The District 8 state house race will be a contest between two Republican incumbents and two Democrat newcomers.
Voters will go to the polls Nov. 3 to choose between Republicans Randy Gross and Marli Wiese and Democrats Val Parsley and John Patrick Kessinger.
The following is information submitted by the candidates on their stand on issues. Kessinger, who is from Woonsocket, did not return a questionnaire.

Randy Gross
Age: 71
Town:    Rural Moody County, north of Flandreau
Political party: Republican
Occupation: Farmer, retired agricultural banker
Education: B.S. Agricultural Economics
Family: Wife, Susan; four children and seven grandchildren. I am the fourth generation in my family to serve in the South Dakota State Legislature going back to 1893.  Great Grandpa C.A. Chamberlin, Great Uncle Hugh Stokes (husband of Mary Chamberlin), and Uncle C. Bruce Chamberlin were all from Moody County.

What are your budget priorities for the coming year, specifically identifying areas that are underfunded and overfunded?
1. Continue to honor our state’s balanced budget requirement/philosophy.  The practice of not raising taxes and not spending money we don’t have benefits all South Dakota citizens through lower bond rates on capital spending projects (schools, etc.) and facilitating a fully funded pension plan.
2. Rebuilding our rural infrastructure is critical.  Extreme weather in recent years, and age deterioration, has damaged many of our roads, bridges and highways and communication systems.  COVID issues have heightened the need for reliable internet in all areas to improve medical, educational and commercial services.  When our number one industry, agriculture, suffers due to poor infrastructure, our entire state pays the price. When our rural areas prosper, we all benefit.
3. Job growth and economic development go hand in hand and need constant attention.  This includes education at all levels designed for the future.  Dakota State University is a great example of providing higher education that is “in demand.”  Our tech schools are also doing a good job.  Our goal should be to invest in both good paying jobs and individuals fully equipped to fill the jobs.
4. Few programs are overfunded.  One of our roles as legislators is to continually watch for incremental budget growth in administrative areas.

In an era of political divisiveness, how will you work to build a bi-partisan working environment that addresses the needs of all South Dakotans?
Working relations at the state level are much different than much of what is portrayed at the federal level.  Most state legislators, including myself, have good working relationships with members of both political parties. This is evidenced by the bills that I prime sponsored in conjunction with other legislators.
   
How will you work to keep lawmakers on track to address big-picture issues for the state, instead of spending a majority of time on special interest legislation that often can be called distracting to the work of the Legislature?
With the exception of the general budget bill, nearly all legislation is introduced on behalf of some special interest. Agriculture, education, business, health care, energy and other constituents all have their own interests.  That does not imply that those interests are counter to the rest of the population’s concerns.
South Dakota is blessed to have a citizen legislature, where everyone’s issue (bill or resolution) receives a fair hearing.  The system has not detracted from the Legislature’s ability to honor our constitution and address the larger, general needs of our citizens.

What are your goals for education funding as schools work and often need to spend more, to operate in the changing era caused by a pandemic?
Some background may be beneficial.  Out of every general fund dollar, 49 cents goes towards education.  Over the past 25 years, state aid to K-12 education has grown (on a percentage basis) more than any general category, except for Medicaid spending.  South Dakota ranks 32nd in funding per student and 47th in public school teacher salaries.  In 2012, the K-12 cost per student was $7,752 while in 2019 the cost per student was $9,369.  These figures are from the South Dakota Department of Education.
Since the pandemic, an additional $172.1 million in federal dollars has been allocated for education in South Dakota through a variety of programs.  Examples include COVID-19 testing, K-12 Grants, Emergency Relief Funds, Rethink Education Models Grants and a variety of other programs.  That $172.1 million is equal to approximately $1,000 extra for every student from kindergarten through college.
In summary I like this statement from the booklet Yes, Every Kid. “Instead of a transparent process that evaluates and funds student needs, education funding is an opaque process that few understand, and even fewer find effective.  It is time to update unfair and outdated funding systems that focus on everything except what kids need to succeed.  Funding systems should provide more funding to students with greater needs, reduce geographic and per-student inequities, and foster innovation so that providers can offer solutions that meet student needs.”

