

Bjorkman an ethical man of vision: Your June 18 Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor
Tim Bjorkman, a U.S. House candidate, speaks at a news conference Thursday in Sioux Falls.

Letters to the Editor for June 18: 

Bjorkman an ethical man of vision

Tim Bjorkman stepped down from being a judge to enter the race for our U.S. House seat because he wanted to see the American values he believed in for our country. Valuing hard work, determination and loyalty to both our country and state. No matter what your party affiliation is, in Tim we have a candidate that cuts across party lines. He's a reformer to the core, supporting term limits and getting rid of money in politics. He is running this race with South Dakota values, intelligence and love for our veterans.

Tim is married to Kay and they raised their four sons in Canistota. Three of those sons  served in the military. He is running this race because he wanted to see that we leave our children and grandchildren the kind of America our generation inherited and the rest of the world longs to achieve. His deep Christian faith and his solid moral compass make Tim the kind of person we can fully support.

The impact Tim has had on people as a judge is impressive. In his time on the bench, he saw up close how our current policies have failed to address key issues like mental illness, poverty, addiction, abuse and crime and punishment. He believes in investing in our neighborhoods, that means sufficient healthcare, education, and pre-K programs which opens up the American dream to children from all backgrounds.

Tim is picking up support from both parties including many respected Republicans Legislators and former Attorney General. He is a problem solver and a non-partisan reformer who believes neither party really represents or understands ordinary Americans. He has chosen to run a grass roots race only answering to the people of South Dakota. Dr. Steve Manlove said about Tim: ''Very impressive man. No one owns Tim.....l think he is head and shoulders above the other candidates."

I don't usually write an article for a political candidate, in fact I never have, but Tim is a rare find, willing to run this race with no Pac money, hoping people like you will support him. His deep faith and his solid moral compass make Tim the kind of person we can fully support. A man with a vision, a deep work ethic and a willingness to see it happen. Republican, Democrat or Independent, this is your candidate!

Joan Sercl, Sioux Falls

Trump is pitting Americans against Americans

Trump has an amazing ability to speak to the worst version of ourselves. When you listen to his speeches to his supporters, he gets the most cheers for his most violent and negative comments. Hate is in; brotherhood is out. Racism is in; tolerance is out. The Ku Klux Klan is the group to join, not the League of Women Voters. I keep thinking he wants to take us back to the 1950s, but then Truman and Eisenhower were our presidents and neither one would approve of him. I continue to hope that we will get this out of our system and be able to move on to a better world, but at what cost and what have we taught our children?

Worst of all, he is pitting Americans against Americans, not in a well-meaning debate based on facts but in an ill-meaning punching each other mode. For a head of state, his contempt of his country's long-cherished values is truly reprehensible. And, he does all this for his own benefit, defying all norms, laws, morals, ethics. It is hard not to feel sad for those who have been mesmerized by his random utterances about anything that may pop into his head.

It is sad to see America being dragged down by this man who badly pretends to be the president of this country with no regard for its well-being.

David Anderson, Sioux Falls