CURRENT ISSUE
JAN. 10, 2012 - VOL. 47 NO. 4

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Chair's Column
New Members
Member Anniversaries
Cover Story
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Community Appeals Capital Drive Schedule

COVER STORY

Annual Guide to Sioux Falls Area
Legislators: 85th Session

HOW TO CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR
District 9	District 10
District 11	District 12
District 13	District 14
District 15	District 16
District 25

HOW TO CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR
The Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce asked legislators in Districts 9-16 and 25 to submit contact information and their goals for the 85th Legislative Session; these are their responses. Save this legislative guide and use it during the session to contact Sioux Falls area legislators. You can also reach legislators in Pierre. To leave a message for a Senator, call (605) 773-3821. To leave a message for a member of the House of Representatives, call (605) 773-3851. Another great resource is the Legislative Research Council (LRC) website: http://legis.state.sd.us/index.aspx. You can use this site to search bills by number, subject or the member who introduced the bill. You can also track committees and floor activities and find existing laws. The LRC site also contains contact information for every member of South Dakota’s House and Senate. The Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce also tracks bills and communicates pertinent information to members via the electronic bulletin Legislative Lookout. Legislative Lookout is designed to provide quick insight into the latest legislative developments in Pierre. The bulletin is filled with specific issues of interest to the Sioux Falls community, such as school aid funding and regional tourism. Legislative Lookout also focuses on general business issues of importance to South Dakotans, including transportation, tax policy, economic development and the state budget. As a Chamber member, you can sign up for this free bulletin by contacting (605) 336-1620 or sweber@siouxfalls.com and providing your email address. Chamber members who have specific legislative questions can contact lobbyist and Public Affairs & Communications Director Bob O’Connell at (605) 336-1620 or roconnell@siouxfalls.com. [Back to Top]
DISTRICT 9 - SENATE
	Sen. Tom Dempster 5004 E. Terry Peak Lane Sioux Falls, SD 57110 Home/Office Phone: (605) 359-6387 Email: sen.dempster@state.sd.us Occupation: Financial advisor Goals: Wise and prudent spending and investment decisions to set the stage for South Dakota growth. Watchful eye on the impact of federal health care legislation in South Dakota. Build people and workforce through early childhood education.
DISTRICT 9 - HOUSE
	Rep. Rich Engels 46430 Hwy. 38 Hartford, SD 57033 Home Phone: (605) 528-3644 Office Phone: (605) 271-3561 Email: rl_engels@msn.com Occupation: Lawyer Goals: Balancing the budget without tax increases. Prioritizing needs above wants. Passing package of bills from Sex Offender Registry Study.
	REP. Deb Peters 705 N. Sagehorn Dr. Hartford, SD 57033 Home Phone: (605) 321-4168 Email: deb@debpeters.com Occupation: CPA/small business owner Goals: Reduce state spending to match revenue projections. Try to limit the impact of budget cuts on South Dakota citizens. Make smart and common sense decisions to ensure the South Dakota economy is not harmed by our decisions in Pierre while we try to balance the budget.
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DISTRICT 10 - SENATE
	Sen. Gene Abdallah 4908 S. Glenview Rd. Sioux Falls, SD 57108 Home Phone: (605) 338-0544 Cell Phone: (605) 941-0054 Email: ggpj@sio.midco.net Occupation: Retired Goals: Balance budget without tax increase. Modify sex offender laws. Check state funding accounts for possible highway funding projects.
DISTRICT 10 - HOUSE
