MDR Questionnaire Responses by Gary Coleman

Note: The Mitchell Daily Republic Saturday October 27,2012 issue printed Questionnaire responses of Legislative District 21 house candidates including Gary Coleman, Julie Bartling, Dave Scott, and Lee Qualm. Below are copied the MDR questions and the responses of Gary Coleman.

The election is Nov. 6. What personal qualities and/or experiences make you a good choice for election to the Legislature?

COLEMAN: I value honesty and dedication to whatever endeavor I undertake. I am a retired teacher. I have held leadership positions in my profession, church, community and the southeast South Dakota region. I currently serve on the Board of Directors for the Yankton Concert Association and the Sioux Falls Regional VA Tele-health Committee.

Please explain your stances on a few issues that you believe are most important to your race.

COLEMAN: Education and Economic Development. We have already created some .incentives for business and services to come to our state: business friendly taxes and a population of employees with a great work ethic. What's missing is a quality 21st century educational system. State government has systematically disassembled our educational structure. By cutting funding to draconian levels, we have created abnormally large class sizes, reduced necessary curriculum, and now have a severely underpaid and overworked teaching core who will likely "walk out" of their jobs en masse if things don't change for the better. As a result of this lack of support, our K-12 and college students will be getting a second-class education. Also, college level research, which is vital to our agriculture and other business economy, is being defunded. In addition to threatening our students' future, good business people will not likely look favorably to a state that doesn't have a skilled workforce or a business climate that is technologically forward looking. The fact is, education drives an economy.

What is your vision for the future of your legislative district?

COLEMAN: I would like to see the people of the 21st District well educated with the opportunity to live their lives economically secure and happy with the lives they live.

Responses of other candidates can be seen at the Daily Republic of Mitchell, or request copies if you desire them for comparison or other reason.