Meet Susan
Creative and business savvy.
Tenacious, yet open minded.
50 year tourism background.
The Black Hills are Home.
Born in Mitchell, I attended school in Lead and Rapid City, and graduated from BHSU with a Bachelors in Business with a focus on Travel Industry Management. Living in the Colorado mountains after college, I witnessed rampant growth and the efforts of various communities to protect long term residents and green spaces. I am a long-time back country enthusiast and enjoy bird hunting, hiking, and gardening. Stepping up to better balance Pierre and protecting citizens from damaging laws is important to me. I ask for your support.
Climber to Catalyst: Building Hill City
In 1988 I met with the Director of Custer State Park to inquire about starting a guide service. In 1990 I moved to Hill City and started Sylvan Rocks Climbing School, the only woman owned and nationally accredited service in the U.S. We operated in Custer State Park, Mt. Rushmore, Devils Tower and NV. Granite Sports was started a few years later and was listed for many years by various magazines as among the best authentic outdoor stores in the nation. I am so proud that both continue to serve the area after I selling them. I’m no stranger to working long days, for the business as well as the community. I thrive on listening to people for ideas on how to improve things. I love the exchange of ideas and brainstorming solutions.
Hill City Champion: Building a Destination Through Collaboration
For decades my businesses were part of the very effective Downtown Merchants group. This group created numerous events to increase the shoulder seasons and increased Hill City sales tax revenues. Many groups came together for planning and the transformation of Hill City as a destination was remarkable. I’ve attended countless City Council, Chamber, Economic Development and Planning and Zoning meetings. Through the work of many fine citizens, we now have an enforceable building code to protect property owners, roads and infrastructure have improved. We got streetlights and were able to hire a City Engineer to establish property lines, road elevations and drainage and sewer system. It's astonishing what a dedicated group can help do!
Sustainable Tourism for a Healthy Community
Dependance on tourism requires an appealing atmosphere for visitors. Destination marketing was implemented to better brand Hill City. The two year sign ordinance effort gave the town more continuity. Tourism conferences provided ideas on what other communities do for business health. Business market trips were always eye-opening on current environmental choices, such as using less chemically dependent plants for fibers in clothing and home goods. More recently, I've been studying the impacts of mining and logging as related to tourism. We need leaders who will support conversation on our challenging water issues... including fire suppression. The forests need to be in good health to help mitigate fires and I am in favor of restoreing some beaver habitat to create fire breaks.
My Campaign Message
Together We Rise
If democracy is to SERVE the PEOPLE we need to get off the couch, stand up and get involved. Talk to friends in your circles and the circles will make larger circles. There is a record level of good work throughout the Black Hills to help those who are struggling, finding better justice, and concerned about our limited resources. So many of you work so hard to make the Hills a better place. I love you for it.
Building a Brighter Black Hills Future
- I believe in respectfully discussing concerns and listening to many diverse ideas to come to the best solutions.
- We all agree we need a new formula for property taxes yet need to maintain ambulance and fire services and keep schools operating. I hope for good debate and good solutions as we move to the next legislative session.
- Off road vehicles are creating public and private property damage, safety issues from congestion, and water way destruction. State funding is needed to fund solutions.
- Water is precious and needs protecting. Conversation needs to happen at community, district and state levels on growth and sprawl.
My Vision
The entire Black Hills needs visioning on how we want to manage population growth, have nice affordable homes, healthy businesses, and safe communities.
Our resources are valuable yes, but not at the expense of peoples' health, homes and water. Water is the most powerful ancestor - it nourishes the planet and nourishes us. Let's plan for the 7th generation. Let's manage for good habitats.
Education, Childcare, Home Schooling, and Online Safety
Education is among the most important tenants of healthy societies. This includes quality child care for those who want/need to work, to attend technical schools and higher education. Some want more tax dollars for home schooling — but don't want to attain the skill sets needed to teach and assess student needs. It is a parental obligation to monitor use of computer access and kids time alone on "dark" websites.
The Black Hills, this gem, is my home and I love it dearly. District 30 is one of the most heavily visited in the state; being home to Mt. Rushmore and Custer State Park, Black Hills National Forest, Wind and Jewel Caves, Buffalo Gap National Grassland, and the Black Elk Wilderness area. It is one of the highest revenue producing districts in South Dakota, bringing in over $300 million each year to the state's economy, yet does not get an a proportionate amount of funding back. Not all communities are thriving and I'd like to change that.
Representing Southern Black Hills and South Western SD
Running for
SD State House of Representatives
District 30
Includes Custer County
Western Pennington County
and Fall River County