	rep. roger hunt PO Box 827 Brandon, SD 57005 Home Phone: (605) 582-3867 Office Phone: (605) 582-2580 Email: huntrog7@alliancecom.net Occupation: Lawyer Goals: Approve a balanced 2011 state budget. Move forward with more economic development in South Dakota to minimize any tax increases; look for more international trade and markets. Address funding and accountability for South Dakota's education system.
	rep. shantel krebs 25740 Packard Ln. Renner, SD 57055 Home/Office Phone: (605) 351-5916 Email: info@theredshoe.com Occupation: Human capital development Goals:Review all expenditures to look for fat to cut.
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DISTRICT 11 - SENATE
	Sen. jason Gant PO Box 2012 Sioux Falls, SD 57101 Home Phone: (605) 362-4725 Office Phone: (605) 335-4184 Email: jason@jasongant.com Occupation: Businessman Goals: Balancing the budget. Economic development. Education funding.
DISTRICT 11 - HOUSE
	rep. Todd Schlekeway 4709 S. Equity Dr. Sioux Falls, SD 57106 Home Phone: (605) 310-8600 Email: toddschlekeway@hotmail.com Occupation: Public affairs consultant Goals: Effective and efficient allocation of budget dollars in a difficult economy. Sufficient funds for K-12 education. Support economic development policies that grow South Dakota’s economy and helps attract young families and young people to live and work here.
	rep. Darrell Solberg 6904 W. Sagamore Cir. Sioux Falls, SD 57106 Home/Office: (605) 361-9923 Email: rep.solberg@state.sd.us Occupation: Marketing consultant Goals: Improving the open government law for more transparency; statewide economic development; use stimulus money for one-time projects, not back-filling deficit.
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DISTRICT 12 - SENATE
	Sen. sandy jerstad 19 Riverview Heights Sioux Falls, SD 57105 Home/Cell Phone: (605) 261-1044 Email: sij@sio.midco.net Occupation: Adjunct Professor at Augustana College Goals: Pass helpful, positive legislation. Listen and respond to my constituents. Collaborate with both parties and both houses to work together in the best interest of the people of South Dakota.
DISTRICT 12 - HOUSE
	rep. manny steele 3220 W. Zephyr Pl., #1 Sioux Falls, SD 57108 Home Phone: (605) 335-7036 Email: barbmanny78@gmail.com Occupation: Retired Goals: Balance budget without raising taxes. Promote taking back states’ rights (10th Amendment). Maintain funds for roads and bridges.
	rep. R. Blake Curd 38 S. Riverview Heights Sioux Falls, SD 57105 Home Phone: (605) 339-8918 Office phone: (605) 331-5890 Email: bcurd@oi.md Occupation: Orthopedic Surgeon Goals: Structurally balance the state budget. Lay the foundation for an ongoing structurally sound budget. Maintain essential services while accomplishing the above.
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DISTRICT 13 - SENATE
	Sen. scott heidepriem 503 E. 21st St. Sioux Falls, SD 57105 Home Phone: (605) 335-6296 Office Phone: (605) 338-4304 Email: scott@jhajlaw.com Occupation: Lawyer Goals: Shrinking the size of government. Eliminating the structural deficit we have run for seven or eight years. Changing priorities to invest in human capital.
DISTRICT 13 - HOUSE
	rep. Susy Blake 2516 Clarkway Sioux Falls, SD 57105 Home: (605) 334-1296 Office: (605) 521-6090 Email: rep.blake@state.sd.us Occupation: Registered nurse, outdoor challenge facilitator Goals: Getting the groundwork and funding in place to offer early childhood education to all children. Developing alternative energy resources. Education funding, including technical education.
	Rep. Bill THompson 709 E. Wiswall Pl. Sioux Falls SD 57105 Home Phone: (605) 339-9836 Email: rep.thompson@sd.us.gov Occupation: Retired teacher Goals: Reform legislative redistricting. Balance the budget. Stop any proposed cuts to education.
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DISTRICT 14 - SENATE
	Sen. David Knudson 2100 E. Slaten Ct. Sioux Falls, SD 57103 Home Phone: (605) 338-9431 Office Phone: (605) 357-1222 Email: dknudson@dehs.com Occupation: Lawyer Goals: Finding solutions to our budget deficit problem. Solving on a long-term basis the current imbalance between state government’s revenues and expenditures. Strengthening the state’s economic development activities.
