Letter to the Editor - Bastian: I have questions for the candidates

I have recently heard discussion that there may be an upcoming event or forum for District 2 House candidates, possibly hosted in partnership with the Brandon Valley Journal. While I have not been able to locate official information regarding this event or how to participate, I wanted to take the opportunity to respectfully submit several questions that I believe would be valuable for voters in our community.

As a voter who cares deeply about the future of our district – especially regarding rural sustainability, education, property taxes, and responsible growth – I believe these are important topics that deserve thoughtful and transparent responses from those seeking to represent us.

Below are several questions I would encourage candidates to address:

• Where do you believe members of your own party are getting it wrong, and what would you do differently?

• What is one issue you would refuse to compromise on – even if it cost you politically – and why?

• Should private property rights ever be overridden for economic development? If so, where is your absolute line?

• Should South Dakota regulate or restrict lab-grown meat to protect ranchers and farmers? Why or why not?

• How will you protect rural communities from bearing the energy and water burden of large data centers and similar developments?

• Do you support offering taxpayer-funded incentives to large corporations? How do you justify that to small local businesses?

• What specific plan do you support to provide meaningful property tax relief – and what trade-offs are you willing to make to achieve it?

• Do you support school choice, and how will you ensure it strengthens – not weakens – public education in rural districts?

• If students leave public schools through school choice programs, how should local districts be funded to avoid destabilizing communities?

• If property taxes are reduced, what services or funding streams would you adjust to maintain fiscal balance – especially for schools?

• How will you ensure rural South Dakota is not sacrificed for urban growth or outside investment – and what policies will you fight for?

• If you have changed political parties, what specifically led to that decision – and how can voters be confident your core principles won’t shift again based on the political landscape?

My hope is that whether through a public forum, printed responses, or future coverage, these questions can help provide clarity for voters as we make informed decisions.

Thank you for your continued coverage of local issues and for helping keep our community informed.

Sincerely,
Brett Bastian

Brandon