This article had to be written, because people still don’t know the story behind a big drama that unfolded in Pierre last Legislative Session, and a month before the Republican Primary, they should. 

They say birds of a feather flock together. In South Dakota politics, I’ve learned feathers change birds all the time. Today’s adversary is tomorrow’s ally. But loyalty to voters? That should never change.

That’s why the story needs to be set straight on Senator John Carley, District 29. Someone who I’ve been politically at odds with before.

Last session in Pierre, Carley became a bit of a “Waldo” the day the Data Center bill hit the floor. “Where’s Waldo?” they asked. Senator Carley wasn’t in the chamber. He couldn’t be reached by the Sergeant at Arms. He had an eye appointment. Critics and enemies pounced: He abandoned his post. He let down the people who sent him there to kill that bill.

But what if walking out was the only way to win?

Here’s the math Pierre doesn’t want you doing. With Senator Arch Beal from District 12 excused all session, the Senate was down to 34 members. First vote on Data Centers: John Carley is there. Vote comes down 17-17. A tie. Under normal rules, Lt. Governor Tony Venhuizen could have broken it. The Rhoden administration supports Data Centers, and the establishment has signaled their support as well.

But surprisingly the bill went back to the floor for another try. Team Data Center was confident they could flip one “no.” They wouldn’t need the Lieutenant Governor to show his cards and any blowback is on the Legislature and not the Administration.

Enter John Carley. Conservative. Opponent of Data Centers. Opponent of establishment politics. He’d already voted “no” once. This time, he wasn’t there.

That was the point.

In the South Dakota Senate, an unexcused absent member is counted as a “no” — but that “no” doesn’t count toward a tie that the Lt. Governor can break. If Carley had shown up and voted “no,” and the tally stayed 17-17, Venhuizen casts the deciding vote and the bill lives. By being absent, Carley made the head count 17-16, while keeping the vote 17-17. No tie. No Venhuizen tie breaker. Bill dies on the floor.

One man. Two “no” votes. Data Centers stopped.

Some will clutch pearls and say bills should “pass or die on their own merit.” That legislators shouldn’t use “gamesmanship.” However, the establishment uses every angle, every rule, every procedural trick to win. They wrote the rulebook. Senator Carley just read it better.

His constituents told him to stop that Data Center bill. He did. He didn’t grandstand. He didn’t give a floor speech for the cameras. He used the one option left and took the heat for it. He went back to work afterwards and didn’t try to paint himself as a hero either.

Now he faces a primary against William Meirose here in District 29. A man who I don’t know as much about yet but I plan on meeting with to learn more. He appears to be a man of character based on our brief interaction, more to come on this Senate Race in the future. 

But you’ll hear some of John Carley’s opponents in Pierre saying he “skipped work” or “played games”. Former Governor Dennis Daugaard called John Carley’s actions a discredit to the people who elected him.  I don’t believe that’s the case.

Pierre has plenty of people who care what Pierre thinks. District 29 sent John Carley to care what District 29 thinks. On Data Centers and Property Rights, he delivered.

The establishment may not like how he did it. His voters should.

Collin Duprel is a guest columnist for the Rapid City Post. Opinions expressed may not necessarily represent the views of the Rapid City Post, its affiliates, or advertisers.