Mike Rounds 375373 218550901 2008-06-11T03:55:17Z RWReagan 6464223 /* 2002 Gubernatorial Election */ {{Infobox_Governor |name= Mike Rounds |image= Mike Rounds 2004.jpg<!--Do not add his official portrait; noncommercial use of that image is restricted and it will be speedily deleted. --> |order=31<sup>st</sup> |office= Governor of South Dakota |term_start= [[January 7]], [[2003]] |term_end= |lieutenant= [[Dennis Daugaard]] |predecessor= [[William J. Janklow]] |successor=Incumbent |state_senate2= South Dakota |district2= 24th |term2= 1991-2000 |preceded2= |succeeded2= Patricia de Hueck |state_senate3= South Dakota |majority_leader3= 8th |term3= 1995-2000 |predecessor3= Roger D. McKellips |successor3= Barbara Everist |birth_date= {{birth date and age|1954|10|24}} |birth_place= [[Huron, South Dakota]] |death_date= |death_place= |spouse= Jean Rounds |profession= [[Insurance|Insurance executive]], [[Politician]] |party= [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] |religion=[[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] |footnotes= }} '''Marion Michael "Mike" Rounds''' (born [[October 24]], [[1954]]) is an [[United States|American]] [[Politics of the United States|politician]]. Rounds has served as [[Governor of South Dakota|Governor]] of [[South Dakota]] since [[January 7]], [[2003]], having been [[election|elected]] on [[November 5]], [[2002]] and re-elected on [[November 7]], [[2006]]. ==Personal== Rounds, the oldest of eleven children, was born in [[Huron, South Dakota]] and has lived in [[Pierre, South Dakota|Pierre]], the [[state capital]], since he was three. Rounds was named for an uncle, Marion Rounds, who was killed in the Pacific theatre during the [[Second World War]]; however, he has from a young age been known as "Mike." Several members of the Rounds family have been involved in state government. His father, [[Don Rounds]], worked at various times as state director of highway safety, a staffer for [[Rural Electrification Administration]], and executive director of the South Dakota Petroleum Council. Rounds' brother, [[Tim Rounds]], is a member of the [[South Dakota Legislature|South Dakota State Legislature]] representing District 24, which includes [[Pierre, South Dakota|Pierre]]. Rounds attended [[South Dakota State University]] in [[Brookings, South Dakota|Brookings]], where he earned his [[Bachelor of Science|B.S.]] in [[political science]]. While at [[South Dakota State University|SDSU]], Rounds met his wife, [[Jean Rounds|Jean]], formerly of [[Lake Preston, South Dakota]]. They were married in [[1978]] and have four children. Rounds is a partner in Fischer Rounds & Associates, an [[insurance]] and [[real estate]] firm with offices in [[Pierre, South Dakota|Pierre]], [[Rapid City, South Dakota|Rapid City]], [[Mitchell, South Dakota|Mitchell]], and [[Brandon, South Dakota|Brandon]]. He placed his ownership interest into a [[blind trust]] upon being elected governor. Rounds is a member of Ss. Peter and Paul [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic Church]] of Pierre. He is also a member of numerous service clubs and community organizations including [[Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks|Elks]], [[National Exchange Club|Exchange Club]], [[Knights of Columbus]], and [[Ducks Unlimited]]. ==Political== ===State Senator=== Rounds represented District 24, which includes [[Pierre, South Dakota|Pierre]] and the surrounding area in the [[South Dakota Legislature|South Dakota State Legislature]] from [[1991]] to [[2001]], serving from [[1995]] as [[majority leader]]. In [[1990]], Rounds won 52.5% of the vote in a successful challenge of incumbent state senator Jacqueline Kelley, a [[Pierre, South Dakota|Pierre]] [[United States Democratic Party|Democrat]]. He was reelected in [[1992]] with 59.9%, in [[1994]] with 77.3%, in [[1996]] with 66.0%, and in [[1998]] with 74.9%. Rounds was barred from seeking reelection in [[2000]] by [[term limit|legislative term limits]], which South Dakota voters had passed in [[1994]]. In [[1995]], Rounds was selected by his peers to be [[majority leader|Senate Majority Leader]]. During his time as majority leader, Rounds worked closely with [[Bill Janklow|Governor Bill Janklow]] and was respected for his effective leadership of the Senate. Rounds had an important role in passing several of [[Bill Janklow|Janklow's]] initiatives, including [[property tax]] reduction, reform of the school aid funding formula, the "wiring" of South Dakota schools, and the sale of the state cement plant. ===2002 Gubernatorial Election=== Rounds' victory in the 2002 Republican Gubernatorial Primary was one of South Dakota's greatest political upsets. Until late in 2001, then-Congressman [[John Thune]] was the front-runner for the nomination. When Thune passed on the race to challenge [[Tim Johnson (politician)|Senator Tim Johnson]], state Attorney General [[Mark Barnett]] and former Lt. Governor [[Steve T. Kirby|Steve