Meet the Candidate: Jessica Bahmuller

Bahmuller seeking second term in House

Rep. Jessica Bahmuller is seeking her second-term in the South Dakota House in District 19. She faces fellow incumbent Drew Peterson and Steven Mettler in the primary.

The district includes the communities of Alexandria, Parkston, Freeman, and Tyndall.

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: 41
City of residence: Alexandria
Profession: Municipal finance officer
Public service/community service experience: Alexandria baseball association board member, SD Wildlife Board member, Rocky Mountain Elk federation, Ducks Unlimited, National Turkey Federation, Hanson County Republicans
Family information: Aaron (husband) Children-Brayden, Lily and Archer

1) What's the government's role in facilitating economic development in South Dakota?

If a community is not growing it is dying. While working for the City of Alexandria one of the grants I applied for was the Local Infrastructure Improvement Grant through the Governor’s Office of Economic Development; we were awarded the investment in the infrastructure to bring the small business to Alexandria. The business has been very beneficial to our community.

2) If you could have dinner with any person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Catherine of Aragon (Henry VIII’s first wife) I love European and American history. She was the first female ambassador in European history. She won the Battle of Flodden after giving a courageous speech about patriotism while very pregnant. I would love to sit down and hear about her trials and tribulations.

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?

I was a no vote on the Landowner Bill of Rights. I reached out to as many constituents in my district who would be impacted by the bill package. I encouraged them to educate themselves on the issue and give me their input. They asked me to vote no; as their representative I voted for them.