Q&A with Gant

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Candidate Q&A: Attorney general, state auditor, secretary of state

3 statewide races vital to voters' everyday lives

SHERI LEVISAY • SLEVISAY@ARGUSLEADER.COM • OCTOBER 22, 2010

It's only natural that the top-of-the-ticket candidates are the focus for many South Dakota voters.

But other statewide races will be on the ballot Nov. 2, and the duties they perform have far-ranging effects on our everyday lives:

The secretary of state not only is in charge of elections, but whoever is elected will keep public records and register trademarks and corporations. The attorney general represents South Dakota in court cases and also is the chief law enforcement officer in the state, in charge of the division of criminal investigation and consumer protection.

The state auditor is the accountant for every aspect of the state's budget and oversees the payroll for all state employees.

Here are the responses to an Argus Leader questionnaire for the candidates for these three offices:

Secretary Of State

Jason Gant

Age: 33

Party: Republican

City: Sioux Falls

Family: Wife, Chris; three daughters, Abbi, Sophie and Mallory

Background: State Senator

Occupation: Small Business Owner

1. What would be your top two priorities if you become South Dakota's next secretary of state?

Serving as the chief elections officer is priority one. Our elections must be run efficiently and by the books. I will work day after day to ensure that your vote is counted correctly. We must also make our campaign finance reports more open and transparent so the public can see where the money is coming from. We must also make it easier for businesses to get started in South Dakota. We can do this by using technology and allowing for online corporate filings.

2. What improvements do you feel are necessary to the state's election process?

I will be a proactive secretary of state to make sure voter fraud activities do not start in South Dakota. We must review all types of election irregularities across the country and then make sure South Dakota laws and procedures are set up to stop them from happening. This will ensure that our South Dakota elections are run fair and legal. Our greatest freedom is the right to vote. My number one mission will be to ensure one person, one ballot, one vote.