What is your opinion on the overturn of Roe v. Wade?
Incredibly disappointing. While I’m a firm believer of the states having more control than the federal government, the overturning of Roe v Wade has left the country looking like a patchwork of states-states in which abortion is still accessible and states in which it’s not. This is an attack on basic human rights and it’s especially harmful to those least able to travel long distances to get care, including young people, low-income and hourly wage people, people of color and people with disabilities.
What will you do to ensure that all people maintain access to critical healthcare despite growing conservative attacks on birth control, abortion, and other services?
If elected, I’ll work to bring a constitutional amendment to the ballot and in the meantime help to carve out additional exceptions that would allow for abortions in this state.
What will you do to make sure people who can get pregnant get the healthcare they need in South Dakota without fear of persecution?
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 people in Pierre have continued to restrict access leading to a trigger law banning abortions after the reversal of Roe v. Wade. What is your plan to honor the voters and return access to safe and legal abortion to all that need them?
Abortion transcends political parties. Both times this issue ended up on the ballot, pro-choice won, both times with a ten point margin. We need elected officials to vote the way of the people and to not use the bureaucratic power to suppress the will of the people. You’re currently seeing this with the marijuana measures, too.
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 to decriminalize marijuana?
If elected, I will vote the way of the people. The people voted for both and yet we’re still working to gain access to both. The will of the people should always supersede a politician, a party, a special interest group or a bureaucrats belief. period.
What do you think should happen to individuals who are currently incarcerated or on probation for marrijuana related offenses after it is legalized?
With the same efforts to legalize, we have a duty to explore the ethical issues that arise for incarcerating people who are still serving time for a law that no longer exists. The people serving time for this crime are disproportionately people of color and people of lower-income. It’s a crime against the poor and disadvantaged rather than a true reflection of consumption and economics. Sure, they broke the law back then but is it the most efficient use of the government’s time and energy to continue doing so? 15.7 million people were arrested for cannabis over the past two decades. $47 billion is spent every year towards the war on drugs, cannabis being one of those and now we’re seeing billions of dollars in revenue. It may well better serve our communities to release and potentially expunge some of these individual’s records.
What will you do to stop the violence against Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls?
4 out of 5 Indigenous women will experience violence in their lifetime, twice as likely as white women. Their murder rate is three times that of white women. I will continue to educate myself and others on the disparities and to lean into the people and women already doing work to address this. Support comes from leaning into your community members, without judgement and assumption, and to provide necessary resources and to help with solutions when asked to do so.
What will you do to combat the long history of racism, oppression and social injustice against the indigenous people of South Dakota?
There’s so many great community outreach programs already here however they need more resources and support. The state could help secure more funding and to network these organizations to reduce overlapping services and to create a hub that connects the existing entities to one another.
What would your administration do to make sure young LGBTQ+ and BIPoC youth feel safe in South Dakota?
We’ve elected people who spend more time creating division than working towards solutions. People shouldn’t expect behavior to be any better than the people we elect to represent us. Our blatant hate and efforts to make this state a welcoming place has been demonstrated over the past few legislative sessions. I would work to support those who are already working to make South Dakota better, to direct funding and support for organizations to better serve our children and communities and advocate for legislation that better quips our community and makes sense for South Dakota.
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? What is your plan to prevent the future risks that are likely to happen?
At this point there’s very little our legislature can do as the permit came from the Forest Service. The preservation of our natural resources comes through education, electing good candidates, leaning into research and coming up sensible solutions to maintain our way of life while also being mindful of the land for our future generations. As a community member, I personally believe putting pressure on our city council, Elevate Rapid City, and Visit Rapid City would help with this and future issues. Money talks and when those three entities align and stand for the people, it sends a message. When elected government, the chamber and tourism stand to say our people want something different, it says they’re listening to the people.
Our generation has lost far too many of our peers tragically to drugs, suicide or violence. What is your plan to make young South Dakotans feel safe, or like we have a future without drugs, trauma and violence?
People need to feel safe, they need community, they need to feel connected and to be working towards something. Without connection and agency, paired with trauma and violence, you’re left looking for any way to cope, to feel better and to escape. We need to work to build healthier and happier kids, support families, build back communities and create policy that supports that. Having a better understanding of why people turn towards drugs and violence allows a community to show up with more compassion and solutions for real change. We need to work to create more stability for our people and families- the insecurity and flux of change is a serious assault for the growth and development of our children and families. We need to normalize the emotional body and the impact it has on our family structure and the vibrancy of our community. We need better mental health resources and we need to work to embrace harm reduction instead of shaming. Unless there’s immediate impacts to others, keeping individuals out of jail and in the community is the best way for people to truly heal and overcome addictions.
How can the voices of our generation and the voices be heard in a state as red as South Dakota?
Vote. Get better informed about your local leaders and participate in local politics. South Dakota is red on paper but that’s because of gerrymandering and truly not the make up of our state. 90% of our legislative seats are currently held by Republicans yet only 49.5% of South Dakota voters are registered as such. South Dakota bleeds red because of a one party dominance, due to the consequence of closed primaries and hyperpartisanship, and through gerrymandering.
The good news is Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z’s now hold more voting power than their elders. If they get out and vote, they’d take a great deal of the power away and radically change the status quo.
https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/upcoming-elections/voter-registration-totals/voter-registration-comparison-table.aspx
How can the citizens of South Dakota help you to achieve these goals?
Look into local politics. Everything starts local and builds on that. The ugly truth is time and money get new faces and the generational change we need. Contributing one or both to candidates that align with your views and values will bring the much needed change to this state. $20 helps. Offering up an hour or two to canvas with a hopeful leader helps more than you know.