Closing Statements (and then cookies!)

Scott Parsley:

• Forums like this important: we need chance to share with you our vision for South Dakota
• We need to hear your questions so we know what's on your mind and how we can address your concerns. That's a legislator's job
• I want to represent all of the people of District 8.

Russell Olson:

• Thanks for the opportuntity, thanks wife Jenny.
  

Mitch Fargen:

• I'm new, so I like getting out and meeting everyone. Look forward to more door-to-door.

Patricia Stricherz:

• Look forward to your support in November.

Jerry Johnson:

• First chance to get to know Patricia and Mitch
• Fun to be here with Gerry after sitting in Gerry's classes long ago (Gerry adds Jerry is "a heck of a tennis player!")
• Not about party, but about hard work, understanding issues, moving forward in positive direction

Gerry Lange:

• "We hold those truths to be self-evident, that all men (and women!) are created equal..."
• Rotary: "service above self", give primacy to human and spiritual values, not material values
• that's what politics should be about, public service
• unfortunately, it's too often about pandering for votes
• 30 years of one-party government in South Dakota bad
• change would be useful!
  

Last Question: What has each candidate done to enhance wind generation?

Gerry Lange:

• legislature abated contractors excise tax to promote, and that's good, since that tax is one of our worst
• we should promote putting wind turbines on school and public lands
• SD taxes on wind turbines much higher due to high property tax and excise tax; legislature and local taxing entities can abate that
• surrounding states are succeeding at this; we just need the will to provide incentives and make it happen

Russell Olson:

• Working for Heartland, next Wednesday we are dedicating wind farm in Wessington Springs with Babcock and Brown, will come online in 2009
• in legislature, co-sponsored HB 1123 to establish renewable energy objective for state
• co-sponsored HCR 1010 promoting 25 by 25 initiative and recycled energy production
• co-sponsored HB 1184, REA bill that other legislation gobbled up to establish tax-incentive program for wind energy companies
• Heartland working with green energy training center in Howard
• also working with Knight and Carver and the other wind outfit in Howard to help expansion
  

Scott Parsley:

• many incentives already brought forward
• rural electric at Chamberlain built first turbine in SD; East River sponsored, I worked with that
• worked to develop incentives for counties
• rural electric cooperatives have developed the legislation
• last year rural electric coops brought legislation, Scott worked with governors office to work on closing incentives gap (wanted $10M, got $5M)
• want to figure out how to do same thing in wind as with ethanol, get local landowners to invest in the local wind farms: that's key to growing the wealth and keeping the dollars here in South Dakota: incentive local ownership of wind projects
  

Mitch Fargen:

• farmers should get true value of project, rather than just small rent from corporations
  

Patricia Stricherz: pass

Jerry Johnson:

• cooperatives, municipals, other power groups can look at ways to bring in supplementary wind power, as in Howard
• must look at all forms of energy
  

Question 5: Student Loans

Still hard to pay off student loans on SD wages after college: How would you invest in higher education graduates to keep them here?

Jerry Johnson:

• DSU does a good job on that, offering scholarships to cut the tuition burden up front
• Heartland Technology Center in Madison good type of project
• look for grants, private donors
  

Gerry Lange:

• Remember GI Bill? It paid back $9 for every $1 invested.
  
• Finland and Europe realize that; we're very slow
• We put taxpayers first, fail to prioritize education
• We are slipping as a state and a nation on education; we've got to invest
• My home state of North Dakota is doing very well on this issue; we are lagging

Russell Olson:

• spoke at Sanborn Central graduation in May, awarded Dakota Corps scholarship to gal who got 4.2 GPA (glad parents didn't realize money like that was available, since I could hardly manage a 3.0)
• Give scholarships to students who promise to stay in SD
• need to maintain cash flow for programs we have

Scott Parsley:

• Remember the Mickelson Scholarship? We got more kids qualifying for it than we planned for, so we bailed out. Oops.
• We have lots of money in trust funds and other state savings accounts: $1.5 billion! There are some opportunities there!
• Why leave all that money in the bank? Tobacco fund has grown $100M since it started.
• More important to grow students than grow funds.
• revive scholarships we've moved from, enhance the ones we have
  

