MEET ERIN

My name is Erin Royer and I’m running to represent District 12 in the South Dakota House of Representatives. I’m a native of Pennsylvania and happily call Sioux Falls home. I live with my partner, his two daughters, our two cats, and two bunnies. 

I work in health care as a genetic counselor. I have the great privilege of helping families understand how their genetics might be impacting their health. It is a job that not many have heard of and one that is incredibly rewarding. I find and learn complex information and then break it down into something that makes sense to the families I work with. 

The skills I have learned and honed as a genetic counselor are perfectly suited to public service: a reliance on facts, the ability to critically evaluate facts and options, the skills to communicate clearly, working with people to find solutions that meet their goals and values, and composure in tense or emotionally charged situations. 

I look forward to hearing more about what issues matter most to you and all our neighbors in District 12. Here’s what I’m focused on as we start our campaign:

EDUCATION: a free, safe public education is the right of every child. In order to provide for that right, schools need the staff and the resources. Our teachers are some of the lowest paid in the nation and as a result we are losing qualified teachers to other states. 

THE ECONOMY: South Dakotans deserve a thriving economy, and we have many of the resources and tools to make it happen. We can leverage these resources and the tremendous work ethic of our people to create a workforce that includes and benefits all of us. 

OUR RIGHTS: Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These are the rights our country’s founding fathers identified. As a society and as a state, we need to ensure every citizen’s rights are protected — particularly the rights of the vulnerable and the under-represented. People whose rights are protected and clearly outlined are better able to fully participate in our society and our economy.

THE ENVIRONMENT: Our environment is a key resource for both we the people and our economy. The health of the environment impacts our health and safety, from water quality to temperatures to extreme weather events. The stability and consistency of our environment is crucial to our economy in a variety of ways including hunting, agriculture, and tourism. Protecting our environment and managing our natural resources is key to safeguarding and ensuring South Dakota’s future. 

HEALTH CARE: With the right to life comes the indisputable right to services to keep us healthy and alive. This year we have seen first-hand how crucial our health and healthcare are to keeping our economy running. A population cannot thrive without access to adequate care and an economy cannot thrive without a healthy workforce. 

RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT: For too long in SD, the will of the people has been ignored, the rights of citizens have been chipped away by legislative overreach, our elected officials have fought transparency, and some of them have acted as though the laws and rules do not apply to them. 

These are just some of the many issues impacting District 12 and all of South Dakota. What issues are you most concerned about?