A Simple Courtesy: Responding to the People You Represent
One of my biggest pet peeves is taking the time to write a letter, send an email, or call someone and not receive even a simple courtesy response. This is especially frustrating when communicating with our elected officials. Some politicians are better than others at responding to their constituents’ concerns and questions, but I believe that acknowledging those communications is a basic responsibility of public service.
For example, on March 31, 2025, I emailed Democratic State Senator Red Dawn Foster, urging her and the other state senators to vote YES to override Governor Rhoden’s veto of HB 1169. The bill would have required a proposed constitutional amendment to obtain petition signatures from each of South Dakota’s 35 legislative districts before qualifying for the ballot. I supported this requirement because I believe rural South Dakotans deserve a meaningful voice in the constitutional amendment process, rather than having ballot initiatives driven primarily by population centers.
As many of you may recall, the 2024 election cycle featured a large number of proposed constitutional amendments, referred laws, and initiated measures. I was concerned that out-of-state special interest groups could concentrate their petition-gathering efforts in South Dakota’s more densely populated areas, including Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Aberdeen, and the university communities of Brookings and Vermillion, while giving little attention to rural communities, particularly in the western half of our state. I believe HB 1169 would have helped address that concern by requiring petition support from all 35 legislative districts.
Despite taking the time to express my concerns and make my position known, I did not receive a response from Senator Foster until January 29, 2026—almost ten months after I sent my original email. The response acknowledged that she had read my message. I have attached a copy of that email for readers to see for themselves.
Unfortunately, the lack of timely responses from elected officials is a concern I have heard and experienced in District 27. As a former public servant, I understand what it means to receive calls, letters, and emails from members of the public. Responding takes time, but acknowledging someone’s concerns is a matter of common courtesy and an important part of the job. Even when an official cannot resolve an issue or agrees with a constituent’s position, a timely response demonstrates respect for the person who took the time to reach out.
On the contact page of my campaign website, I have made a pledge to the voters of District 27 regarding communication and responsiveness. You can read it here:
I have also attached an image of that pledge for your reference.
If elected, I intend to make every reasonable effort to respond to the people I represent. Although an occasional email may be filtered into a spam folder beyond my control, I will do my best to ensure that constituents’ communications receive the attention they deserve.
Neither of my opponents has made a comparable public pledge to the voters demonstrating this same level of commitment to communication and responsiveness. I believe the people of District 27 deserve elected officials who are accessible, responsive, and accountable to those they serve. Ultimately, voters must decide what qualities they expect from their elected representatives and who they believe will best uphold those standards.
The pillars that undergird my campaign are integrity, honesty, and transparency. These are not merely campaign slogans; they are principles I believe should guide our elected officials in carrying out their responsibilities.
If elected as your next state senator, I will do my best to serve you faithfully, listen to your concerns, and respond when you reach out to me. I ask for your support and your vote on November 3, 2026.
Take care, and God bless.
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