Mitch Fargen:

• Dakota Corps scholarship should be expanded to other workforce areas
• Opportunity Scholarship losing value, needs to be increased to keep up with inflation
• recruit more students to come back: Opporuntity Scholarship not available to kids who might go out of state then want to transfer back in
  

Patricia Stricherz:

• Other neighboring states face same problem
• resources are there
• we'd like to keep the kids here, but our kids need to be free to go where they wish and find themselves
  

Question 4: SD Wages Low, Housing Unaffordable

Eve Fisher says we live in a great state, but housing kills folks budgets; how do we bring more high-paying jobs instead of the "endless influx" of minimum wage service/factory jobs?

Patricia Stricherz:

• Legislature has been working on it by bringing in higher ed, masters programs, Homestake mine
  

Jerry Johnson:

• involved in problem at local level, it's not easy!
• good opportunities move overseas, close down branch facilities
• no easy answer
• must provide education opportunities: only 21% of our HS grads go on to university
• need to encourage opportunities in secondary ed
  

Gerry Lange:

• Finland makes college education free to kids who can get it done, views education as an investment that's worth paying for
• There is no free lunch; we have to pay for what we want in education and everything else
• Teacher salaries a disgrace; Republican majority won't listen on efforts to raise those salaries, are content to be last in the nation

Russell Olson:

• In Legislature, we've invested $8.7M in research centers across the state
• DSU is getting a new research grant
• $54M economic impact in return!
• Must invest in education
• USD's Ralph Brown questions whether SD is 50th in everything; adjust for cost of living and taxes, and we're 10th in the nation
  

Scott Parsley:

• Real money for teachers: we're still 50th in the nation.
• Real issue is creating new wealth
• We can do that with energy. Energy can be one of our greatest catalysts for new wealth.
• University research is great investment, but we need to invest also in inviting energy-related business to come here, just like Iowa and Minnesota do (you've seen the windmills there: "we have better wind, but they have better incentives")
• SD has a bad image elsewhere: folks ask Scott why SD isn't willing to invest in education, and that perception hurts us. Businesses think about that.

Mitch Fargen:

• huge proponent of R&D and higher education
• Homestake very good
• higher ed means higher paying jobs
• graduate programs are important; increase 'em
  
• K-12: "it all begins down there"

Question 3: Board of Regents Pay Date Scheme

Question: Retirees will take a hit; will you support the Regents' paydate-switch scheme?

Mitch Fargen:

• talked to Tad Perry about it; there are options to move retirement (earlier or later) to avoid the hit
• lack of funding for higher ed (and all ed) pushes Regents to look at this option
• need to research further, talk to more professors and Regents to find out
  

Patricia Stricherz:

• needs to go through Legislature
• should perhaps leave current staff on the current schedule, phase in new teachers
  

Jerry Johnson:

• based on info from Regents, can understand why they're looking for alternative funding sources
• need more info on how many people will be impacted before deciding

Gerry Lange:

• agree with critics that it is a shell game to create wealth out of nothing, just like Wall Street
  

Russell Olson:

• The analyst who came up with this will probably get a bonus if it passes
• need to listen to both sides; right now we've only heard one side
• one-time funding often comes back to bite you; I'm leery, especially if it hurts retirees; why make them work another year when they've been planning otherwise?
  

Scott Parsley:

• not a grey area for me: if it affects folks with whom we've had an agreement for years, then we need to honor that agreement
• willing to make the shift if we can find a way to do it without hurting retirees
• we need the wireless, it's vital, but the state needs to figure out how to pay for it, not the retirees
• not our place to dictate your retirement plans
  

Question 2: Would SD require power companies to reimburse folks for excess power they generate at home?

Scott Parsley:

• Against state mandate on power companies to reimburse: as cooperative, East River gets power from its members, already keeping costs as cheap as possible. East River would buy back at wholesale, just as it does now.

