Rhoden shares parting words in Senate

SIUOX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — A Democratic state lawmaker says he may not always agree with Republican Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden but he knows he’s always going to get a fair shake with Rhoden as the next governor of South Dakota.

Democratic Sen. Jamie Smith was one of several lawmakers who thanked Rhoden for his service Friday on the Senate floor in the expectation that he will soon be the next governor of South Dakota.

Republican Gov. Kristi Noem is expected to be named the U.S. secretary of homeland security within days. Rhoden would then replace her as governor.

Smith was the Democratic candidate for governor in 2022. He and running mate Jennifer Keintz lost to Noem and Rhoden by a wide margin. That experience didn’t seem to diminish Smith’s appreciation for Rhoden.

“He cares greatly about the state of South Dakota. There is no pretense to Larry Rhoden. He’s a man of his word and he is a man that will take his job seriously,” Smith said.

Republican Sen. Chris Karr recalled nine years ago when Karr was a first-year lawmaker in the House and Rhoden, the House Republican leader back then, killed Karr’s first bill in committee. “I was so angry, I literally took it pretty personal,” Karr said.

Karr said he asked at the time why Rhoden would do that. Rhoden replied the “juice wasn’t worth the squeeze,” Karr said, as he generated laughter in the Senate.

Karr currently is the Senate president pro tem, who runs the Senate when the lieutenant governor isn’t available. He praised Rhoden’s respect for the senators and thanked him for his service.

Democratic Sen. Red Dawn Foster said she joined the Senate in the same year that Rhoden began as lieutenant governor. The South Dakota Constitution designates the lieutenant governor as the Senate president.

“I always appreciated your leadership and your guidance and at times your tolerance,” Foster said. The tolerance she referred to was waiting for acknowledgment from the lieutenant governor to speak on the floor. She said she believed that her thank-you remarks to Rhoden on Friday was the first time she waited for permission, which drew laughter from the Senate.

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“I will say this, you were so quiet and shy and reserved when you came here,” Rhoden said of Foster. “I’ve told many people that Senator Foster every year has gotten better, and better, and better. You are a great asset to the Senate.”

Rhoden said it’s been great to call Foster a friend for these years.

One of Rhoden’s roles at the lieutenant governor is to preside as president over the Senate. He spent time on Friday doing those duties, but he also paused to address lawmakers.

“My heart is full,” Rhoden said from the front of the Senate. Visibly moved, Rhoden said, “I will miss this.”

Rhoden had been a state representative for 10 years and state senator for six years from rural Meade County before Noem invited him to be her running mate in 2018. They defeated Democratic candidate Billie Sutton and his running mate, Michelle Lavallee.

“To this day if anybody asks me ‘What’s the best part of your job?’, I say it’s the people I meet,” Rhoden said.

“…by far and away the people I meet, the relationships I built, and the things we’ve accomplished.” Rhoden said. “That’s what you remember in 10 years. It won’t be the bill numbers or the issues. It will be what you did and what you accomplished for the good of the people of South Dakota.”

Rhoden also introduced a former lieutenant governor and long-time legislator, Matt Michels, to the Senate on Friday. They shared a hug and Michels talked about how people of different views can work together to accomplish positive things.

Rhoden also had three grandchildren join him at the president’s rostrum for the afternoon Senate session. Their parents are Larry and Sandy Rhoden’s oldest son, Jesse, and his wife, Sara. The youngsters took turns wielding the gavel, but their smacks were nowhere near as loud as his legendary bangs.

In a Nov. 12 KELOLAND news story, former lawmaker Republican Sen. Lee Schoenbeck of Watertown said, “Nobody’s going to doubt Rhoden’s commitment to South Dakota.”

Schoenbeck also cited Rhoden’s ability to work across party lines and those with differing ideas or opinions.