SIOUX FALLS – Today Billie Sutton’s running mate Michelle Lavallee named two notable Sioux Falls Republicans to her candidate committee: De Knudson and Jim Schmidt.
On June 14, Senator Billie Sutton, candidate for South Dakota governor, announced seasoned Sioux Falls business woman and longtime Republican Michelle Lavallee as his lieutenant governor candidate.
Upon putting together her Lt. Governor candidate committee, Michelle said, “More Republicans joining the Sutton/Lavallee ticket shows that Billie and I are serious about bringing people together. We’re tired of the division and partisan politics. We’re ready to come together around our shared values and goal to build a stronger South Dakota for families.”
De Knudson, Lavallee’s committee chair, is a longtime Republican and former Sioux Falls city councilor. “Michelle joining Billie’s ticket is a perfect example of how the divide between the two parties will be conquered, the divide that interferes with getting things done. South Dakota will be two steps closer to the solutions we need with Billie and Michelle in the lead.”
Lavallee also named Jim Schmidt, current Republican Lincoln county commissioner, as her committee’s Treasurer. The former president of Kilian Community College, Schmidt also farms and runs the Sioux Empire Housing Partnership. He said, “It’s time for some bipartisan leadership in South Dakota, and the Sutton/Lavallee team best exemplifies that idea. Michelle has proven herself in the public and private sectors, and her alliance with Billie Sutton will move South Dakota forward.”
Lavallee’s committee is just another example of the Sutton/Lavallee ticket bringing Republicans on board. Republicans, along with Democrats and Independents, across the state are getting behind Sutton’s campaign to build a stronger South Dakota we can all be proud of.
Billie Sutton is a rancher, financial professional at a small community bank, State Senator, former professional rodeo cowboy, fifth-generation South Dakotan, and candidate for Governor.