With the opening of session comes the naming of new leaders and the voices of present leaders. For some South Dakotans, much of that is rebuilding faith in key state institutions after a few long years.
The opening of the 100th South Dakota legislative session Tuesday also meant the delivery of what appears to be Gov. Kristi Noem’s final State of the State address.
Noem appears to be on the fast track to a Washington DC role in the looming Trump administration, as the likely upcoming Secretary of Homeland Security.
For her final address to South Dakota, though, Noem evoked the life of Gladys Pyle, the state’s first female Secretary of State and one-time candidate for governor.
“88 years later, I became the first female Governor of the state of South Dakota, but Gladys’ story reminds me sometimes that obstacles that people face sometimes prepare them for greatness," Noem said. "America has been through a very difficult time, and now we stand on the cusp of a great American comeback.”
In the Senate Chris Karr was named as the new Pro Tempore of the chamber, a role reserved for senior members of the body. He said now is the time to reestablish trust in state institutions.
"What is paramount to me as I approach this position is the integrity of this institution," Karr said. "I have sometimes called this institution an idea machine, because it takes ideas, and it puts them through a process – an adversarial process – of proponents and opponents. If we respect that process, I can assure you of a few things. That we can vet any idea no matter how controversial.”
Tuesday marked legislative day 1. Session runs through mid-March.