Incumbent, newcomer take district House seats

By Mary Garrigan, Journal Staff Writer | Wednesday, November 08, 2006

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RAPID CITY - Incumbent Rep. Alan Hanks and Republican newcomer Brian Dreyer won seats in the state House of Representatives Tuesday in what Hanks called "probably the single cleanest race I can remember. All four candidates should be commended. I'm just thankful the voters of District 32 decided to send Brian Dreyer and myself to Pierre."

Hanks and Dreyer defeated Democratic challengers Suzan Nolan and Pam Hemmingsen.

Hanks took 29 percent of the votes (4,502) and Dreyer captured 27 percent (4,247). Nolan was third with 3,822 votes, or 24 percent, and Hemmingsen was fourth with 3,208 votes, or 20 percent.

Early in the night, with two predominantly Democratic precincts reporting, Nolan and Hemmingsen held slight margins with voters in the West Boulevard and old Robbinsdale areas, but that early lead dwindled as the other five precincts came in.

"One of those is the West Boulevard area, and that's where all those Democracy in Action gals live," Hanks said about the early reporting districts.

Hemmingsen and Nolan launched their campaigns from that grassroots women's political-action organization.

The District 32 House race had the distinction of being one of the few legislative races in which Referred Law 6 did not play a partisan role. All four candidates on the ticket were opposed to Referred Law 6 - the controversial near-total ban on abortions on this year's ballot.

Hanks was one of 22 state representatives who voted against HB1215. He said the law, with no exceptions for rape, incest or health of the mother, lacked compassion for women. Dreyer also opposed the ban.

The House race in District 32 was overshadowed by a higher-profile Senate race that Hanks said may have had "a tendency to confuse the voters on Brian's and my position on Referred Law 6." Democrat Tom Katus defeated Republican Elli Schwiesow in the Senate race (see accompanying story).

Hanks, finishing his first term in the Legislature, is real-estate appraiser and business owner. Dreyer is a real-estate agent and Army National Guard pilot.