By Carleen Wild
Moody County Enterprise
After decades of service to both our country and community, Flandreau resident Bart Sample says he is ready to take that experience to Pierre.
Sample announced late last year that he is seeking election to the South Dakota House of Representatives in District 25. He said his decision to run is driven by concerns about affordability, government accountability and whether today’s policy choices are setting up future generations for success.
If elected, Sample said his top priorities would be addressing property taxes, strengthening oversight of the state budget and reconsidering the use of public dollars for large corporate subsidies.
On property taxes, Sample said the current system relies too heavily on fluctuating market values rather than the actual cost of government. While acknowledging the need to fund schools, infrastructure and public safety, he said longtime property owners often face instability under the existing model. He believes the state should explore alternatives — similar to how agricultural land is taxed — that rely on measurable factors such as use, productivity or square footage.
Sample added that the issue weighing on him most is the future facing his children and grandchildren — and whether today’s leaders are being good stewards. That concern underpins what he calls his “4F” philosophy: Faith, Family, Freedom, and Fiscal Responsibility.
“The first question I’ll ask is whether something is moral and ethical for District 25,” he said.
“Then — does it help families, does it preserve freedom, and can we afford it without raising taxes or fees?”
On education, Sample said South Dakota needs a complete overhaul of its funding model. He questioned whether the state has ever clearly identified the true base cost of educating a K-12 student and said education should be treated as a core responsibility of state government — not pushed down to local school boards without adequate support.
“We can’t keep dumping obligations on local districts and then walking away,” he said.
Also, as a small business owner himself, Sample feels increasing regulations are quietly squeezing rural entrepreneurs. Rising taxes, utility costs and population-based licensing models, he said, often hurt small communities more than they help.
“Government doesn’t create jobs,” he said. “It needs to step out of the way and allow entrepreneurs to do that.”
As to how to get things done in the current political climate, Sample, who served more than 26 years in the U.S. Army and South Dakota Army National Guard, said his military background has shaped how he approaches disagreement.
“You don’t lead by yelling from the corners,” he said.
“You lead by talking to people, whether they agree with you or not, and finding the most productive path forward.”
Even when disagreements arise, Sample said mutual respect matters.
“I hope people know that even if we disagree, we’re all doing the best we can,” he said. “And that we can still be friends.”
Sample is one of multiple Republicans who have announced plans to seek a House seat in District 25, which is represented by two members. He joins Carrie Sanderson, who previously announced her candidacy, and that we profiled in August of last year. As of now, no Democratic or independent candidates have publicly filed for the District 25 House seats.
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