SD State Legislature Candidate Survey: Richard L. Thomason

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota Information Now) – Richard L. Thomason is operating within the Republican main for South Dakota State Home District 13. District 13 contains elements of Sioux Falls. Thomason faces three main opponents; Sue Peterson, Tony Venhuizen, and Penny BayBridge.

1. Inform us about your self?

I’m employed within the non-public sector, attended Lincoln Excessive Faculty, and have lived in District 13 most of my life. I at present sit on two completely different boards in Sioux Falls, am a member of Rotary, and have served within the Home of Representatives for the previous two years. My hobbies embody operating, tennis, studying, and listening to podcasts.

2. Why are you operating for this workplace?

The previous two years have been an honor serving this state. I sat on the taxation and native authorities committees and noticed many payments come to us on the ground. Shifting South Dakota ahead has been a tremendous alternative and I’m wanting ahead to persevering with to take action. This state has loved a practice of excellence and I need to guarantee this excellence is round for a lot of generations to return.

3. What could be your prime three priorities if elected?

Fiscal duty, pro-education, pro-business.

4. What related expertise would you convey to the workplace?

Two nice years of serving this nice state for District 13 within the Home of Representatives.

5. Do you assist tax aid for South Dakotans? If that’s the case, what kind and the way would you make it occur?

We’re blessed right here in South Dakota to be one of many lowest-tax states within the nation, and I’ve fought exhausting throughout my time on the Home Taxation Committee to make sure that South Dakota stays a beacon for fiscal duty. Many South Dakotans are battling property taxes will increase, and I’m open to concepts that might stem the rise with out risking our duty to steadiness the state price range.

6. Housing availability has turn out to be a problem for a lot of South Dakotans. How would you search to make housing extra reasonably priced?

Reasonably priced housing has turn out to be a problem in South Dakota, and nationwide, largely resulting from a easy lack of provide. As an alternative of enacting synthetic worth ceilings, the legislature have to be centered on being an “energizing agent;” permitting the market to get well by itself, and serving to push it alongside the place wanted. It’s with this philosophy that I helped go HB 1033 this session, which is able to enable reasonably priced workforce housing to flourish within the state for years to return.

7. South Dakota correctional amenities have been coping with various points, most distinguished amongst them overcrowding and staffing shortages. What would you do to assist fight these points?

South Dakota should construct new correctional amenities and replace current ones, in addition to rising incentives for workers members, to ensure that the state to correctly perform its obligation because the enforcer of the regulation. This previous session, I voted for 4 payments that may acceptable funding for the development of latest amenities, analysis the wants of native jails, replace the ladies’s jail, and assemble a group work middle for offenders. I’ll stay dedicated to serving to each county and state-wide correctional amenities with their budgetary wants in a fiscally accountable method.

8. What steps ought to the legislature take to entice younger individuals to stay within the state?

Mind drain is a large drawback in our state, and I consider that supporting increased schooling is the important thing consider resolving this problem. For this reason I supported measures to fund 5 separate investments in increased schooling, in addition to a rise in instructor pay, to make sure we’ve the most effective professors and alternatives for our college students. As well as, low taxes, reasonably priced housing, and enterprise alternatives are causal components in figuring out whether or not a younger grownup decides to remain in our state; these are all a few of my prime prerogatives.

9. Do you assist any adjustments to the way in which elections are run in South Dakota?

I place confidence in our electoral system, in addition to our state and county auditors. I might have to be offered with severely compelling proof to be able to assist adjustments to this technique.

10. A U.S. Supreme Court docket resolution is looming on a landmark abortion case that would in the end overturn Roe v. Wade. Governor Kristi Noem has indicated she want to ban abortion outright, and a “set off regulation” already on the books would so, with solely an exception in place when the mom’s life is in danger. Do you assist banning abortion to this extent? If not, what exceptions would you wish to see made?

Whereas I take into account myself to be pro-life, I don’t consider it’s the function of the federal government to manage abortion to this extent. I might be supportive of measures that might ban abortion with the said exception, in addition to an exception in circumstances of rape or incest earlier than 15 weeks of being pregnant.

11. What’s your stance on legalized, leisure marijuana in South Dakota?

I’ll respect the need of the individuals to resolve what to do on this problem. I supported SB 3, which might have legalized marijuana in a similar way to the poll measure within the earlier election as a result of my constituents voted to go that measure. Ought to marijuana be legalized recreationally after this upcoming poll measure, I might respect the need of the individuals and assist its secure and environment friendly rollout.

State legislative candidates in contested districts this main season have been emailed the identical survey to finish for Dakota Information Now/KOTA Territory Information. Candidates have been requested to maintain their responses restricted to roughly 4-5 sentences for every query. Except for a fast spelling and grammar test, solutions weren’t edited by the poster. Those that responded to the survey questions had their outcomes posted.”

Copyright 2022 Dakota Information Now. All rights reserved.