Meet the Candidate: Fred Deutsch
Deutsch looking to switch chambers in one of most closely followed legislative primaries of the year
Rep. Fred Deutsch is running for the South Dakota Senate in District 4 after being termed out of the House. He is running against his House district mate Stephanie Sauder for the Senate seat.
District 4 wraps around the community of Watertown and includes at least parts of the counties of Clark, Codington, Deuel, Grant, Hamlin and Roberts within its boundaries.
The Dakota Scout sent a series of questions to all legislative candidates running in contested races for the state House and Senate in the June 4 primary election. Candidates were asked to limit their responses to each question to 150 words or less.
Age: 67
City of residence: Florence
Profession: Retired Chiropractor
Public service/community service experience: Boys & Girls Club board, United Way Board, Boy Scout Leader, Girls Scout Leader, Church Youth Group Leader, Classroom volunteer, School Board Member, state legislator.
Family information: Married 42 years, four daughters, nine grandchildren.
1) What's the government's role in facilitating economic development in South Dakota?
State government can play a role in expanding job opportunities, and helping to retain and expand new and existing businesses through a variety of financial incentive programs.
2) If you could have dinner with any person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Jesus Christ. Because I plan to spend eternity with him and believe he would give me much to think about.
3) Does the "Landowner Bill of Rights" -- adopted by the Legislature amid opposition to carbon pipeline companies using eminent domain -- strike the right balance between the interests of property owners, counties and the ag industry - and should voters get a say when they head to the polls in November?
How could it strike the right balance when landowners weren’t at the table to negotiate the bill? When the people who have everything to gain are ones writing the bill, and the people who have everything to lose are powerless, how does that strike the right balance? Of course, voters should have a say at the polls provided sufficient signatures are collected. It is the right of the people to refer “any” bill. I support that right and believe in our motto, “under God the people rule.”
I understand the importance of capitalizing on the financial benefits of reducing carbon intensity scores, but it can’t come at the expense of local governance.
So, build the pipeline. SD is open for business. But don’t strip local governments of their ability to plan, map and route projects.
There needs to be a balance that allows ethanol producers to thrive in the marketplace while preserving local control.