What else would you like voters to know about your experience or policy ideas?
These are uncertain times.  In such times, it is beneficial to have a strong voice at the table.  My fellow legislators elected me to serve on the Executive Board of the Legislature.  In addition, my legislative experience, having served on the Appropriations Committee and being a member of the majority Republican party, gives District 8 residents a strong voice moving forward.

Val Parsley
Age: 68
Town: Madison
Political Party: Democrat
Occupation: Retired from 34 years in secondary public education
Education: BA from South Dakota State University in English and German secondary education and MA from the University of South Dakota in secondary administration.
Family: Husband, Scott. Three adult children: son Nick, daughters Caitie and Chrissy, and grandson Archer.

What are your budget priorities for the coming year, specifically identifying areas that are underfunded and overfunded?
My budget priorities include education and nursing home and assisted living facilities. The Blue Ribbon Task Force in 2016 worked to increase funding for education. A half-cent sales tax increase had been approved to go to education with the majority earmarked for teacher pay plus a 3 percent annual raise in state support to education or the cost of living, whichever was less. Since 2017, the state hasn’t followed through with the law. If the legislature had followed through, education would be sufficiently funded by now.
I believe COVID-19 has reinforced the importance of teachers to student success, and they deserve to be well compensated for what they do.
Nursing homes and assisted living facilities are also underfunded. The last session gave them a 2 percent cost of living increase which was officially 10 percent one-time money. Expanding Medicaid so that these facilities could receive a higher rate of reimbursement would be beneficial as they fall short $35 to $40 a day.
The Governor’s Recommended Budget for FY2021 states that the Department of Corrections is budgeted for $109,949,328 which isn’t overfunded, but if Amendment A passes fewer people will be incarcerated and money could potentially be saved there. Also, revenue generated from recreational marijuana sales could be partially directed to the Department of Corrections.

In an era of political divisiveness, how will you work to build a bi-partisan working environment that addresses the needs of all South Dakotans?
The most effective way to reach a willing desire to collaborate for South Dakotans’ best interests is to make a concerted effort to get to know fellow legislators. Without establishing a collegial atmosphere, one would find compromise more challenging. In short, greet each other each day respectfully and get to know more about your fellow legislators and the districts they represent.

How will you work to keep lawmakers on track to address big-picture issues for the state, instead of spending a majority of time on special interest legislation that often can be called distracting to the work of the Legislature?Legislators need to establish how great of a concern the issue is and how many people it may or may not affect.  Those bringing forth potential legislation of this type should be willing to discuss whether the issue is actually a problem or is it a solution waiting for a problem. Contacting parties that could be negatively impacted by such special interest legislation should be done to find out how pertinent the potential law actually is. While juggling so many changes affecting us daily because of COVID-19, the legislature could better use their time on more pressing issues.

What are your goals for education funding as schools work and often need to spend more, to operate in the changing era caused by a pandemic?
CARES dollars have certainly assisted school administrators with finding means to keep students and staff safe and to help reopen schools this fall. Public education received $68 million in May according to the Rapid City Journal and $47 million in August according to the Argus Leader. While more CARES dollars were awarded to schools when the Legislature was called back into session in October, the $75 million could have been more fairly distributed. CARES funds allocated $500 for each public and private school student. I would challenge that method of distribution; however, because tribal school students were not given these federal dollars. All students matter—public, private or tribal.
To gain back what students have lost due to the pandemic, they must be treated the same. I support how administrators have navigated through this pandemic and will continue to do so. Administrators have used the money for the following items: air purification systems, additional buses to seat students further apart, more iPads/ChromeBooks for students, plexiglass to separate students and students, PPE, cleaning supplies and more. Funding through the CARES act or the state budget should make an investment in Internet access for all students no matter how remotely they live.

