Muslim candidate hopes to bring new voice to Pierre

Rasa - A Muslim candidate for the South Dakota state Senate says he hopes he can bring a different viewpoint to Pierre next year.

News ID: 423938

Date: 27 September 2016 - 23:48

RNA - "Muslims have been talked about a lot in some of the political campaigns that are going on so I think that it's important for people to be aware of the Muslims in their own community and I think it’s important for Muslims to define ourselves within the larger community," Koch said. "We live here and we want to have a positive impact on our state and our community."

Koch said he decided to fill the Democratic vacancy in the District 9 in August after candidate Holly Boltjes withdrew. He said he hopes to support Gov. Dennis Daugaard's proposal to expand Medicaid in the state and oppose measure that could reduce rights of LGBT people.

“I didn’t want to see that opening go unfilled because I don’t think the Republicans in Pierre have done a good job for the people of South Dakota,” Koch said.

He said he knows he'll have David and Goliath style match-up in challenging Sen. Deb Peters, R-Hartford, who had more than $22,000 in cash on hand at the end of the pre-primary reporting period in May. Koch hasn't submitted a campaign finance report as he entered the race after the pre-primary filing deadline. He admitted that he doesn't have the financial resources that Peters has, but hopes to connect to voters by campaigning door to door in the district.

Peters, who has served 12 years in the Legislature and was elected president of the National Conference of State Legislators earlier this year, said she believes she has represented voters of all faiths.

"It doesn't matter what religion you are or what color you are or how old you are, I feel like I've done a good job of representing everybody," Peters said.

She said she is working to maintain a competitive campaign by sending mailers about her candidacy, going door to door and putting out additional advertising.

"We've been running the same campaign for 12 years and we're not going to let up," Peters said.

Voters will decide in November whether Koch or Peters will take a Senate seat in 2017.

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