Kirby]] quickly became candidates. Rounds declared his candidacy late, in December [[2001]], and was outraised and outspent ten-to-one by each of his opponents. However, the contest between Kirby and Barnett soon became very negative and "dirty." As the two front-runners concentrated on each other, Rounds insisted on running a positive campaign and was not attacked by his opponents. Rounds' positive image and extensive knowledge of state government won him many supporters who were alienated by the front-runners. On the day of the primary election, Rounds won a stunning victory, winning 44.3% to Barnett's 29.5% and Kirby's 26.1%. After winning the [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] nomination, Rounds selected state senator [[Dennis Daugaard]] of [[Dell Rapids, South Dakota|Dell Rapids]] to be his running mate. Their [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] opponents were [[University of South Dakota]] President [[James W. Abbott (U.S. Politician)|Jim Abbott]] of [[Vermillion, South Dakota|Vermillion]] and his running mate, former state representative [[Mike Wilson U.S. Politician|Mike Wilson]] of [[Rapid City, South Dakota|Rapid City]]. During the campaign, Abbott, who had been considered the [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic Party's]] strongest nominee in years, was hampered by his strategic inability to attack Rounds; any effort to "go negative" would have only reinforced Rounds' positive campaign. Rounds was elected governor on [[November 5]], [[2002]]. The results were as follows: *[[United States Republican Party|Republicans]]: Mike Rounds and [[Dennis Daugaard]] — 56.8% *[[United States Democratic Party|Democrats]]: [[James W. Abbott (U.S. Politician)|Jim Abbott]] and [[Mike Wilson U.S. Politician|Mike Wilson]] — 41.9% *Independent: Jim Carlson and Ron Bosch — 0.7% *[[United States Libertarian Party|Libertarians]]: Nathan Barton and Eric Risty — 0.6% Rounds' election signaled several "firsts" for [[South Dakota]]. Rounds is the first resident of [[Pierre, South Dakota|Pierre]], the [[capital city]], to be elected [[List of Governors of South Dakota|Governor]]. He is also the first alumnus of [[South Dakota State University]], the state's largest university, to serve as governor, as well as the first [[baby boomer]]. ===2006 Election=== Rounds enjoyed high popularity throughout most of his first term. After signing a controversial bill to ban most abortions in early 2006, Rounds approval rating dropped significantly, but recovered substantially by summer. Rounds was therefore a heavy favorite for reelection. In [[2004]], rumors circulated that [[television]] personality and former South Dakotan [[Pat O'Brien (television)|Pat O'Brien]] was considering a return to his home state to challenge Rounds; however, revelations of personal problems ended speculation about an O'Brien candidacy in [[2006]]. Former state senator [[Ron Volesky]] of [[Huron, South Dakota|Huron]], a [[United States Democratic Party|Democrat]], had announced his intention to oppose Rounds, but abandoned his bid on [[February 22]], [[2006]], citing an inability to raise funds. Two [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] candidates emerged to challenge Rounds: [[Jack Billion]], a retired surgeon and former [[South Dakota Legislature|state legislator]] from [[Sioux Falls, South Dakota|Sioux Falls]], and [[Dennis Wiese]], the former president of the South Dakota [[National Farmers Union (U.S.)|Farmers Union]]. Billion easily defeated Wiese for the nomination, and selected [[Rapid City, South Dakota|Rapid City]] school board member [[Eric Abrahamson]] as his running mate. Rounds was reelected on [[November 7]], [[2006]]. The results were as follows: *[[United States Republican Party|Republicans]]: Mike Rounds and [[Dennis Daugaard]] — 61.7% *[[United States Democratic Party|Democrats]]: [[Jack Billion]] and [[Eric Abrahamson]] — 36.1% *[[United States Constitution Party|Constitution]]: Steve Willis and Larry Johnsen — 1.2% *[[United States Libertarian Party|Libertarians]]: Tom Gerber and Betty Rose Ryan — 1.0% ==Rounds Administration== ===Abortion ban=== {{main|Women's Health and Human Life Protection Act}} On [[February 22]], [[2006]], the state legislature of South Dakota passed an act banning all medical [[abortion]]s except those necessary to save the mother's life (see [[double effect]]). Rounds signed the act on [[March 6]], and the ban was to have taken effect on [[July 1]], [[2006]], but never did because of a court challenge. A [[referendum]] for a potential [[repeal]] of H.B. 1215 was placed on the ballot for the November 2006 statewide election due to a successful petition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sdhealthyfamilies.org/ |accessdate= |title= South Dakota voters reject abortion ban |date=November 7, 2006 |work=Argus Leader}}</ref> On [[May 30]], over 38,000 signatures were filed, more than twice the 17,000 required to qualify. The law was ultimately repealed by voters on [[November 7]], [[2006]].