Primary Election campaigns are in full swing, with thousands of dollars in contributions flowing from individuals, entities and political action committees.
Candidates and committees had a May 23 deadline to file their pre-primary finance reports Monday for school, county and state races. Rapid City’s municipal election campaign finance reports are due May 31. Election day is Tuesday, June 7.
The Journal examined all finance disclosures that have been filed. The examination found questions for the filings of four candidates — Tim Goodwin for Senate District 30, Janyce Hockenbary for Rapid City Area Schools Board of Education Area 6, Ryan Mechaley for Pennington County Sheriff, and David Johnson for Senate District 33.
Mechaley was the only candidate to resolve the questions posed by the Journal.
Tonchi Weaver, a lobbyist and organizer for South Dakota Citizens for Liberty, filed an affidavit of complaint with the Secretary of State and Attorney General’s office making several allegations against Goodwin’s campaign for State Senate. He is challenging Sen. Julie Frye-Mueller for the seat in District 30.
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In the affidavit, Weaver makes 10 claims against Goodwin’s campaign — ranging from not changing his committee from House of Representatives to Senate, fictitious committees on advertisements, misleading voters that Goodwin is an incumbent from the Senate and not the House, publishing endorsements that he gained as a member of the House instead of ones for Senate, and using government resources for campaign purposes.
Goodwin told the Journal Thursday he had just received the complaint, and vowed to resolve any discrepancies or inaccuracies.
“I’ll work in full cooperation with the Secretary of State and/or Attorney General and if there is (sic) any improprieties, I’ll do whatever it takes to clean it up,” Goodwin said.
Hockenbary’s campaign treasurer, Tim Nietz, signed the Local Jurisdictions Campaign Finance Disclosure Report on April 12, 2022, more than a month before the May 23 filing deadline. The Rapid City Area Schools business office confirmed that Hockenbary’s report was filed on May 6, which is more than 20 days prior to the June 7 election.
South Dakota law mandates that reports must include contributions and expenditures “including twenty days prior to the election date.” Because Hockenbary’s disclosure report does not include contributions or expenditures within the 20-day requirement, it is unclear if the report is accurate.
The Journal called Nietz on Thursday, seeking clarification and left a message on his voicemail. The Journal also emailed Nietz and Hockenbary on Thursday seeking a response. Neither Nietz nor Hockenbary have responded.
The Journal reached out to the Secretary of State’s office for election law compliance. Cely Johnson, elections program coordinator, responded and said their office cannot provide legal advice. Johnson did send the Journal a portion of South Dakota law on investigating and prosecution of violations for county and school district office.
“The state’s attorney shall investigate any violation of the provisions in the chapter related to elections for county and school district office,” the passage reads.
Mechaley filled out the incorrect Campaign Finance Disclosure Report. He used the form for state races instead of the report required for local jurisdiction races.
The Journal contacted Mechaley on Thursday about the error. He immediately went to the Pennington County Auditor’s office and filed an amended disclosure report using the correct form. Mechaley thanked the Journal for bringing the clerical error to his attention. No other amendments were necessary for campaign contributions or expenditures.
Johnson filed his Campaign Finance Disclosure Report and in the fields for itemized direct contributions from individuals and direct contributions from in-state political action committees, he typed “N/A – Itemization in Separate Document.”
However, the separate document showing the itemized contributions is not included in his filing on the Secretary of State’s website.
The Journal called and emailed Johnson on Thursday requesting the separate document. He has not yet responded.
Political Action Committees
Several state and local PACs have received donations and then distributed them to candidates. The listing below is in no particular order and will show the name of the PAC, who the treasurer is, money raised, how much money was spent, how much cash is on hand, the top donors, and the top candidates who received funds.
All campaign finance documents are available within this story at rapidcityjournal.com.
