I live and work in the district just like most people. I am not so far removed from what every day people are concerned about and live with those same issues every day,” He said. “If elected I am not at the Capitol to make friends. I will be there to represent the people of District 30 with everything at my disposal.”

Matt Smith

Smith, of Hermosa, is an insurance agency owner, who had a conservative radio talk show “Straight Up with Matt Smith.” He is a husband, father of two boys, a Navy veteran, business owner, raises sheep and chickens, and has a bachelors in business communications/marketing and a masters degree in Theology.

“My vast experience allows me to relate to almost everyone, and that is a plus as a representative,” he said. 

Smith said he decided to run for District 30 House because he believes the district can do better than what it has in the past.

“As I go around knocking on doors it has become apparent other people do, too. Conservatives want someone who more closely represents them in the state House,” he said. “They want people who keeps them informed and someone who won’t sell out. I will do that by following one simple principle from the U.S. Constitution—are the laws we are making giving more freedom to people or less?”

If elected, Smith said he would bring true conservative values, and standing firm on the constitution—not being wishy-washy and caving to special interests.

“People in District 30 want less government, not more,” he said. “I will stand up for your constitutional rights.”

If elected, Smith said, he will take an oath to the constitution, not a person, not special interests, and not even his good ideas.

“The goal is not to pass laws only, but laws that give us more freedom, not more bondage to the government and thus, blocking the bills that would bring less freedom,” he said. “The duty is in the title, representative. That is all I want to be, a District 30 House Representative for the people of District 30.”

When it comes to escalating property taxes, Smith said that property taxes are immoral, as they are a tax on something you merely own, just like clothes, furniture or a tractor.

“Why should we have our property tied to taxes? If you don’t pay them, the government can take it away. Does that seem like freedom?” he said. “We need to have a consumption tax solely based on what we use, not on what we own. The only thing more egregious is income taxes...never.”

In terms of other issues facing District 30, Smith said tied with property taxes are property rights, pointing to problems East River, while saying it’s going to come to a county near you. 

Smith also pointed to public schools, saying people have been pulling their kids out by the droves, and homeschooling, which  needs to be addressed. 

Uranium Mining, how it’s done, should it be done, what can we do to make sure it’s right for us in District 30 is another issue, as is illegal immigration.

“Every state is a border state, and it’s only going to get worse as time goes on, so what are we going to do here in South Dakota to ensure we are safe?” Smith said.

Smith said there is a need for stronger representation within the legislature, there are way too many people who are going to Pierre with an “R” behind their name and doing “D” legislation.

“How can this be in red state South Dakota?” he asked. “We need to have representatives who have a spine.”

 Smith said like the majority of the people he talks with in the district, he is tired of the way things are going on a state level.

“We can’t afford to have someone representing us in Pierre wondering if they will vote the right way, we have to know they are voting the right way,” he said.