Tony Venhuizen is officially lieutenant governor for the state of South Dakota.
The Sioux Falls Republican was officially sworn in Thursday afternoon.
Venhuizen’s nomination was unanimously approved by both chambers of the state legislature. Shortly after, he is sworn in and addresses a full chamber of legislators, lobbyists, friends, family and onlookers.
“This is a great honor for me and I will do my very best for all of you and this Capitol and for the people of this state," Venhuizen said.
Though Venhuizen has never been elected to the state Senate, he said the moment serves special significance to him.
Venhuizen’s grandfather was a longtime state Senator named Henry Poppen, a Republican from DeSmet.
Venhuizen was a Senate page in high school when he met who would become his future wife, Sara. Her father was Dennis Daugaard, who spent 14 years in the state Senate. Some of that time included a stint as lieutenant governor, who is also president of the Senate.
“Our family has spent 40 years in this chamber,” Venhuizen said. “And it is my great honor to be back with you again.”
Gov. Larry Rhoden said he picked Venhuizen for various reasons. The two worked together on big issues when Rhoden was in the legislature and Venhuizen in the executive branch. Then, the two worked together as members of Kristi Noem’s administration.
The Rhoden administration and state lawmakers are set to tackle several large issues facing the state in the next six weeks. Those include property tax reform, some changes to education funding and eminent domain, authorizing construction of a new men’s prison and crafting a budget when revenues are tight.
