Meet the Candidate: Mykala Voita

Voita seeking to unseat incumbent in District 21 Senate race

Mykala Voita is seeking her first-term in the South Dakota Senate in District 21. She faces Sen. Erin Tobin in the primary, who was first elected to the position in 2020.

The district includes the communities of Winner, Gregory, and Platte 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: 26
City of residence: Bonesteel
Profession: Small business partner- Dirtwork, utility installation, & demolition services
Public service/community service experience: Involved in organizing educational meetings on the 30x30 agenda in Burke and Wagner. Held offices in the local car club. President of Prairie Patriots, a community skill, education, and service organization. I've been certified with a ministry since August of '23 where we do public outreach and personal ministry calls to anyone in need. Serving is a mindset, in which you should always be looking for opportunities to exort, aid, or comfort your neighbors.
Family information: Husband, Justice, and two beautiful children- Ember and Asher. 

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

 Keep taxes low or lower. Reduce regulations on small businesses. Stop tampering with the markets by involving more and more state agencies in professions that private business should handle. 

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

Paul. His unwavering faith and commitment led him through so much, yet he was so faithful to glorify our Savior Jesus. If a person isn't rooted and grounded in their beliefs- faith, relationship with the Holy Spirit, obedience to God's will- they are going to compromise.

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 believe SB 201 was shoved "down the pipeline" because folks over east were a bit too successful in going to their county commission to place set backs and protections against these pipelines, and the pipeline companies didn't appreciate that so they went to Pierre. Centralizing the power to the PUC is detrimental to the will and power of the people. I am carrying an SB 201 Referendum petition, and absolutely hope the voters get a say in November.