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Step into Carey's on an average Saturday night and you might catch state Sen. Ben Nesselhuf holding court. It's only right that he'd be glad-handing with voters, as he's up for re-election this year. A young, amiable graduate student, Nesselhuf represents southeast South Dakota and has many student supporters. But if those fans examined his legislative record, they might question their allegiance.
Nesselhuf's Facebook page says that he's spent his term trying to limit "government's intrusion into citizen's [sic] lives." That sounds nice, but it's far from the truth, as his legislative history plainly shows.
Apparently, to Nesselhuf, "intrusion" doesn't include government control over what citizens put into their bodies. That's why he voted for the statewide smoking ban in 2007.
He also voted to regulate preschools and increase the state minimum wage, forcing the government between parents and schools, and businesses and employees. He decried the Hyperion energy project with extreme environmentalist rhetoric, playing politics with southeast South Dakota's economic prosperity.
And then there's his relationship with USD. Nesselhuf should have a strong presence at the largest employer in his district. The fact is that he has rarely impacted the university in any meaningful way. I guess he's just limiting government intrusion.
The facts are damning, but Nesselhuf's staff and supporters spin them. They argue that he's received high ratings from conservative pro-gun groups. It's true, but don't be fooled. Many South Dakota politicians have high ratings on gun issues because of the state's hunting culture.
Nesselhuf is a graduate student, holding a consulting position with the Herseth-Sandlin campaign. Before that, he sold insurance. But fortunately for Vermillion, his opponent actually has real-world experience with issues like job creation.
Local business leader Jerad Higman is the welcome alternative to Nesselhuf. Owner of Masaba Inc., which manufactures mining equipment, Higman employs almost 90 people and has millions of dollars invested in his Vermillion facility. He plans to do something Nesselhuf has largely failed to do, bring meaningful jobs to the Vermillion area.
While Nesselhuf's staff and supporters have called debate about his legislative history a "low blow," they see nothing wrong with waging a smear campaign against Higman. They've ridiculed him for such non-issues as having an Iowa cell phone number and the fact that he utilized a state loan program to help grow his business.
None of these are the news. Higman has family in Iowa and the loans were used to expand Masaba, adding infrastructure, jobs and untold revenue to Vermillion. As for his relationship with USD, Higman recently worked to secure and sponsor an athletic scholarship and is a member of the USD Foundation Board of Trustees. Nesselhuf shares some of these credentials, but Higman's involvement is less political expediency and more concern for the community's wellbeing.
Higman isn't perfect from my libertarian standpoint, but he's miles ahead of the alternative. Unfortunately for Nesselhuf, no amount of spin and personal attacks can erase his laughable legislative record. This race pits a strong community leader against an ineffective incumbent. Let's make sure Nesselhuf doesn't return to Pierre. I'll save his seat at Carey's.
Reach columnist Matt Hittle at Matt.Hittle@usd.edu
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