What else would you like voters to know about your experience or policy ideas?
Since I have worked in the field of education, I feel that my passion for learning involves way more than reaching high academic standards. Schools should attempt to teach to the whole student, so that each can become a productive member of society both now and later on in life. Social, physical, and mental well-being are all a part of helping our youth succeed. Guidance counselors are vital members of school staffs.
Mental health concerns are not limited to just students presently in school, but to the entire population.
It is unsettling that we have so many people suffering from mental health issues that are not being recognized or addressed, and suicide rates continue to climb. According to sdsuicideprevention.org, suicide is the ninth leading cause of death in our state, but is second among 15 to 34-year-olds. In 2019 alone, there were 185 suicides in South Dakota. Mental health practitioners need more support from state government.
COVID-19 has contributed to depression because some of our citizens are in lockdown situations, which are necessary. However, visiting my mother-in-law through a window at a nursing home, we could readily see how depressed she had become because of the lack of touch. From March to July (when she passed away), we could visibly see how much her mental health deteriorated.
Policies that assist our mental health professionals to reach more people suffering from depression are crucial.

Marli Wiese
Age:  67
Town:  Madison
Political party:  Republican
Occupation:  Farmer
Education:  Nettleton Commercial College, 1972
Family:  Husband: Reggie; children: Maridee Dossett, Gina Peterreins and Russell Wiese; 11 grandchildren.

What are your budget priorities for the coming year, specifically identifying areas that are underfunded and overfunded?
Education is always a priority for the Legislature, and it is something we start talking about at the start of every session and continues until we vote on the last day on the final budget.  In addition to state funding, K-12 schools will receive a minimum of $75 million and universities and technical colleges will receive more than $20 million in federal funding.         
Residents and caregivers in our state’s long-term care facilities continue to be a priority.  The Legislature had allocated increased funding at the end of last year’s session and additional federal funding to small businesses and healthcare providers up to $580 million will go to help those negatively impacted by the pandemic and for testing and treatment costs.

In an era of political divisiveness, how will you work to build a bi-partisan working environment that addresses the needs of all South Dakotans?
The state of civil discourse is much different in the state of South Dakota than it is in Washington, D.C.  We work very well with our counterparts across the aisle and have respect for their ideas, although we may disagree on policy issues.  Careful listening should be the hallmark of all policy discussions.

How will you work to keep lawmakers on track to address big-picture issues for the state, instead of spending a majority of time on special interest legislation that often can be called distracting to the work of the Legislature?
Every bill introduced in the Legislature is guaranteed a hearing by a committee.  A bill topic may hold very little interest to me or my district, but we are bound to hear the issue and take an up or down vote.  I was vice chairman on both of education and health and human services committees last term and fulfilled the obligation to hear issues whether or not I personally thought they had merit.  Every legislator in South Dakota is responsible to the constituents in the district they represent and does the best to serve those interests and ensure that their priorities are considered.  

What are your goals for education funding as schools work and often need to spend more, to operate in the changing era caused by a pandemic?
Keeping schools open and students in class is challenging when dealing with the COVID-19 virus.  Our schools have developed plans and procedures separately and with advice from the state department of health.  There have been funds allocated to the schools from the COVID Relief Fund that will help with added precaution measures.  The coming year will undoubtedly make budgeting difficult since South Dakota is dependent on sales tax revenue, and there is uncertainty on how the pandemic will affect sales.      

What else would you like voters to know about your experience or policy ideas?
It has been an honor to serve the residents of District 8 for the past four years, and I have done my best to voice my perspective on issues that come before the Legislature.  My views regarding the state of agriculture in our state comes from the farming family I grew up in and continues now as my family continues to operate a family farm.  The beauty of having a citizen legislature is that there are many different perspectives, and I think that results in good policy.
From the recent listening sessions held for South Dakotans to give public input about how their lives and businesses have been affected in the past few months, I believe the coming legislative session will concentrate on how to help people who suffered from loss of educational opportunities and difficulties that small businesses are having keeping their doors open.   
 

John Patrick Kessinger
Town: Woonsocket
Political Party: Democrat
(did not return a questionnaire)