Joshua Muller, $10,000; Friends of John Roberts PAC, $6,000
Ryan Mechaley, $10,000; Kathy Rice, $1,000
PAC – Support Public Education
Treasurer – Sarah Hermsen
Nerdy Nuts, $10,000; Stan Adelstein, $4,000; Jennifer May, $2,000
Jamie Clapham, $9,737.50; Michael Birkeland, $9,737.50
Leeann Rieman, $5,000; Atlantis LLC, $4,000; Deb Baker, $1,500; Steve Kaulkman, $1,500
J.J. Carrell, $4,500; Lindsey Seachris, $4,000; Janyce Hockenbary, $3,000; Gabe Doney, $3,000
PAC – Democracy in Action
Treasurer – Jocelyn Baker
Stanford Adelstein, $1,000; Marilyn Simon, $1,000; Sandra Olson, $500
Jamie Clapham, $1,000; Michael Birkeland, $500; Pat Roseland, $500; Bill Evans, $500
Treasurer – Scott Odenbach
John and Joy Mills, $10,000; Liz May, $10,000
Top candidates/organizations
Conservative Principles PAC, $15,000; Julie Frye-Mueller, $1,000; Jodie Frye, $1,000
PAC – Friends of John Roberts
William Freytag, $10,000; Dev Cor LLC, $1,500; KTM Design Solutions, $1,000
Tim Goodwin, $10,000; J.J. Carrell, $1,000; Jesse Ham, $500
PAC – Citizens for Public Safety
Treasurer – Kyle Halverson
Cash on hand – $18,038.75
Sam Chandler, $8,000; Stephanie Lien D’Urso, $1,500
PAC – Deadwood Tourism PAC
Raised – $0 (has a carryover of $51,476.52)
$1,000 each to numerous state House and state Senate local incumbents
PAC – Black Hills Home Builders Build PAC
Treasurer – Nicole Weimer
Cash on hand – $34,329.37
Numerous donors ranging from a high of $230 to a low of $20
Rachel Dix, $1,000; Janyce Hockenbary, $500; Janette McIntyre, $500; Bill Evans, $500; J.J. Carrell, $500
Area 3 RCAS Board of Education
Candidate – Michael Birkeland
Doug or Melody Birkeland, $1,000; Craig Mount, $1,000
Support Public Education, $9,737.50; South Dakota EPIC, $2,000; Democracy in Action, $500
Gayla and Rich Meyer, $250; Heather Baxter, $250; James Engelbrecht, $200
Free Republic PAC, $3,000; SD RPAC, $1,000
Area 6 RCAS Board of Education
Candidate – Jamie Clapham
Cash on hand – $11,656.66
Craig Mount, $1,000; Larry Teuber, $1,000
Support Public Education, $9,737.50; South Dakota EPIC, $2,000; Democracy in Action, $1,000; SD RPAC, $1,000; South Dakota TIPs, $1,000
Candidate – Janyce Hockenbary
Janyce Hockenbary, $700; Terry Hockenbary, $650; Norman Christopherson, $500; Carol Black, $500; Mario Rangel, $500; Deb Baker, $500
Free Republic PAC, $3,000
Pennington County Sheriff
Candidate – Ryan Mechaley
Michael and Stephanie Durso, $2,000; Andy and Barb LeGare, $1,000; Lisa Lien, $1,000; Jason Johnston, $1,000
Shining Light PAC, $10,000
Candidate – Brian Mueller
Cash on hand – $55,270.03
$2,000 each from Barry Burgess, James Scull, Monica Burgess, Aloysius Rieman, Hani Shafai, Jeff Hoffman
Pennington County Commission, District 1
Julie Mueller, $1,000; Marty Troupe, $1,000
Candidate – Ron Rossknecht
$1,000 each from Elizabeth Lein, Patrick Hall, Hani Shafai, Barbara Shafai, Suzanne Gabrielson, Richard Gabrielson
SD Realtor PAC, $1,000; BIG PAC, $1,000
Candidate – Gerold Herrick
Lance Russell, $200; Paul Nabholz, $200; Mary Herrick, $200
Convention of States South Dakota, $1,000
Hani Shafai, $1,000; James and Sally Sherrer, $500; James Scull, $500
SD Retailers Association, $1,000; Deadwood Tourism PAC, $500; Back to Biz, $500
Susan Henderson, $250; Rick Fox, $250; Jessica Castleberry, $250
SD Realtors PAC, $1,000; Liberty Tree PAC, $500; Deadwood Tourism PAC, $500
Candidate – Patrick Baumann
Paul Gavic, $1,000; Virgene Gavic, $1,000; Arlene Kallis, $1,000
