The views and opinions of this article may not reflect the views of The Rapid City Post, its affiliates, or advertisers. 

June 2nd Republican Primary Election, here are some facts. Representative Heather Baxter, a freshman legislator, is seeking re-election and will appear on the Primary Ballot. She is also seeking the nomination to the Office of Secretary of State at the Republican Convention in late June.

South Dakota Statute prohibits an individual from being a candidate for more than one office in the same election, except when one nomination is secured at a state party convention. However, if nominated for both, the candidate must withdraw from one of the offices. Baxter is eligible to run for the nomination to two public offices, but that decision is misguided.

If Baxter wins the nomination for both offices, she must withdraw from one. If that occurs, the voting rights of District 34 voters may be voided. If she chooses to run for the Office of Secretary of State, which is obviously her preferred option, an unusual process begins.

Once she withdraws her candidacy for re-election to her legislative seat, a replacement candidate will be named by members of the Pennington County Central Committee Board, by members in attendance at a meeting called for that purpose, and who name someone that resides within the District. Wow, what could go wrong?

If you just look at the Executive Board of the Committee, you will quickly notice that two of them are incumbent legislators, one of whom is seeking re-election. One of them is ineligible to run for another legislative term, and is seeking the primary nomination for Pennington County Auditor,. One of them is a candidate for the Pennington County Commission and one of them is a former legislative candidate and the wife of an Incumbent legislator who is seeking re-election.

So what happened to your vote? It disappeared. The full membership of the Central Committee is about 90 members. How many of them would attend a special meeting to designate a replacement and among them, how many reside in District 34?Heather did not think this through. Her inflated ego drove her ambition to seek a statewide office. She did not recognize what a boondoggle her inability to decide on a political path would create. When faced with a decision to pick one path over the other, she opted to act in her own self interest and keep all of her options open. That decision does not work in the best interest of her District 34 constituents who may be at the mercy of the Central Committee to decide who should represent them in Pierre.

There is a convenient option. Voters can make the decision for her by voting for Mike Derby and Becky Drury. They are two highly respected individuals with extensive legislative experience who will put their District 34 constituents first. By denying Baxter the primary nomination for her legislative seat, the confusing option can be avoided.

It may also be a relief for Heather Baxter, who can pursue her first choice, seeking the nomination for Secretary of State, with gusto.

The views and opinions of this article may not reflect the views of The Rapid City Post, its affiliates, or advertisers.