Agent Wins Gubernatorial Primary
NU Online News Service, June 11, 9:17 a.m. EST?An independent insurance agent has won the Republican nomination to run for governor in South Dakota after beating out two highly touted contenders in last week's primary.
Mike Rounds, an independent insurance agent from Pierre, S.D., beat-out two heavily financed opponents in the state's Republican primary run-off last Tuesday, June 4.
Mr. Rounds is a partner with Fischer, Rounds & Associates Inc., an insurance and real estate agency with offices in Pierre, Mitchell and Rapid City, S.D.
Taking 45 percent of the vote, Mr. Rounds was out-spent by his rivals, Lt. Gov. Steve Kirby and state Attorney General Mark Barnett, but managed to pull off victory in what local news organizations characterized as a backlash against the very negative campaign between the two state officials. Mr. Rounds spent less than $200,000, while Mr. Kirby spent more than $2 million and Mr. Barnett more than $1.5 million.
The agent is not new to politics, having spent 10 years as a state senator and six years as state Senate majority leader.
Mr. Rounds will face Democrat Jim Abbott, a former businessman from Yankton, S.D., and current president of the University of South Dakota.
The Alexandria, Va.-based Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America said Mr. Rounds was named "Agent of the Year" by the South Dakota Independent Insurance Agents in 1999. He was also honored by the National Federation of Independent Businesses in 1992 and 1998 as a "Guardian of Small Business."
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