Haven Stuck wants to upset the Republican apple cart and become only the third Democratic legislator from the Black Hills in the last 20 years. But in an interview with the Madville Times, the Rapid City attorney and District 33 Senate candidate indicates his route to victory lies in showing that he is a pragmatic good apple in the cart who's just going to Pierre to get things done.
Stuck, who has chaired the Rapid City Chamber of Commerce and the South Dakota Investment Council with a master's , says the economy is a major issue for South Dakota. He says South Dakota is doing a lot right but that we need to make our state more attractive to young people by offering more jobs. Stuck wants to boost our vo-tech schools to provide more training for trades and develop programs that align better with job market demands.
Stuck says the EB-5 scandal, a product of the state's economic development efforts, hasn't pinged the Rapid City radar much. He says we should look at how the state has used EB-5, but he has no specific suggestions for changes in federal visa investment program.
Stuck does not see a major economic boost coming from the Powertech uranium in-situ leach mining plan, although he notes that even a small number jobs will be a big plus for the Fall River area where the Canadian-Chinese company plans to dig. Stuck says there is a lot of scientific evidence that in situ leach mining is safe, but he says the state needs more information. He favors a continued review of the proposal to ensure that we can regulate the project to keep our land and water safe.
Stuck sees "tremendous" economic gain to be had in expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Along with the obvious humanitarian justification, good health care, says Stuck, means a more efficient economy.
Expanding Medicaid is an important issue for his lower-income constituents in North Rapid City. So is increasing the minimum wage. Stuck says the ballot initiative to raise the minimum wage to $8.50 won't affect a lot of workers, but it will be positive for the economy. Stuck breaks out his master's degree in economics to explain that the folks who benefit from the minimum wage hike are more likely to spend every penny of that boost, thus generating a GDP increase that would outweigh whatever small job loss a minimum wage hike might bring.
On education, Stuck recognizes that we need to boost teacher salaries. He prefers not to set some benchmark goal for teacher salaries, saying instead we simply need to "see what we can do." Stuck also wants to look for efficiencies, like sharing resources among districts. (Hmm... I think some teachers and administrators will tell Stuck that we've already squeezed that turnip.)
Stuck is running in a district currently represented by Senator Phil Jensen, who has run and won on culture-war issues like abortion, Islam, and civil rights. I asked Stuck how he'd fight the culture war. He said he didn't think such issues have been at the forefront of District 33's concerns. But he does say that he's been active in his church and supports the free exercise of religion. Stuck leans libertarian in saying government shouldn't over-regulate how we live our lives. Whether we're talking marriage or medicine, Stuck says we should be "tolerant" and leave decisions to the individuals. Unlike Senator Jensen, candidate Stuck says we have nothing to fear from the gay community.
Stuck doesn't let Dems' low victory record in his neighborhood bring him down. He says he gets good comments from his GOP friends around town. He believes his 30 years of community involvement will help convince voters beyond his Democratic base that he can legislate in the best practical interests of the community.
Haven Stuck faces Robin Page in the District 33 Senate primary on June 3. The Madville Times profiles Page here.
Haven would be a fantastic state Senator.
Two words, republican lite.
Mr. Stuck would be terrific!!! Mazel, good sir!
I would Support Haven Stuck if I were in district 33. Haven is a graduate of Brentford high school in Spink county. His family, my family and a couple of others in the Brentford area were the only Democrats. Sometimes its a lonly feeling when you understand the issues, and feel like you are the only ones that do. I feel Robins pain too, in Dist 33. Native Americans have been living onder the thumb of State government for decades. Her heart is where it should be, and she should be commended for her courage to run. This primary is all about electability to beat the republican incumbant. Before there can be change in State government, there needs to be a healthy minority to invoke change.
Haven Stuck sounds lukewarm on everything. I don't see any passion or energy for anything. Maybe he's trying to be so perfectly, evenly moderate to be acceptable to a wide spectrum of voters.
I have very little idea, from that interview, what Mr. Stuck really cares about. What is near and dear to his heart? What does he deeply care about? Anything?
It's interesting that I heard very good things about Terri, his wife, and him when I lived in RC in the 1990s, but got no sense of that in this post.
Either one will be a great replacement for Jensen, who needs to be "outta there" and the sooner the better...
On the other hand, I felt a strong current of strength, courage, energy and passion from his primary opponent, Robin.
Night and day.
In addition to Governor, how many legislative districts in South Dakota, have a Democrat primary?
Second question? Then why is anyone not registered Republican?
Exactly, Lanny: let the earth haters pick our gube nominee since they are both less stained by conflict of interest than DD and his wife are.
Lanny, on Dem primaries:
—Mr. Remily has one in District 3 against Angela Schultz for Senate.
—Dist. 1 has three Dem House candidates.
—Dist 26A has two Dems vying for one seat.
That's all for Dems. Meanwhile, the GOP has 5 Senate primaries (including this same Dist. 33) and 8 House primaries.
Deb, it is entirely possible that the different impressions you get of the two candidates has very much to do with the impressions and biases of the author as formed by my conversations with each candidate.
Yes it is Cory.
"Haven Stuck" is one of those names that sticks in your head, but I don't remember where I heard it before.