A wrap-up of the state Republican convention

Greetings. Marcia and I just got out of the Republican Grand Old Party (GOP) annual state convention held in Rapid City June 25-27. In addition to standard GOP business, we elected the following constitutional officers for the ballot in the general election in November.

Secretary of State: Rapid City’s Heather Baxter beat out our incumbent Monae Johnson. Baxter 50.34 percent to Johnson 40.09 percent. Heather was a legislator in the House for the past two years representing District 34.

In fact, we were seat mates, meaning our desks were joined together on the House floor. It’s unbelievable how good of friends one can become after going through two legislative sessions with your seat mates right next to you. I brought bananas to share every day. When I was congratulating Heather after her win Saturday, she asked if I was still going to bring her a banana in her office each day of session. I laughed and agreed to her request.

In the attorney general’s race, Lance Russell from Hot Springs (District 30) won on the second ballot 57.14 percent to Austin Hoffman at 31.08 percent and John Fitzgerald 11.78 percent.

We were winners regardless who won this race. I had connections with all three candidates as John Fitzgerald’s wife, Mary, serves with me in the House and Austin Hoffman’s father, Charlie, served in the House with me. In fact, Charlie was in my whip group. Of course Lance Russell and I go way back, seeing we’re in the same district and we also served in the legislature together.

Next, the Public Utilities Commissioner or PUC. Don Haggar from Sioux Falls won 54.9 percent to Peri Pourier at 44.94 percent.

In this race, Don was in the legislature serving as the ProTem my first two years in the House. The speaker at the time was Gov. Mickelson’s son, Mark. From what I found out later, Mark asked Don to keep tabs on me and kind of slow me down a bit. We were both laughing about a couple of episodes we went through those first two years.

Peri Pourier and I served six years together in the House. She was on the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee that I chaired. She also got fed up with the Democrat party a couple of years ago and switched to being a Republican. She is an eight-year Navy veteran (Go Army, beat Navy) and just a great person!

In the treasurer’s race, Mellissa Hull of Pierre received 81.25 percent to Heath Shields of Custer’s 18.75 percent.

Heath was a victim of some nasty politics regarding postcards being mailed out. I gave Heath’s nomination speech and tried to present the case that we should pick Heath for the job instead of a bureaucrat who worked in the treasurer’s office.

I mentioned in my nomination speech a quote from the late Gov. Janklow saying you should always pick cabinet secretaries and constitutional officers that had to take a pay cut to take a position. What he meant was if that person had to lose money to take a cabinet or constitutional office director’s position, they must have been pretty successful in the private sector. I’m not taking a shot here at Mellissa Hull, who is our selection. In fact I haven’t ever met Mellissa, but didn’t appreciate her negative campaigning.

Next is selecting our auditor, due to term limits, ending Rich Sattgast. The results here were Catherine Barranco of Sioux Falls 52.9 percent, Renae Randall 25.14 percent and Tamara Grove 20.8 percent.

This is a feel-good story in that Catherine’s husband was running for the auditor position and was diagnosed with aggressive cancer. It was a blow to all who know the family including their two sons aged 14 and 10. Once the shock dissipated a bit, Catherine, with her husband’s support, decided to take his place in the race and won. In congratulating her, she said she’s moving the family from Sioux Falls to Pierre to get a fresh look on life. I had the pleasure of giving her “second to the nomination” speech behind Rep. Jorgensen, who also serves with me on the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee.

Lastly, we had a race for Commissioner of School and Public Lands. Brock Greenfield was running for his second term here and was unopposed right up to the deadline. Then at the last minute James Bialota threw his hat into the ring. 

Yes, this is the same Bialota who got beat for our lone congressional seat by Marty Jackley 79-21 percent. In this race, he garnished only 18.24 percent of the delegates present with Brock getting 81.32 percent. By the way, Brock and I were in the legislature together for six years.

All of the winners here will be placed on the ballot for the Nov. 3 General Election.