Meet the Candidate: Joy Hohn

Hohn running for District 9 Senate seat

Joy Hohn is running to replace outgoing lawmaker Brent Hoffman in the District 9 Senate race. Also running is former House lawmaker Mark Willadsen.

The district picks up just west of Sioux Falls and includes Hartford and Wall Lake 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: 58
City of residence: Rural Minnehaha County
Profession: Commercial Pilot
Public service/community service experience: LSS mentor, volunteer for 4-H and other youth organizations, church and West Central school.
Family information: Married with two college-age children, a brother and 104 year old father.

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

I strongly support economic development. I believe in a balanced approach to business, where family farms and small businesses can operate in harmony with their corporate counterparts. The concept of economic development should consider and embrace existing businesses and homegrown expansions balanced with new opportunities and global innovation in its approach. Good economic development is beneficial for all and should not favor one at the expense of another or sacrifice foundational American constitutional rights of citizens. Good economic development can stand on its own, where the government neither impedes nor expedites the interest of a single entity and facilitates an environment good for all business and where doors are open for all.  

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

My Mom, Connie.  I miss her every day.  She left a legacy of unwavering faith, loyalty, hard work, support and love.  I would love to have dinner with my Mom today to ask her advice, feel her support and be inspired.  She would assure me again that hard or worthwhile things in life are sometimes not easy, but always worth it.  She would encourage me to stand up for what's right for the people.

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?

First, I am for ethanol and local control. The inappropriately named "Landowner Bill of Rights", SB201, HB1185 and HB1186, did not strike the right balance.  Out of the 14 eminent domain related bills from this past session, there was not one piece of legislation passed that addressed the core of the issue which was eminent domain.  No private, for-profit project should have the authority to misuse eminent domain on American citizens.  Why wouldn't we simply stand together for the respect of South Dakota citizens and our laws, rather than pass laws to address bad behavior of companies and accelerate their path?  With SB201, the removal of local control will open the door to more problems.   Whenever, there is a highly-controversial issue, such as the use of eminent domain for economic development (private gain) and stripping local government control, it should absolutely go to the vote of the people.