<ref> {{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,228038,00.html|accessdate= |title=South Dakota Nixes Abortion Ban; Michigan Voters OK Anti-Affirmative Action Initiative |author=Associated Press |date=[[November 8]], [[2006]] |publisher=FOX News.com}}</ref> According to a Survey USA poll released in January 2006, Rounds had an approval rating of 73% and a "net" approval rating of +52%, which placed him among the top five governors in the United States in terms of approval rating.<ref>{{cite web |accessdate= |url=http://www.surveyusa.com/50State2006/50StateGovernor060119State.htm |title=Approval Ratings for all 50 Governors as of 1/19/2006 |publisher=Survey USA |date=[[January 19]], [[2006]]}}</ref> Following the abortion ban, again according to a SurveyUSA poll, Rounds' approval rating dropped 14% to 58%; his approval rebounded to 70% after the ban was repealed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollTrack.aspx?g=092306be-e054-4919-a24c-23b98295658a |accessdate= |title=Poll:Do you approve or disapprove of the job Mike Rounds is doing as Governor? |publisher=Survey USA}}</ref> ===Distilleries legislation=== During the 2006 legislative session, Governor Rounds signed House Bill 1233, entitled “An Act to provide for the establishment and operation of artisan distillers and to revise certain provisions concerning farm wineries.”<ref>{{cite web |url=http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2006/1233.htm |accessdate= |title=House Bill 1233 |work=2006 Legislative Session |publisher=South Dakota Legislature}}</ref> This bill, proposed by the Rounds’ brother, Jamison, changed state law to allow for operation of small-scale (50,000 gallons/year/facility) liquor distilleries in the state.<ref>{{cite web|accessdate= |url=http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2006/bills/HB1233enr.htm |title=HB 1233 (text of bill) |work:Bills, 2006 Legislative Session |publisher=South Dakota Legislature}}</ref> At the time, Jamison Rounds testified before the legislature and explained that he was advocating the change so that he could open a distillery in the state.<ref>{{cite web| |url=http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2006/Audio.aspx?MeetingDate=02/21/2006&CommitteeCode=SCO&BillNumber=1233 |format=audio file |title=Senate Commerce Committee hearing |date=[[February 21]], [[2006]] |work=2006 Legislative Session |publisher=South Dakota Legislature}}</ref> The bill passed the state house 60-5 and the state senate 33-2; among those voting in favor was another Rounds brother, Representative Tim Rounds.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://legis.state.sd.us/sessions/2006/rollcallv033004.htm |accessdate=2006-12-16 |title= Roll Call Vote, HB 1233, House of Representatives, Concurred in amendments |work=2006 Legislative Session |publisher=South Dakota Legislature}}</ref> Shortly after the law went into effect, Jamison Rounds and another brother, Tom, announced that they had purchased a building outside of Pierre with the intention of opening a distillery.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rounds' brothers plan new distillery |date=[[August 12]], [[2006]] |author=Jonathan Ellis |work=Argus Leader |id=sio2006081416070110}}</ref> ''The Argus Leader'', the largest newspaper in South Dakota, ran an opinion piece regarding the legislature’s overwhelming passage of the distillery bill. The article, entitled “Ethically confused — again: For lawmakers, high moral ground doesn't include the Rounds' booze business,” noted the irony that the state legislature would allow operation of distilleries in the same session that it passed legislation banning abortion.<ref>{{cite news| |title=Ethically confused — again |work=Argus Leader |date=[[August 13]], [[2006]] |id=sio2006081513350174}}</ref> Sen. Clarence Kooistra (R), one of the few state legislators to vote against the bill was quoted as saying, "I just didn't think we should be expanding liquor sales. I felt we were sending the wrong message." ===Death penalty=== Under Rounds' administration South Dakota has performed the first execution in this state [[List of individuals executed in South Dakota|since 1947]], when volunteer [[Elijah Page]]<ref>{{cite web | last =Death Penalty Information Center | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Executions in the United States in 2007 | work = | publisher = | date = | url =http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?did=1666 | format = | doi = | accessdate =2007-11-20 }}</ref> was put to death by [[lethal injection]]. ==Political Future== ===Beyond 2006=== Speculation persisted that in [[2008]], Rounds would seek the [[United States Senate]] seat held currently by [[Tim Johnson (politician)|Tim Johnson]], a [[United States Democratic Party|Democrat]] who has held the seat since [[1997]]. Although