DISTRICT 14 - HOUSE
	Rep. Joni Cutler 3801 E. Judy Ave. Sioux Falls, SD 57103 Home Phone: (605) 371-1120 Email: rep.cutler@gmail.com Occupation: Lawyer Goals: Keep the business-friendly climate to encourage economic development in South Dakota. Make sure we use resources wisely. Continue to prioritize education and workforce development.
	Rep. Marc Feinstein 3205 E. Marson Dr. Sioux Falls, SD 57103 Home Phone: (605) 371-1534 Office Phone: (605) 335-6266 Email: marc@feinsteinlawoffice.com Occupation: Lawyer Goals: Make the appropriate expenditures and cuts to balance the state budget. Make our top priories the investment in human capital. Expand the state’s production of wind energy and accompanying businesses.
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DISTRICT 15 - SENATE
	Sen. Kathy Miles 610 N. Summit Ave. Sioux Falls, SD 57104 Home Phone: (605) 338-8288 Office Phone: (605) 322-7305 Occupation: RN Clinic Manager Goals: Ensure public safety. Properly fund state education. Support cost-effective state healthcare.
DISTRICT 15 - HOUSE
	Rep. Martha Vanderlinde 320 N. Western Ave. #2 Sioux Falls, SD 57104 Home Phone: (605) 201-7427 Email: nurseynurse@q.com Occupation: Registered Nurse Goals: Reconcile the budget with bipartisan support. I have three bills I’m bringing forward and would appreciate support. Realize that the recession and budgetary problems of the state impact the lower socio-economic, elderly and disabled residents the most.
	Rep. Patrick Kirschman 611 N. Duluth Ave. Sioux Falls, SD 57104 Home Phone: (605) 366-4798 Occupation: Retired baker Goals: Try to keep fee increases on all forms of licenses within reason. A recession is not the time to raise taxes. Cut growth in state government to same limit as schools and municipalities.
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DISTRICT 16 - SENATE
	Sen. Margaret Gillespie 29166 481st Ave. Hudson, SD 57034 Home Phone: (605) 987-3672 Office Phone: (605) 934-2140 Email: rep.gillespie@state.sd.us Occupation: Lawyer Goals: I have a number of pieces of legislation on behalf of my district that I plan to introduce. The budget will obviously be the greatest challenge facing not only the legislature but our entire state.
DISTRICT 16 - HOUSE
	Rep. Jim Bolin 403 West 11th St. Canton, SD 57013 Home Phone: (605) 987-2630 Email: rjbolin@gmail.com Occupation: Teacher Goals: Balance the state budget. Decide highway funding. Decide on the Municipal League proposal for a third penny sales tax.
	Rep. Dan Lederman 725 Indian Wells Ct. Dakota Dunes, SD 57049 Home Phone: (605) 232-0050 Office Phone: (800) 564-8898 Email: dan@danlederman.org Occupation: Small business owner Goals: Balancing the budget. Protecting revenues. Promoting trade.
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DISTRICT 25 - SENATE
	Sen. Dan ahlers 913 Washington Ave. Dell Rapids, SD 57022 Home Phone: (605) 428-5408 Office Phone: (605) 428-5800 Email: sen.ahlers@state.sd.us Occupation: Business owner Goals: Working on getting closer to a balanced state budget. Improving the state budgeting process. Create a community college structure to provide a more affordable means of attaining higher education for all South Dakotans.
DISTRICT 25 - HOUSE
	Rep. Tim Rave 46923 250th St. Baltic, SD 57003 Home/Office Phone: (605) 360-7190 Email: trave@alliancecom.net Occupation: Operations Manager, Rural/Metro Ambulance Goals: Find areas to trim the budget. Work on assisting low-income college students.
	rep. Oran Sorenson 25504 485th Ave. Garretson, SD 57030 Home Phone: (605) 594-6319 Email: roaring20sor@alliancecom.net Occupation: Retired Teacher/Active Farmer Goals: To continue to support increased funding for K-12 public education. To find funding to maintain a sound road and highway system. To reduce wasteful spending.
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