Meet the Candidate: Forrest Foster

Foster one of three candidates seeking to represent portion of Black Hills in state Senate

Forrest Foster is seeking election to the South Dakota state Senate in District 30. Him and Amber Hulse are looking to unseat longtime incumbent lawmaker Julie Frye-Mueller.

District 30 includes southwest South Dakota, touching the borders of Wyoming and Nebraska. Cities included in the district include Custer, Hot Springs, and Hermosa.

The Dakota Scout sent a series of questions to all legislative candidates running in contested races for the state House and Senate in the June 4 primary election. Candidates were asked to limit their responses to each question to 150 words or less.

Age: 44
City of residence: Rapid City
Profession: Design Engineer
Public service/community service experience: I have volunteered with several of my son’s activities (basketball, 4-H, and trap)
Family information: My wife, Rachel, and I will be celebrating our 8 th anniversary this year. I have a son (Cody, 14) from my previous marriage. I also have a twin brother, Frank (married to Linda).

1) What's the government's role in facilitating economic development in South Dakota?

The government’s role in facilitating economic development should be a limited one. In general, government should stay out of the way of private business. Government should limit burdens and regulations on business; without excessive interference our economy and citizens will thrive.

2) If you could have dinner with any person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

If it was just one person, that is an easy answer for me: my dad, Vernon. It’s been more than twenty-three years since I was last able to have a conversation with him and I miss those discussions. Our conversations were so informative and enlightening to me as a young man. He always had good insight on how to consider an issue from different perspectives. He never told me what to think and was never judgmental about my thoughts. Since he passed, there have been many times that I would really love to get his take on something.

3) Does the "Landowner Bill of Rights" -- adopted by the Legislature amid opposition to carbon pipeline companies using eminent domain -- strike the right balance between the interests of property owners, counties and the ag industry - and should voters get a say when they head to the polls in November?

No, this Legislation does not strike the correct balance and these three bills never should have passed. When you read the bills in their entirety, you can see how harmful they are. While some parts are good, the majority of the content is bad legislation that was pushed through as a group. To everyone who has not read these bills: read them! There’s no valid reason to take control away from counties on this issue. Eminent domain is reserved for important projects in the public’s interest, not projects that benefit a limited group and create wealth for a few. Use of eminent domain was never intended to be an easy process. Projects that are truly in the public’s interest will gain the local support necessary and county commissioners will approve them.  

Voters should absolutely be heard in November. The opposition to SB 201 is a mandate to the Legislature to go back and fix issues brought by the two related House bills.