Mitch Fargen:

• Against state mandate; knows co-ops often willing to bring that extra power into supply already

Patricia Stricherz:

• "possibilities for solar are endless"
• tax breaks are good idea

Jerry Johnson:

• Sioux Valley offers some rebates for conservation
• would have a problem mandating buy-back

Gerry Lange: "nothing to add to what's been said"

Russell Olson:

• against mandate; power companies already have goal of producing reliable power
• "coal is the most reliable source"; folks don't want to gamble when flipping the switch
• forced buy-back would be "scheduling nightmare" for utilities
  

Question 1: Energy: Any conversation on solar energy in SD future?

Russ Olson:

• Population density is a problem; no knowledge of conversations on solar energy
• focus now is on wind, coal for electricity

Scott Parsley:

• East River provides ranchers small solar units for water pumping; easy to maintain
  
• problem is solar is intermittent, just like wind
• Need to work on storage tech
• [Update 2008.10.08 10:40: see video of Scott's response at RealMadison.org]
  

Mitch Fargen:

• SDSU just got Sun Grant couple weeks ago to work on solar technology
• Maybe look at putting solar on state buildings

Patricia Stricherz:

• limited knowledge of solar, but I know it's being used for greenhouses and homes
• tax break for home solar might be good

Jerry Johnson:

• can't answer specifically
• working in transportation industry has brought me into many conversations on worldwide demand for energy
• glaring problem of demand exceeding output for every energy source; must look at opportunities for alternative energy through R&D

Gerry Lange:

• mentions news story on women in India making their own solar cells
• we are neglecting it

Introductions: AAUW Candidates Forum

Russ Olson:

• points out his strength against the incumbents in the 2006 election.
  
• Energy economic development, and energy are the issues we'll face as priorities.
  
• Feels more confident this time around, as he has spent his last two years working with school administrators.

Scott Parsley:

• Economic development: SD economy in relatively good shape compared to rest of country, though we've seen an increase in unemployment
• Energy is biggest issue in our future: all other issues will benefit from what we can do in energy
• Neighboring states have done a lot in energy; SD lags in wind development because those states offer incentives we don't
• Education will be major issue, too

Mitch Fargen:

• Same big 3 E's for major issues
• Education: must fully fund K-12
• Need new gov't system for tech schools to retrain working class
• Need to focus on research and development in higher ed to help with energy
• Energy independence: focus on wind, biodiesel, ethanol

Patricia Stricherz:

• Grew up in Iowa, met husband Jay in Army; "it's his fault I ended up in South Dakota" ;-)
• Running because she saw things as a "family readiness leader": veterans' families losing homes and businesses

Jerry Johnson:

• Graduate of Madison HS and DSU
• Agree on big issues previously mentioned
• "Why do I want to run?" passion and desire to serve District 8 and state; no hidden agenda, no chip on my shoulder, not using this as "stepping stone"
• Want to discuss the issues
• South Dakota in good shape, just need to fine tune a few things
• Six years as Madison City Commissioner, cooperation with DSU and many other organizations

Gerry Lange:

• Thanks other candidates for running; no democracy without the contest
• Came to DSU in 1964 after teaching English in Spain (and running with the bulls!)
• "Money is like manure; it does no good unless it's spread around."
• Recalls 1984 mission change at DSU, which eliminated history, government, etc.; Mundt Foundation and others helped fight to maintain those programs
• "involuntarily retired" two years ago
• Education being neglected: "most important thing we can do as a people is educate our children" said Lincoln
• Also notes that Lincoln wouldn't find Civil War on credit, unlike today's administration.

AAUW Debate Is On!

The hall is rented, the orchestra engaged, it's time to see if you can dance.

All six candidates are here, the press and campaign operatives (including Avery from Sioux Falls/Georgia, dispatched by Badlands Blue to get much better pictures with the state Dems' camera than my little Kodak will get ;-) ) are ready -- it's debate time in Madison! I'll bring you updates as fast as my fingers can fly (and as long as Madville Times Jr. doesn't get antsy). Let's debate!