South Dakota House of Representatives District 20 candidate surveys, 2022

Elections in South Dakota, 2022

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This article shows responses from candidates in the 2022 election for South Dakota House of Representatives District 20 who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

• Click here to see candidates and election results.
• Click here to see Candidate Connection survey responses.

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for South Dakota House of Representatives District 20 (2 seats)

Incumbent Lance Koth and Ben Krohmer won election in the general election for South Dakota House of Representatives District 20 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Lance Koth (R)	53.5	5,721
✔		Ben Krohmer (R)	46.5	4,972

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 10,693
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

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Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Ben Krohmer (R)

I believe that agriculture and small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy. With our family business being a member of the Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce, and my own mother a past president and board member of the Mitchell Area Development Corporation, I have a good understanding of the issues facing our community. I'm a conservative, which is why I favor lower taxes and fiscal responsibility. I also believe there needs to be a common sense approach to spending – if you don’t have it, you can’t spend it. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to save some for a rainy day either. We can’t spend wastefully with our own budget, so we shouldn’t do it with the state budget either; that’s why I like to say, “Let’s flush the waste out of Pierre.”

As an avid hunter and a board member of the Mitchell Friends of NRA, I strongly support the Second Amendment. Hunting is a great tradition in South Dakota, and it needs to be protected and preserved. Your family also needs to be protected, which is why I also believe the Second Amendment, without a doubt, provides for the defense of life and liberty. I am staunchly pro-life, and I strongly support good funding for quality childhood education, good pay for our teachers and educators, along with local and parental control.

During these unprecedented times we’re living in, now more than ever, we must stick together as a community to overcome the challenges we face today – from the work force shortage, taxes, spending, and big government overreach.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Ben Krohmer (R)

That’s why I’m running to be our State Representative in District 20, to support agriculture and small businesses; grow jobs; cut taxes and government red tape; protect our rights; defend life; and support our community.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Ben Krohmer (R)

My parents are still to this day two people that I look up to the most. I'm so thankful that they instilled a hard work ethic in us kids from a young age. When something comes up and I'm not sure what to do I try and think what my parents would do in that situation.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Ben Krohmer (R)

None that I can think of.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Ben Krohmer (R)

I believe you need to be a strong voice that wont give in to pressure. Even if you disagree with people, you still need to treat them with respect. Since I am a conservative I think that conservative beliefs are important: pro-life; the 2nd Amendment; low taxes; less spending; defend our rights; support small agriculture, businesses, and our community.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Ben Krohmer (R)

Business owner. Problem solving. Ability to work well with others. I work with different people every day, from the homeowner on a bathroom remodel project, all the way up to working with Amazon on building the biggest building ever built in the state and the thousands of contractors you have to work along side with every day.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Ben Krohmer (R)

Uphold the public trust since a legislator is a representing the public on their behalf. Make decisions for constituents that aren't wasteful, protects their rights, create and pass laws, and does the necessary roles of the legislative branch of government.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Ben Krohmer (R)

I don't want to leave a legacy of legislative or government service. As a Christian, I feel it is important to volunteer and give back to the community. I would like to do my part in making things better.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Ben Krohmer (R)

As far as national historic events, I would probably have to say it was 9/11. I was 16 when it happened, and it happened while I was at school during our first class. We had Channel 1 TV's in our classrooms back then, and for the remainder of the day we just watched live news coverage as the events unfolded. The bell still rang and we still went from classroom to classroom, but every class we sat and watched the horror unfold. Some years later in my 20's my family and I went on vacation to New York City, and the 9/11 memorial was one place that was a must stop on our list.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Ben Krohmer (R)

After a couple years of mowing yards and shoveling driveways, I started working for our family business when I was a 16 year old in high school. During the school year I would work after school on jobsites and full time during the summers. I attended two years of college at USD, but ultimately decided that college wasn't for me and that I'd rather be working in our family business. I traveled on the road and have been blessed to work all over our beautiful state, and almost all of the surrounding states, as well. Over the years I have earned a Plumbing Contractor's license for South Dakota and also earned Master Plumber licenses in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Iowa; along with a Master Hydronic heating license in Iowa. I've learned a lot working construction in our family business for the last 20 years. Currently I work on 3D design and coordination drawings for large scale projects we take on.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

Ben Krohmer (R)

There are three separate branches of government to provide checks and balances, but we also have to remember that at the end of the day we are all going to Pierre to do a job and work for the people, so we have to work together and get along.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Ben Krohmer (R)

Work force shortage, taxes, spending, and big government overreach.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of a unicameral state legislature, in your opinion?

Ben Krohmer (R)

I don't see much for benefits. I think our Founders developed a great system for us, and since only Nebraska is the only state in the country that has shied away from having a bicameral legislature, I'd say bicameral seems to be the overwhelming favorite at both the national and state level.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Ben Krohmer (R)

No, they should, for obvious reasons, have an interest in government and politics, but prior experience in government or politics is not required. We are a part-time citizen legislature. Every legislator comes from different walks of life, and those different walks of life help guide him or her in making their decisions while serving. It's intended that way so that legislators have to live with the decisions they make in office. Being a legislator is a public service, not a stepping stone for career politicians.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Ben Krohmer (R)

Yes, as I mentioned before, we all have to work get along and work together.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

Ben Krohmer (R)

The legislative process because legislators are elected and accountable to the people they represent, commissions and boards are not.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Ben Krohmer (R)

I have not thought that far ahead, but maybe commerce and energy since it involves a lot with occupations which is where a lot of bills from my profession originate.

If you are a current legislator, what appealed to you about your current committees?

Ben Krohmer (R)

n/a

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Ben Krohmer (R)

Nobody in particular that comes to mind.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

Ben Krohmer (R)

No.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

Ben Krohmer (R)

I have heard several so far, some of them too personal to share, but all of the personal stories will factor into my decision making in Pierre.

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

Ben Krohmer (R)

Emergency powers shouldn't be granted, because once they are then everything becomes an emergency.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Ben Krohmer (R)

On some things I think there can be compromises, but on other things I don't believe there can be. It depends on the issue at hand. If there is a spending bill and two different people have two different spending amounts in mind, the two points of view should be discussed along with the reasons why, and there can probably be some compromise and meet in the middle. However, if it is on the issue of something like gun rights then I would be against any and all policies that would attempt to restrict the rights of lawful gun owners.

See also

More about these elections:

• South Dakota House of Representatives elections, 2022

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