Jay Williams is running in District 18 for South Dakota House Representatives
Why are you running for office?
South Dakota is not fairly represented in our State Government. The Republicans in the State Legislature have a 90% super majority and all of the state wide offices are held by Republicans. Democracy is not working in South Dakota and I am running to try and change that.
Women’s Reproductive Health
What is your opinion on the overturn of Roe v. Wade?
It is shameful that the Supreme Court took away women’s right to privacy and health care. This decision is one of the worst in US history.
What will you do to ensure access to critical healthcare to save the lives of
women, despite recent restrictions on reproductive services?
I will try to pass legislation that guarantees women’s right to privacy and to unrestricted health care.
In 2006 and 2010 the people voted to keep access to abortion safe and legal for all who need it in South Dakota, yet the elected officials in Pierre have allowed a
trigger law banning abortions. What is your plan to honor the voters?
As I stated previously, I will try to enact legislation to assure women have the right to safe and legal abortion as part of their right to privacy and unrestricted health care.
Social Justice
What will you do to combat the violence against Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls?
I will promote legislation to ensure Indigenous women and girls are a priority for law enforcement. This means providing state resources to investigate crimes and to actively pursue criminals who commit crimes against Indigenous women and girls. This may include a task force to specifically address these issues.
What will you do to combat the history of racism and oppression against the Indigenous people of South Dakota?
Our school curriculum needs to be updated to inform our students of the past injustices so that our students become aware of the past problems and misdeeds (even if it makes them uncomfortable).. In addition, a public relations effort to educate the general population and to present possible solutions for people to consider should be undertaken by the state government.
What would you do to make sure LGBTQ+ and BIPoC feel safe in South Dakota?
I would support legislation to protect people who face discrimination for any reason. I support an egalitarian approach to governmental services and I reject efforts to marginalize individuals in general.
Environment and Climate Change
Currently, access to exploratory drilling has been granted to mining groups above Pactola Reservoir. What is your plan to protect our natural resources in South
Dakota, such as fresh water, clean air, and the environment?
Protecting our environment to save our world is perhaps the most important issue that we face. The science of climate change caused by human’s using fossil fuels is not in doubt. Those who say otherwise are either woefully ignorant or cynically mendacious. I will do everything I possibly can to protect our environment from those who would destroy its natural beauty and to actually threaten our future existence.
Some South Dakota’s top industries are agriculture, forestry, mining and power, manufacturing and transportation. What steps will you take to ensure these
industries operate responsibly when it comes to environmental protections and preserving South Dakota’s pristine beauty and its natural resources?
I favor regulations to ensure these industries, which are potentially dangerous to our environment, operate safely and in a manner that does not endanger our environment and therefore endanger us.
Where will protecting the environment and addressing climate change fall on your list of priorities once you take office?
Top priority #1
Mental Health
Our generation has lost far too many of our peers tragically to drugs, suicide or violence. How can we make young South Dakotans feel safe and like they have a future in our state?
We can enact sensible gun safety laws, we can become a national leader in clean energy use and production, we can codify women’s rights and we can use our votes to end the MAGA Republican strangle hold on our state government. Your generation can and should be front and center helping in this cause!
How can we break the cycle of incarceration and poverty for those exposed to violence, drug/alcohol abuse, trauma at a young age?
We can implement meaningful prison reform where our prisons become oriented towards rehabilitation and recovery instead of strictly punishment. A humane approach to incarceration has a good chance of being more successful and certainly more compassionate that our current system.
In 2020 suicide was the 10th leading cause of death in SD among ages 10 to 19. In 2019 South Dakota had the 8th highest suicide rate in the nation and our indigenous population is committing suicide at a rate that is 2.5 times higher than Caucasians. Simply put, many of our generation and specifically your indigenous neighbors are finding end-of-life more desirable than living. What can be done to combat these statistics?
I have been involved in community mental health activities for many years. I believe that community centered mental health entities can help in this area. It requires outreach as well as easily accessible consoling and crisis intervention. I support legislation to specifically address the problem of suicide and the mental health funding required to successfully address this issue.
Marijuana Legalization
Do you think that marijuana should be decriminalized?
Yes
Two years ago, The people of South Dakota voted to legalize both medicinal and recreational marijuana. What will you do to honor the voters’ wishes?
I support legislation to legalize marijuana.
What should happen to individuals who are currently incarcerated or on probation for marijuana related offenses if/when marijuana is decriminalized?
All people in prison for actions that are now legal should be released immediately.
Gun Safety
Do you support gun safety legislation?
Yes
What can be done to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous and mentally unstable people while protecting the rights of responsible, law-abiding citizens?
Background checks for all gun transactions should be mandatory. There are many gun safety solutions that should be available to the public. Things like devices to ensure your weapon can only be discharged by you, limiting the number of available cartridges’ that can be discharged before reloading, restricting weapons that are semi automatic to persons who undergo a rigorous background check to ensure they are responsible owners of such weapons, and to require those who own these dangerous weapons to implement safeguards to ensure they do not fall into the wrong hands.
Healthcare
Currently our state has many residents who lack access to necessary healthcare services either because they cannot afford insurance, are underinsured or face social or cultural barriers. What steps can be made to correct this imbalance?
One obvious answer is to expand Medicaid as provided in the Affordable Care Act. That alone would address this issue for thousands of South Dakota people. Even more obvious is to have a nationally implemented “Medicare For All” program to allow all people in the United States access to health care.
Many South Dakotans are one health emergency away from financial ruin. What can be done to prevent citizens from severe poverty simply for seeking necessary healthcare?
Medicare for All (see previous answer)
To Conclude
How can the voices of our generation be heard and honored in South Dakota?
By electing people like me who are willing to listen to your concerns and to work with you to find and implement solutions. M<ore importantly, we need to find ways to relate to your generation in order to get them involved in the political system. Complacency is a major reason why the ultra right wing has welded so much power recently. The crazed right wing is also motivated and with motivation a minority can subvert the will of the majority. We must find a way to convince your generation to get involved or we may see the end of our freedom and liberty.
How can we (the young people in South Dakota) help you to achieve these goals?
By volunteering at your local Democratic Party, by volunteering at community centers and by becoming involved in programs in your community that serve the needy. Community service is a mark of character and style.
Is there anything else you would like us to know about you as a candidate that we neglected to ask? What do you want to make sure our generation knows about you before they cast their vote?
I have tried to live the things I have espoused in this exchange. I have served my country in the military, in the Peace Corps, in industry, as an entrepreneur and as a politician. As a politician I have run for office, served in office on my local school board, and worked in my local political party where I have served in leadership positions for years. This has lead to an interesting and exciting and rewarding life and I encourage everyone to join in and work to make our world a better place.