SD Realtors PAC, $1,000; Liberty Tree PAC, $500; Deadwood Tourism PAC, $500
Lisa Gennaro, $12,500; Linda Reteria, $300; Teresa Hisaw-Elmore, $200
Candidate – Julie Frye-Mueller
Cash on hand – $2,790 (Beginning balance of $1,680)
Helen Brogley, $500; Stephanie Lien D’urso, $330; Rollie Noem, $200
SD Action Committee for Rural Electification PAC, $1,000; Liberty Tree PAC, $1,000; Deadwood Tourism PAC, $1,000
Cash on hand – $25,698 (Beginning balance of $310)
James Scull, $1,000; Hani Shafai, $1,000; James Burgess, $1,000
Friends of John Roberts PAC, $10,000; SD Strong Leader PAC, $5,000; Business Innovation Growth PAC, $1,500
Dick Tieszen, $500; Rex and Cindy Haag, $400; Karl Fischer, $300
Business, Innovation and Growth PAC, $1,250; SD Realtors PAC, $1,000; Deadwood Tourism PAC, $1,000
Cash on hand – $13,977 (Beginning balance of $7,964)
James and Mary Scull, $500; Mike and Nancy Statz, $250; Rebecca and Sandy Hale, $200
Business, Innovation and Growth PAC, $1,500; SD Realtors PAC, $1,000; Deadwood Tourism PAC, $1,000
Justin Johnson, $500; Matthew Schweich, $250; Alisha Kolb, $200
Candidate – Janette McIntyre
Janette McIntyre, $2,000; Bill Freytag, $250; John Roberts, $250
SD Acre, $500; Deadwood Tourism $750; and BHHBA Build PAC $500
Cash on hand – $6,747 (Beginning balance of $3,192)
Barbara Lemmon, $800; Tom and Jackie Corr, $500; Craig and Jill Mills, $500
Liberty Tree PAC, $500; Deadwood Tourism PAC, $1,000; Convention of State SD PAC, $1,000
Dean Aurand, $4,000; Jeff Boerger, $1,000; Mark Bonke, $750
Business Innovation and Growth PAC, $1,250; Back to Biz, $1,000; SD Retailers Assoc. PAC, $500
Larry Massie, $2,000; Debbie Long, $1,000; Stanford Adelstein, $1,000
Business Innovation and Growth PAC, $1,250; Back to Biz, $1,000; Deadwood Tourism PAC, $1,000
Candidate – David Johnson
Cash on hand – $7,213 (Beginning balance of $11,092)
Separate attachment with individual donors not listed on Secretary of State website
Separate attachment with PAC donors not listed on Secretary of State website
Cash on hand – $11,035 (Beginning balance of $125)
Craig and Jill Mills, $1,000; Andy Legere, $800; Deanna Beckett, $500
Liberty Tree PAC, $500; Convention of States SD PAC, $6,000
Cash on hand – $1,971 (Beginning balance of $140)
Eva Frye, $550; Ron and Cheri Loftus, $500; John Bradsky, $250
Liberty Tree PAC, $1,000; Deadwood Tourism PAC, $500
Cash on hand – $5,002 (Beginning balance of $4,263)
Hani Shafai, $1,000; James and Mary Scull, $500; Verne Goodsell, $500
Business Innovation and Growth PAC, $1,500; SD Educators Political Involvement Committee (Epic), $1,000; SD RPAC $1,000
Cash on hand – $10,213 (Beginning balance of $1,122)
Matthew Konenkamp, $1,000; Gil Moyle, $1,000; Clark Moyle, $1,000
Business Innovation and Growth PAC, $1,500; Deadwood Tourism PAC $1,000; SD RPAC, $1,000
Cash on hand – $5,604 (Beginning balance of $2,811)
C&S Electronics, $1,000; Barb Landers, $1,000; Cloud 9, $1,000
Candidate – Tony Randolph
Cash on hand – $773 (Beginning balance of $114)
Larry and Melodie Paulsen, $1,000; Blaine Cambell, $1,000; Barb Landers, $500
Lee Schoenbeck, $1,000; Hani Shafi, $1,000; Thomas Bradsky, $500
Business Innovation and Growth PAC, $1,250; Deadwood Tourism PAC, $1,000; Dakota Leadership PAC, $500
Candidate – Elizabeth Regalado
Katie Banaszak, $1,000; Ryan Kolbeck, $500; Gregory Sperlich, $300
Schoenbeck for Senate, $1,000; Business, Innovation and Growth PAC, $1,250; Deadwood Tourism PAC, $1,000
Contact Nathan Thompson at [email protected].