The Aberdeen area once elected strong, smart leaders. On this election day it has a chance to do so again

As long as I can remember in Aberdeen, both community members and local legislators have had to fight for everything we had and for future opportunities. Those challenges were at times extremely difficult as we endured the energy crises of the 1970s, the 1980s Farm Crisis, floods, droughts and a struggling national economy with high interest rates.

Our competition was not only within the state from Sioux Falls, Rapid City and Watertown, but outside the state, too.

During that time and for years afterwards it seemed like a healthy competitive political environment. It resulted in a legacy of powerful legislative impact and in powerful legislative leaders in the state such as Lars Herseth, Joe Barnett, trailblazer Peg Lamont, and other local Democrat and Republican legislators. That healthy competition resulted in Aberdeen and our region punching well above its weight as a political power in the state.

Fast forward to today. Aberdeen and the surrounding region for a number of reasons are missing that competitive political environment that not only pushes us to be better, to benefit from a diversity of ideas, experiences and perspective but also to serve as a vital independent check and balance in government. The costs are high! Complacency has set in.

Whenever there is a lack of competition to act as a counterbalance, the risk of political extremism can occur regardless of political affiliation which can disturbingly become normalized — just as we are experiencing. Lack of constituent and voter engagement which helps keep our elected officials accountable and drive innovation can also occur — just as we are experiencing.

We have an opportunity to pivot back to the center with grounded constituent focused candidates that realize the strength of bringing people together to help solve problems and identify opportunities.

Please vote for Erin Ronayne Rudner for a District 3 House of Representatives seat. Please vote for Mark Sumption and Steve McCleerey for District 1 House seats. From my perspective, all three are refreshing political moderates who will serve us well.

Let’s regain our focus. We have far more in common than what divides us.

Miranda Gohn is a South Dakota native who attended Northern State University.  She served in the South Dakota and Texas National Guard during the Cold War, and has a background in customer sales and service. 

Photo: a public domain image of Aberdeen’s Brown County courthouse posted on wikimedia commons