Meet the Candidate: Tyler Tordsen
Sioux Falls area lawmaker wants second term in House
Rep. Tyler Tordsen is seeking his second term in the South Dakota state Legislature in House District 14. He faces Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt and Tony Kayser in the primary.
District 14 includes a portion of southeast Sioux Falls, the western boundary is roughly I-229 and the eastern one is South Dakota Highway 11.
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: 32
City of residence: Sioux Falls
Profession: CEO of an Economic Development Non-Profit
Public service/community service experience: Freshman Legislator on House Education and Judiciary committees, member of Special Ellsworth AFB Legislative Taskforce, former U.S. Senate Staffer, YMCA Board Member, and Rotarian.
Family information: Married to wife Erika of 8 years, two sons ages 4 and 2.
1) What's the government's role in facilitating economic development in South Dakota?
In South Dakota, our people prefer we keep our government limited and as much of the decision-making at the local level as possible. South Dakota is fortunate to be one of the greatest states in the nation to do business, but that’s not by mistake. We intentionally keep our regulations reasonable and our taxes on people and businesses as low as possible to spur more economic activity. Without economic development, our communities would see decline, our quality of life would decline, and businesses would move elsewhere taking the jobs and people with them. It’s a delicate balance, but government at every level has a responsibility to foster economic prosperity without harming people, processes, or the planet.
2) If you could have dinner with any person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
I’d love to have dinner with my Grandma Lyla again. She was always supporting me and escorting me around the State Capitol and Pierre in my younger years. She was the life of any room she was in and was a friend to so many. Although I know she’s still with me and watching over us in spirit, I would just love to see her, to hug her, and to hear what she would say about my growing family and continued involvement in South Dakota.
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?
The “Landowner Bill of Rights” brought reform and protections to reinforce our longstanding respect for property rights. Beats the status quo! If anyone claims the bill doesn’t have good provisions for landowners then they’re lying to you and not giving you the facts.
I understand the concerns of carbon pipeline companies having the ability to use eminent domain. When thinking of who can use eminent domain, most think of utility providers. In my consultations with them over the last two years I was pleasantly surprised to find many have never had to use eminent domain. You know why? Because they’ve spent years showing respect, communicating, and adequately consulting landowners. The “Landowner Bill of Rights” helps reinforce our state’s expectation of respect, communication, and consultation if a company is going to try to do business in South Dakota.
I believe the voters should always have a say, including in electing their party’s nominee for Attorney General, Secretary of State, etc.
