SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) -- South Dakota Republican Chair Dan Lederman provided the following statement to KELO.com News regarding the accusations made by Republican gubernatorial candidate Lora Hubbel.
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In America, even a man raised by Iowa Democrats can be chair of the South Dakota Republican Party.
I have a confession to make, which might be difficult for some people to accept. I was raised by Iowa Democrats.
My Mom and my Dad were lifelong Democrats in Iowa, and in fact, my father was chairman of the Democrat Party in Black Hawk County for a number of years. My family actually raised me to be a Democrat, and early on in my adult life, that’s how I was registered.
I, Dan Lederman, Chairman of the South Dakota Republican Party started out my adulthood as an Iowa Democrat.
As my parents raised me to be a Democrat, they also instilled in me the virtues and values of family, small business, community service, and a respect for the military. As I was first registering to vote as a Democrat, I was also joining the National Guard, where I served as a medic.
In the intervening years, my parents grew older, and I gained education and life experience. And the Democrat party went through many changes in the values that were once important to them.
Two Democrat Presidents let our military decline during their tenures, and at the last Democrat Convention, Democrats actually booed the mention of Israel. My parents – my father and my mother - were both veterans who strongly supported our military and valued our alliance and support for Israel. If they were alive today, my parents would no longer be Democrats.
I made the realization about the time I moved to South Dakota that Democrats no longer were accepting of what I believed in, and I registered as a Republican because the Republican Party reflected my values. And having been raised by two wonderful and politically active people, eventually I ran for office as a Republican, was elected a number of times to different offices, and eventually chose a path which led me to become the Chairman of the South Dakota Republican Party.
40 or 50 years ago, my parents might have scoffed at the notion I would lead another state’s Republican Party organization, but that’s the great thing about America. You can rise from a humble beginning and be anything you want to be. Even as a now South Dakota Republican raised by Iowa Democrats.
Some groups are trying to create controversy by “outing” a few Republican legislators as once having been registered Democrat twenty-five and thirty years ago. As the State’s top party official, I can assure you that falls on deaf ears. Because my response is “me too.” I’ve always been taught that the party of Ronald Reagan – another former Democrat - is a party with a big tent supported by both those who chose the party from the onset, and those who were drawn to it as they examined the values that were important to them.
The Republican party will always value the contributions and candidacies of those who have chosen to identify with it, and true Republicans are not critical of any former party affiliation of those who have invested the time and effort to represent the GOP in the public eye. If you believe that each person is responsible for their own place within society, that keeping the government as close to the individual as possible, that the best government for the people is one that is closest to the people, and that the strength of the nation lies within the individuals who live in the country, then you too should be a member of the Republican party.
And no matter how you are registered today, I’ll be there to welcome you into the GOP with an open hand and an open heart, and to support you should you ever choose to serve the public as a representative of your community and the Republican Party.
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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) -- Below is the response from Lora Hubbel to KELO.com News' questions about South Dakota Republican Chair Dan Lederman's voter registration status.
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Dear Todd, thanks for your inquiry.
Recall I ran as a Republican with Mike Myers because he offered me control of healthcare reform in SD...something i never got to explain in a public debate or forum ( I was the only state-wide candidate not given that opportunity and thought I would have a chance if I were still running for an office).
I was never an Independent. I was briefly a Constitution party member (for 2 months) after Matt Michels gaveled me down at the Republican Convention. I was speaking to the double talk of SD politicians when it comes to repealing ObamaCare. I was about to present Matt Michels’ OWN WRITTEN WORDS in “SD HealthCare Exchange IMPLEMENTAION Committee” minutes of which he was the Chair, where he wrote, “Even though PPACA (ObamaCare) is unpopular in South Dakota, the Daugaard administration believes its prudent to pursue its implementation.” I had several other documents from showing how 2-faced SD Republican politicians were on ObamaCAre…but Matt gaveled me down before I had an opportunity to show the delegates the party bosses’ true colors. So I briefly joined the Constitution party hoping to find a place as a conservative. However that party was not well established and it was too difficult to grow that party.
I have been told that according to: Ben Gentz Elections Policy Clerk Iowa Secretary of State, Election Division 515-281-0145
....that Dan Lederman as of July of this year, is able to vote as a Democrat in Iowa elections. Please call them if you have further questions.
Lora
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Note: KELO.com News contacted Mr. Gentz per Mrs. Hubbel's suggestion. His response was, "I'm not specifically familiar with this." He is discussing the matter with others in the Iowa Secretary of State's Office and says he or someone else in the office will be in touch with KELO.com News.
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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) -- Republican candidate for South Dakota governor Lora Hubbel has accused state GOP chair Dan Lederman of being a Democrat.
In a series of emails, she provided a document that showed Lederman was a registered Democrat when he lived in Iowa--in 2000.
The headline of her first email notes, "Verified: Dan Lederman, the Republican Party Chair is an Active Iowa Democrat Leads Efforts Against SD Republican Platform & conservatives."
Lederman has been elected through the years as a Union County Commissioner, a South Dakota state representative, a South Dakota state senator, and last year, he was elected to chair the state party--all as a Republican
Earlier this year, Hubbel resigned as chair of the South Dakota Constitutional Party. In 2014, she ran as the lieutenant governor candidate as an independent (however, see Hubbel's response above), with the late Mike Myers. They ran as Independents, while Dennis Daugaard and Matt Michels ran as Republicans and Susan Wismer and Susie Blake ran as Democrats. Currently, Hubbel claims to be a member of the Republican Party.
KELO.com News has requested that Hubbel provide any evidence that Lederman is currently registered as a Democrat or that he is registered to vote in both Iowa and South Dakota.