Kristi Noem, Rising GOP Star, Under Fire for 20 Speeding Tickets
Patricia Murphy
Capitol Hill Bureau Chief
Posted:
08/27/10
Kristi Noem, the Republican nominee challenging incumbent Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin for South Dakota's only House seat, is under fire after local news reporters unearthed her lengthy record of driving violations.
Noem, 38, is widely considered to be one of the GOP's strongest candidates this year. She was recently featured in a front page Washington Post profile of the South Dakota race and topped our list of the "Next Women to Watch" in the 2010 election cycle because of her experience as assistant majority leader in the South Dakota House of Representatives and her strong showing in polls that have her leading Herseth Sandlin.
According to local news reports, Noem's lifetime driving record includes 20 speeding tickets, three stop sign violations, two seat belt violations, and a citation for failing to carry her driver's license. She has also received six notices for failing to appear in court and two arrest warrants for failing to pay fines related to her tickets. She was stopped by police earlier this year for driving 94 mph.
Noem, a mother of three and a state legislator, told Keloland.com that she is not proud of her driving record and that she is trying to set a better example for young drivers. She also said she is up to date on all of her fines.
"I just feel disheartened we're spending time talking about my poor driving record when we could be talking about the economy and jobs," she said.
But Herseth Sandlin and her campaign aren't letting Noem off the hook easily.
Russ Levsen, a senior adviser to Herseth Sandlin, blasted Noem for her driving record and said it speaks to the kind of leader she will be. "Kristi Noem thinks the rules don't apply to her," Levsen told the Rapid City Journal. "She repeatedly breaks the law, fails to appear in court and has multiple warrants for her arrest issued. The last thing we need in Congress is a politician who ignores the court dates and racks up arrests warrants."
South Dakota has a sad history of elected officials with troubled driving records. In 2003, Bill Janklow, the state's congressman and former four-term governor, was convicted of second-degree manslaughter after he was involved in a fatal collision in rural South Dakota. Police said the congressman was driving more than 65 mph when failed to stop at a stop sign, hitting a motorcyclist, who died instantly. Janklow had 12 speeding tickets before that accident.
Janklow resigned his seat in Congress, which Herseth Sandlin won in a special election.
Noem, 38, is widely considered to be one of the GOP's strongest candidates this year. She was recently featured in a front page Washington Post profile of the South Dakota race and topped our list of the "Next Women to Watch" in the 2010 election cycle because of her experience as assistant majority leader in the South Dakota House of Representatives and her strong showing in polls that have her leading Herseth Sandlin.
According to local news reports, Noem's lifetime driving record includes 20 speeding tickets, three stop sign violations, two seat belt violations, and a citation for failing to carry her driver's license. She has also received six notices for failing to appear in court and two arrest warrants for failing to pay fines related to her tickets. She was stopped by police earlier this year for driving 94 mph.
Noem, a mother of three and a state legislator, told Keloland.com that she is not proud of her driving record and that she is trying to set a better example for young drivers. She also said she is up to date on all of her fines."I just feel disheartened we're spending time talking about my poor driving record when we could be talking about the economy and jobs," she said.
But Herseth Sandlin and her campaign aren't letting Noem off the hook easily.
Russ Levsen, a senior adviser to Herseth Sandlin, blasted Noem for her driving record and said it speaks to the kind of leader she will be. "Kristi Noem thinks the rules don't apply to her," Levsen told the Rapid City Journal. "She repeatedly breaks the law, fails to appear in court and has multiple warrants for her arrest issued. The last thing we need in Congress is a politician who ignores the court dates and racks up arrests warrants."
South Dakota has a sad history of elected officials with troubled driving records. In 2003, Bill Janklow, the state's congressman and former four-term governor, was convicted of second-degree manslaughter after he was involved in a fatal collision in rural South Dakota. Police said the congressman was driving more than 65 mph when failed to stop at a stop sign, hitting a motorcyclist, who died instantly. Janklow had 12 speeding tickets before that accident.
Janklow resigned his seat in Congress, which Herseth Sandlin won in a special election.