Webster native Schoenbeck, legislative ‘loose cannon,’ departs political arena

Influential South Dakota lawmaker calling it quits

Webster native and state Sen. Lee Schoenbeck, R-Watertown, walks back to his Senate office in the state Capitol during the 2024 legislative session. (South Dakota Searchlight photo by Joshua Haiar)

South Dakota lawmakers had a historic opportunity to boost the state’s lowest-in-the-nation teacher pay in 2016, but the votes weren’t there.

The legislation failed by one vote on a Thursday at the Capitol in Pierre.

Lee Schoenbeck was a member of the state House at the time and a supporter of the bill. During a floor debate, he described some opponents’ arguments as “garbage.” He went on social media after the House vote and called some fellow Republicans “chicken” for their opposition.

That weekend during a public forum, Schoenbeck accused his own Republican House majority leader, Brian Gosch, of trying to intimidate a legislator out of supporting the bill with a threat of an ethical investigation. Schoenbeck called Gosch “pond scum” (although Schoenbeck says he accidentally said “scum pond”).

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