By 
State legislative candidates from districts 1 and 3 spoke during a South Dakota Farmers Union event Saturday, Aug. 17 at the Brown County Fair. Pictured from left are Mark Sumption, Al Novstrup, Logan Manhart, South Dakota Farmers Union lobbyist and event moderator Mitch Richter, Chris Reder, Brandei Schaefbauer, Erin Rudner and Steven McCleery. Aberdeen Insider photo by Shannon Marvel.
Candidates from state legislative districts 1 and 3 discussed pipeline-related issues and more during the Brown County Fair.
The Saturday, Aug. 17 session hosted by South Dakota Farmers Union was described as being about eminent domain, but turned into more of a candidate forum-style event.
District 3 Rep. Brandei Schaefbauer, R-Aberdeen, said there’s nothing in Senate Bill 201, also known as Referred Law 21, that addresses eminent domain.
That’s the so-called “Landowner Bill of Bill of Rights.” Proponents see it as a compromise between landowners and Summit Carbon Solutions, which hopes to build a carbon capture pipeline through the region.
MORE: Gallery: Check out the what’s happening at the 2024 Brown County Fair
Pipeline opponents, however, don’t think it offers much in the way of protection and simply don’t want the pipeline.
The bill was approved by the Legislature earlier this year and signed into law by Gov. Kristi Noem. But South Dakota voters will get the final say on the issue as it’s been referred after enough signatures were gathered.
That’s one reason landowner rights have become a hot topic this year.
The pipeline would transport carbon dioxide emissions from ethanol plants in the Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska to be stored underground in western North Dakota.
“This is not a commodity, this isn’t something anyone wants. A CO2 pipeline is not something that anyone of us wants hooked up to our house,” Schaefbauer said.
During the legislative session, Rep. Karla Lems, R-Canton, proposed a bill that would have barred carbon pipeline companies from being able to use eminent domain, but the measure didn’t make it out of a Senate committee.
Many of the candidates at the fair session referred to her proposal as a good one.
District 3 Sen. Al Novstrup, R-Aberdeen, and District 1 House candidates Mark Sumption and Logan Manhart echoed Schaefbauer, saying they’d support legislation next year to restrict carbon pipeline companies from being allowed to use eminent domain.
Sumption is a Democrat from Frederick, Manhart a Republican from Bath.
District 1 House candidate Steven McCleerey, a Democrat from Sisseton, said carbon capture pipelines are not necessary for rural living, so should not be granted eminent domain authority.
“Most of us can see eye to eye on that. There’s no looking around, this has to be a separate issue,” McCleery said.
Chris Reder, a Republican District 1 House candidate from Warner, noted that Minnesota state law prohibits eminent domain for private development. He said eminent domain should be used only when there’s a public need.
“But this is benefiting some out-of-state investors that are trying to get rich off of your land that you bought, paid for and live off of,” Reder said of Summit.
He said carbon pipeline companies aren’t the only threat to South Dakota landowners — just the first in series of dominos.
MORE: Brown County Fair officials looking for information about stolen bench
“You think this is the only thing they’re going to come to South Dakota for? It must be stopped. And we go from there,” Reder said, garnering applause from the audience.
District 3 House candidate Erin Rudner, a Democrat from Aberdeen, said South Dakota is going to be stuck with carbon capture pipelines if state lawmakers don’t work together to address the issue.
“I will maintain that we agree with more than we disagree with,” she said, emphasizing that the issue is bipartisan.
Candidates asked about education funding, school vouchers
Candidates were also asked about education funding and whether they support vouchers for private schools.
Schaefbauer said she backs vouchers for private education. She said she has been a stay-at-home mother who has homeschooled her children.
Rudner, a former high school social studies teacher, said she doesn’t support using public money for private education.
MORE: Jim Bain has worked as veterinarian at Brown County Fair for 50 years
“Funding public schools is as important as funding roads. I’ve seen what happens when schools are on the brink of salvation. There are some kids that are going to do great no matter what. But there are kids that are going to struggle. But guess what? They will be just fine if they get the resources they need,” she said.
“If you would like to send your child to a private school, then you should pay for it. I don’t want to pay for your private school education as a taxpayer,” Rudner said.
Manhart said he’s in favor of private school vouchers that use state money.
McCleery said he’s against the concept, adding that people who aren’t satisfied with one public school or district can transfer to a different one.
District 1 House Libertarian candidates Josh Dennert of Aberdeen and Tamara Lesnar of Grenville were not at the forum.