Letter to the Editor - Hoffman: A different kind of politician

The irony is he never wanted to be a politician. Despite winning three elections at different levels … all against incumbents and by record margins … Sen-elect Brent “B.R.” Hoffman has always been a reluctant candidate for political office, only stepping up to serve when he felt God called him to it.

Serving on a City Council, he walked each precinct every year, listening to residents and trying to fix problems. Not many politicians knock on doors after elections, but residents appreciated it, naming him “Best Politician” four times. On the school board, he championed student performance and fiscal responsibility, donating his own salary to a scholarship fund for students. In the state senate, “He’s committed to doing a fair and honest job and the only way to do that is to be a good listener, do your homework and pray before you speak. He is ready, willing and able to do all of that, and will be a senator South Dakota can be proud of,” says Representative Rhonda Milstead. 

Not everyone appreciates his populist perspective, as even his own party worked against him in the primary. South Dakota’s governor and congressman knocked on doors for his opponent, a 15-year incumbent representative, but Hoffman rolled to a 67-33 victory anyway. Senator Lee Schoenbeck, now a friend of Hoffman, first supported his opponent as well saying, “after the primary I got to know Brent and spent some time with him and admire that he’s a student of the process.”

It’ll be interesting to watch this reluctant politician in the state senate, given his passion for term limits, transparency and other big ideas. But I think he’ll do well because he has a persevering nature, honed by raising two kids after losing his wife to cancer, even making it through the teenage years with only a few scratches. I’m confident he’ll make a difference and trust the results to God because he always has. I should know. He’s my dad.

Lydia Hoffman

Daughter of District 9 Senator-elect Brent Hoffman, Sioux Falls

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