Rounds had not definitively ruled out a 2008 bid for U.S. Senate, he didn't file to run against Johnson by the deadline, passing on the race for Senate. After Rounds attracted national attention by signing into law South Dakota's ban on abortion, there was speculation that Rounds could mount a longshot bid for the 2008 [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] nomination for [[President of the United States]]{{Fact|date=February 2007}}. However, Rounds has never publicly expressed any interest in pursuing the presidency. (''see'' [[Potential Republican candidates in the 2008 U.S. presidential election#Other people mentioned as possible candidates|Potential 2008 Republican presidential candidates]].) ==Electoral History== {{Election box begin | title=South Dakota Gubernatorial Election 2002}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party (US) |candidate = Mike Rounds |votes = 189,899 |percentage = 56.8 |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = [[James_W._Abbott|Jim Abbott]] |votes = 140,260 |percentage = 41.9 |change = }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin | title=[[South Dakota gubernatorial election, 2006|South Dakota Gubernatorial Election 2006]]}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party (US) |candidate = Mike Rounds (Incumbent) |votes = 207,000 |percentage = 61.7 |change = +4.9 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = [[Jack Billion]] |votes = 121,242 |percentage = 36.1 |change = }} {{Election box end}} ==Notes== <references/> ==External links== *[http://www.state.sd.us/governor South Dakota Office of the Governor Mike Rounds] — '''official state site''' *[http://www.roundsforgov.com/ Mike Rounds for Governor] — ''official campaign site'' *[http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=1a28224971c81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD National Governors Association — South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds] — biography *[http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200641&c=426091 Follow the Money — Mike Rounds] — 2006 campaign contributions *[http://www.ontheissues.org/Mike_Rounds.htm On the Issues — Mike Rounds] — issue positions and quotes *[http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=BS025585 Project Vote Smart — Governor M. Michael 'Mike' Rounds (SD)] — profile * [http://www.sdsos.gov/Elections/ South Dakota Secretary of State Elections Information] — for South Dakota election results since 1972 * [http://www.2010initiative.com 2010 Initiative] — official homepage of Governor Rounds' economic development plan for South Dakota *[http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/mike_rounds.html Brainy Quote — Mike Rounds] — quotations *[http://legis.state.sd.us/historical/Index.aspx?FuseAction=Detail&MemberID=2847 Mike Rounds legislative service] — from the South Dakota Legislative Research Council. '''Organizations''' * [http://www.southdakotagop.com/ South Dakota Republican Party] * [http://www.nga.org/ National Governors Association] * [http://www.rga.org/ Republican Governors Association] * [http://www.westgov.org/ Western Governors Association] * [http://www.midwestgovernors.org/ Midwestern Governors Association] '''Articles''' * [http://www.southdakotaelections.com/ South Dakota Politics] — reporting on South Dakota Politics by the Argus Leader * [http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&q=%22Mike+Rounds%22 Latest news involving Mike Rounds] — courtesy of Google News * [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/22/AR2006022202424.html S.D. Abortion Bill Takes Aim at 'Roe'] * [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11699703 South Dakota governor signs abortion ban] * [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4780522.stm US state tightens abortion laws] '''Web Media''' * [http://creepysleepy.com/2006/05/18/creepy-sleepy-show-49-interview-with-south-dakota-governor-mike-rounds/ Creepy Sleepy] Governor Rounds interviewed by the Creepy Sleepy Show podcast, May 2006 {{start box}} {{incumbent succession box| before=[[William J. Janklow]]| title=[[Governor of South Dakota]]| start=2003| }} {{end box}} {{SDGovernors}} {{Current U.S. governors}} <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] --> {{Persondata |NAME= Rounds, Mike |ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Rounds, Marion Michael |SHORT DESCRIPTION= Governor of South Dakota |DATE OF BIRTH= 1954-10-24 |PLACE OF BIRTH= [[Huron, South Dakota]] |DATE OF DEATH= |PLACE OF DEATH= }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Rounds, Mike}} [[Category:1954 births]] [[Category:Governors of South Dakota]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:South Dakota State Senators]] [[Category:American Roman Catholics]] [[Category:South Dakota Republicans]] [[da:Mike Rounds]] [[de:Mike Rounds]] [[fr:Mike Rounds]] [[no:Mike Rounds]] [[fi:Mike Rounds]] [[sv:Mike Rounds]]