Quinten Burg of Wessington Springs has announced his candidacy for the state Senate in District 20, which consists of Aurora, Davison, and Jerauld counties.

Burg, 63, is a former District 22 legislator. The recent reorganization of legislative districts in South Dakota moved him into this new District 20.

“I want to continue to influence the future of our state,” he said. “That’s why I’m running for the state Senate. I’ve tried in the past to bring common sense ideas to Pierre that will help South Dakota over the long run.”

“I’ve seen the legislature when members have worked together cooperatively to get things done for our citizens,” Burg, a democrat, said. “South Dakotans are tired of recent divisions along political lines. I want to get input from the people in District 20 and work towards policies that benefit our state as a whole.”

As a lifelong resident of Jerauld County, Burg has farmed and ranched east of Wessington Springs. “Growing up in a family of 7 children, and working alongside my parents, Pearl and Albert Burg, I had the unique opportunity to see the struggles and successes in our rural areas and I take pride in the people who have worked hard to make agriculture our number one industry in South Dakota,” he said. Burg understands the direct impact agriculture has on all of our lives and says if agriculture isn’t doing well, other areas of our economy don’t thrive either.

“Right now agriculture is prospering and is one of the reasons our state’s economy hasn’t faltered as much as other states,” he said. He believes his knowledge and experience brings added perspective to the state Capitol on issues affecting people and communities in District 20.

Burg is part of the Firesteel Ranch Corporation with his brother, Jim Burg, and nephews Cory Burg and Jeff Burg. He attended South Dakota State University for two years and served in the South Dakota National Guard.

Education funding will be a critical discussion during the 2012 campaign, he said, because of the major cuts to education in the 2010 legislative session and the controversial education reforms in HB1234 during the 2011 session. “I have always supported teachers and students by advocating for adequate base funding for education and sound policies to support local school districts,” Burg said. “I was disappointed that more funding was not restored to the base formula for schools, giving all teachers and all students the ongoing resources they need to succeed.”

Burg serves on the board of a multi-county Community Counseling Services agency and is a director on the Wessington Springs Area Community Development board.

“The people we elect to state office make critical decisions that directly affect the lives of South Dakotans,” Burg said. “I don’t take that responsibility lightly and will represent voters in District 20 with solid decisions and true accountability.”

Burg served 10 years in the South Dakota House of Representatives from 1999-2004 and 2007-2010. He was a member of the House Appropriations committee, the Executive Board of the legislature, and a former House Assistant Minority Leader.

Quinten and his wife, Linda, live on the family farm near Wessington Springs. She is a retired SDSU Extension educator.

Be Sociable, Share!

•