South Dakota gubernatorial candidate Jamie Smith makes stop in Aberdeen

Six years ago, Jamie Smith was encouraged to run for a seat in the South Dakota Legislature. It was that experience serving as one of two representatives for District 15 in Sioux Falls that he discovered he saw himself as a servant leader.

Smith, a Democrat from Sioux Falls, is now running for governor. He's traveling around the state, and made his first stop Thursday in Aberdeen for a meet-and-greet with the Brown County Democrats.

Republican voters will decide between Gov. Kristi Noem and Steve Haugaard, of Sioux Falls, in the primary election Tuesday. The winner will join Smith and Tracey Quint, a Libertarian from Sioux Falls, on the Nov. 8 ballot.

In an interview with the Aberdeen American News prior to the event, Smith, who describes himself as a moderate, said he spent the past four years as minority leader in the House of Representatives and decided to run, with the support of his family, when he realized it was time for him to step up.

Smith has worked in the hospitality industry and as a teacher and coach at Axtel Park Middle School and Roosevelt High School. After teaching and coaching for seven years, he joined Hegg Realtors. He's been there now for 15 years.

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Smith wears a lapel pin that was a gift from the Native American Caucus at the beginning of his campaign.

"It symbolizes that I am a warrior fighting for the people of South Dakota," he said.

In his campaigning across the state, Smith said, his goal is to let people know he wants his focus to be on South Dakota.

"I'm not going to bring outside political interests to prove how liberal or conservative I am," he said. "I want to focus on the issues in our state."

Smith said South Dakota is facing multiple challenges right now, which include workforce, child care and affordable available health care.

Employers looking for employees, he said, but those employees also need to be both educated and healthy with access to child care so both parents can work.

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Smith said when it comes to health care, Medicaid expansion is, "vital to the success of South Dakota."

As it sits now, he said, there's about 43,000 South Dakotans who aren't eligible for Medicaid, but their income isn't enough to afford an insurance policy available in the marketplace. Expansion of Medicaid, would help provide coverage for that group and there are incentives available if the state expands.

"For every $1 we spend, there's $10 available," he said.

As minority leader of democratic legislators, Smith said, he recognizes the need to work with others and find out where there's agreement.

"I will have a policy of talking to all parties," he said.

In his role with the legislature, he said, he challenges others to find their polar opposite and then find common ground.

As he talks to people across the state, Smith said, he's been overwhelmed with the response from people who are tired of the polarization and vitriol in politics today.

"I hope to show people there's an option," Smith said.

While he's a Democrat, Smith said, as governor he knows that person is governor for everyone in a state he sees as inclusive and welcoming to all.

"South Dakotans I know are hard working and care about their neighbors," he said.

Smith and his wife Kjerstin have two sons.

This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Jamie Smith, Democratic candidate for governor, stops in Aberdeen