Tom Hills seeks District 31 senate seat

By Tim Velder, Lawrence County Journal | Wednesday, March 26, 2008

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Dist. 31 Rep. Tom Hills, R-Spearfish, has filed his candidacy for the Republican nomination for the Dist. 31 senate seat being vacated by Sen. Jerry Apa of Lead.

Apa cannot seek re-election because of term limits.

Hills has been the state representative for District 31 for four years and said he is seeking the senate seat to continue to work for the district.

"As a senato, you are one in 35, and you are in a position to perhaps do more good for your constituents and things close to your heart," Hills said.

One issue Hills intends to work on is increasing state aid to education, saying the current funding mechanisms are "barely keeping up with inflation."

"I think we should do substantially more," Hills said. "I'm sick and tired of being 51st in the country (for teacher pay)."

Hills said he would support efforts to raise more money for education through an enhanced property tax base and changing the current property tax structure where needed.

He also advocates increasing the state sales tax by one percent. Hills said the increase would raise $100 million, which could be divided into equal shares for education and property tax relief.

"Elected officials are hesitant to increase taxes, but this would kill two birds with one stone," Hills said.

Hills has lived in Spearfish since 1969. He taught government and political science classes and administrated at Black Hills State University for 34 years. He is a native of western South Dakota and previously served as a South Dakota delegate to the Republican National Convention.