Meet the candidates: District 13 primary could tip scales in Republicans' power struggle

A pivotal contest in the June 7 Republican primary election will decide which southeast Sioux Falls candidates for the state House of Representatives will head to Pierre next winter.

South Dakota political insiders are watching the District 13 race, which features a pair of incumbents and two challengers that could help tip the scales in an intra-party power struggle that's pitted two factions of the state GOP against one another.

And because no Democrats, independents or other non-Republicans are seeking either of the two spots District 13 is entitled to in the state House, the top two vote getters in the GOP primary will go on to serve in South Dakota's 98th Legislative session.

Editor's note: The Argus Leader submitted a series of questions to all candidates who will appear on the primary ballots, with a request that responses be kept to 100 words or less for each answer. Responses have been edited for grammar and clarity.

More: Here are five disputes fueling Republican-on-Republican attacks in South Dakota

Questions for the candidates

1. Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg was impeached in the state House on April 12 after 20 months of controversy that followed the death of Joe Boever, killed in a fatal car v. pedestrian crash in which Ravnsborg was driving.

• For incumbents: Why did you vote the way you did?

• For challengers: How would you have voted on impeachment and why?

2. Gov. Noem this year successfully blocked an attempt to reduce the state sales tax rate by .5% and a separate effort to eliminate sales tax on groceries also failed to earn passage. How do you feel about the governor’s cautious approach to protecting existing government revenues amid record-setting surplus in state coffers in recent years?

3. Legislators in 2022 spent hours debating whether state government should prohibit employers from mandating the COVID-19 vaccine.

• For incumbents: Where did you fall in that policy debate and why?

• For challengers: What is government's role in refereeing relationships between employers and employees with regard to vaccinations and individual rights?

More: Gov. Kristi Noem, Senate leader team up to keep Republican 'wack-a-doodles' out of state Capitol

Sue Peterson (incumbent)

Age: 59

Profession/place of employment: Former Banker, Track Coach

Prior public/community service: Legislator

Family: Husband Bill; sons Lucas, Robert and William

No. 1. I went into the special session leaning toward voting for impeachment. I listened to the hearings, reviewed the report released by the committee and spoke with members of the select committee. Contrary to their initial belief that there would be an abundance of evidence to warrant impeachment, committee members indicated that the evidence did not meet a clear and convincing standard. Based on their recommendation, especially those in law enforcement, who saw and heard all the evidence, including that not reported by the media, I voted not to impeach.

No. 2. I voted to cut the sales tax by .5%. I voted to eliminate the sales tax on food and I voted for the gas tax holiday. When government has a surplus, it should be returned to the people, especially when it appears likely that state revenues will remain steady. It is important to put money back in the hands of hard working citizens, especially now when property taxes are increasing and normal living expenses are rising because of inflation.

No. 3. I strongly support each individual’s right to determine if the COVID-19 shot is right for them based on their medical history, current health, risk factors and/or religious or philosophical beliefs. Individuals should not be rewarded, punished or denied freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution based on vaccination status.

Tony Venhuizen

Age: 39

Profession/place of employment: Attorney

Prior public/community service: Chief of Staff to Gov. Dennis Daugaard and Gov. Kristi Noem, member of the Board of Regents

Family: Wife, Sara; children Henry, Elizabeth and Madeleine

No. 1. I would have voted for impeachment. Impeachment means that the Senate holds a trial, and I believe there is enough evidence to justify holding a trial. Due to his conduct, Attorney General Ravnsborg has lost the confidence of many South Dakotans, especially in law enforcement and the legal community, and that prevents him from doing his job effectively.

No. 2. South Dakota has one of the best-run state budgets in the nation because we are conservative and cautious. Gov. Noem, like Gov. Daugaard before her, has been very firm on that and our state is better for it.

I am open to tax cuts if we have enough new, ongoing revenue to pay for it without creating a deficit. Right now, though, state revenue growth seems like an artificial “sugar high” created by unprecedented federal spending. At some point that will end, and we need to know how much revenue growth is sustainable before committing to long-term plans for the revenue.

No. 3. I hope that by next session this issue is in the past. I am aware of very few employers that require the COVID-19 vaccine (with the exception of healthcare providers that are controlled on this issue by federal regulation, not state law).

Having said that, I think it is reasonable to say that an employer mandating the COVID-19 vaccine needs to respect religious or medical exemptions. I would be open to a state law on that topic if it is still an issue next year.

Penny BayBridge

Age: 66

Profession/place of employment: Insurance customer service

Family: Married, children, grandchildren

No. 1. It is important to follow the rule of law. It should be further noted that the law should not be given the appearance of being weaponized by any group of people against another person just to take them out. Jason Ravnsborg went through the legal process and was charged with two misdemeanors. There was nothing in that decision or that process that would call for impeachment. Voting to impeach him set a precedent. If that becomes the new standard, how many elected officials in Pierre will we impeach going forward? Following the law, I would not have voted for impeachment.

No. 2. I am in full support of reducing taxes and eliminating the tax on groceries. It is important for our government to keep expenditures down and create a positive cash flow so that we have revenue available in case it is needed in the future.

No. 3. The better question to ask is who has more rights, businesses or the individual person. Why does one group have more rights than the other? Again, following the law, individual medial decisions are protected under (HIPAA). If you allow the door to open on one idea that a corporation can make your medical decisions for you, then you are opening the door to losing your ability to make your own health decisions in the future.

Richard Thomason (incumbent)

Age: 30

Profession/place of employment: Banking

Prior public/community service: Legislator, Board of Health Connect, Sioux Falls Tennis Association Board and Rotarian

No. 1. I voted to impeach the Attorney General because I do not believe he has maintained the trust of the people or of law enforcement due to his actions since the tragic death of Joe Boever. Public officials should always be held to a high standard and the citizens should have trust in them to carry out their duties. In my opinion, the Attorney General has broken that trust and he deserves to face a trial in the Senate.

No. 2. I believe the Governor is taking the right approach. Historically, recessions have happened every 10-12 years. South Dakota is not insulated from global and national economic pressures, and economic policies should not be done hastily based on short-term trends that could be unsustainable. With recent economic outlooks, I believe the Governor has made the right choices in her decisions.

No. 3. South Dakota thrives with its limited-government approach. The rights of individuals and the rights of businesses is a delicate balance, and this debate certainly brought that balancing act to the forefront. Ultimately, my conservative principles that oppose the expansion of pro-Labor Union type policies also means opposing policies from within my own party on these types of employment policies.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: District 13 primary candidates on Ravnsborg, taxes, vaccine mandates