Frye-Mueller, Oakes seek Senate seat

Voters who head to the polls Nov. 3 (or vote early absentee) have their choice between a Republican and Libertarian candidate for District 30 State Senate this year, as current state Representative Julie-Frye Mueller will square off with Gideon Oakes. The winner will serve a two-year term.

Julie Frye-Mueller, 57, has served four years in the House of Representatives and decided to attempt to switch from the House to Senate after she was asked to do so by former Sen. Lance Russell who decided not to seek re-election.

Frye-Mueller’s family owns and operates Roger Frye’s Paint and Supply in Rapid City, which celebrates 37 years in business this October.

Frye-Mueller said she brings four years of experience, along with good intuition and instincts to the table. She said those who know her know she is a watchdog and will always look out for “we the people.”

“I am honest and have been told I am a ‘straight arrow’ who sticks to my principles,” she said. “I am dedicated and actually do what I say I will do and encourage all of you to check out the scorecards that reflect everyone’s voting record.” 

She said those who saw the “scorecards” from Elevate Rapid City should be aware those were not pro-business bills they used to rate legislators.

“It was a lousy attempt to discredit conservatives. All of us who received low scores either own or operate a small business,” she said. 

Some bigger issues that need to be addressed, Frye-Mueller said, are ag taxes and Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling.  

 Closer to home, the former State Treatment and Rehabilitation Academy (STAR) was up for sale again and Frye-Mueller said law enforcement officers she spoke with agree a place is needed to send juveniles.

“Whether you liked STAR Academy or not, we still need a place to put juveniles once they are in the system and hopefully change their life for the better,” she said. “This would have created jobs in our district.”

On government waste, Frye-Mueller said she doesn’t want the state funding every program someone says is necessary or feels it is a way to help citizens.

“If you feel something is important, feel free to get out your own checkbook and pay for it,” she said. “Increasing the size and responsibility of government increases the chances of ‘digging into our pockets.’ There is a difference between wants and needs. Less government is better.”

Frye-Mueller is proud of her House Resolution 7002 that she read on the House floor last session inviting President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump to Mount Rushmore for the July 3 fireworks.

Frye-Mueller said she is humbled to have received the American Conservative Union’s highest ranking at 96 percent, the prime sponsor of Conservative Political Action Confer-ence, with the highest ranking for the state at 96 percent in 2019. She has and will continue to maintain her principles and values that she stated in previous campaigns.

“I will not abandon my moral compass,” she said. “Listening to what people say and watching what they  do can be two totally different things. Actions speak louder than words.”

Oakes, 35, is a real estate broker associate, graphic designer and landlord. Previously, he and his wife owned and operated Teddy’s Deli, a sandwich and coffee shop in Keystone.

“After keeping 15-20 high school and college students on task all summer for almost a decade, lobbyists, bureaucrats and politicians don’t really scare me,” he said.

Between 2009-19, Oakes served on the board of the Town of Keystone (two terms), Keystone Economic Development Association, Black Hills Association of Realtors Outreach Committee, Holy Terror Days Association/ The Haunting of Keystone, Keystone Rural Fire Protection District, Keystone Chamber of Commerce, United Way of the Southern Black Hills, Black Hills & Badlands Association and the Libertarian Party of South Dakota.

Oakes is a fourth-generation South Dakotan and is the great-grandson of Cecil Clyde “C.C.” Gideon, who helped Sen. Peter Norbeck lay out Iron Mountain Road, designed the Pigtail Bridges, built and operated the State Game Lodge, designed Gutzon Borglum’s first artist studio and became the first private concessionaire at Mount Rushmore.

His parents, Marilyn and the late Art Oakes, have been active in local politics for many years.

“I have a 102-year vested interest in making sure our area and our state continue to thrive,” he said. “In addition to leadership experience, I bring a new set of eyes and ears to the table. District 30 deserves a fresh perspective and a state senator who can tackle tough issues with diplomacy, creativity and approachability.”

Oakes said a priority for him in Pierre is what he calls the elephant in the room: dealing with economic issues stemming from COVID-19.

“COVID showed us just how fragile the economy can be,” Oakes said. “South Dakota has proven that governments work best when they enable our innovators and industries, not cripple them. Whoever fills this seat for the next two years will be called upon to make some of the hardest decisions in our state’s history. We need someone who can think critically and not just follow the script.”

Oakes said another priority will be helping ranchers get “out of the hopeless situation of the supply chain controlled by the packer bottleneck.”

Oakes said when Theodore Roosevelt broke up the monopolies at the beginning of the last century, the six biggest packers controlled about half of the market. Now, the “big four” control close to 90 percent of the market and are able to buy the best lobbyists in D.C.

“At the state level, change begins with the creation or expansion of local meat-processing co-ops such as the one being formed by ranchers in southern Custer and Fall River counties. More processing throughput means fewer production bottlenecks,” Oakes said. “Additionally, we must follow Wyoming’s lead and enact food freedom legislation that will allow our farmers and ranchers the opportunity to market their livestock and other products directly.”

Oakes ran for state Senate in 2018 and said his team knocked on more than 3,500 doors around the district, which he said helped him build genuine connections with the people of District 30.

“That’s something that cannot be duplicated with money and mail pieces. Postcards and billboards are about ‘me,’ but real-life conversations are about ‘us,’” he said. “We need our community leaders to be effective, reasonable and approachable.”

Oakes said he will work to reduce government spending and return power to the people and fight to honor the promises made to our veterans.

“I will stand up for the rights of all South Dakotans, not just those who look, think or pray like me,” he said. Oakes said he will also defend the right to own and possess firearms and ammunition and protect an individual’s right to life, while being a strong ally and advocate for the visitor industry and parental rights to educate their children where and how they choose.

He added he will protect public resources against mismanagement and irresponsible neglect, as well.

“Finally,” he said, “I will demonstrate that the message of liberty does not stop at any one party’s bounds.”