Tim Goodwin: What Makes Him the Right Choice for District 30?

Political campaigns are full of promises. The useful question is not what a candidate says they will do. It is what they have already done and how that record lines up with what their district actually needs. Tim Goodwin has been representing District 30 in the South Dakota House of Representatives since 2016, and his record across nearly a decade of service offers a clear picture of both his governing style and his legislative priorities. As the 2026 midterm elections approach, that record is worth examining in full.

Where Did Tim Goodwin's Public Career Begin?

Before Pierre, there was Fort Bragg. Tim Goodwin enlisted in the U.S. Army at 18, joining the 82nd Airborne Division. He earned the Division's Distinguished Trooper Award, obtained his officer commission by 1980, and retired after 24 years of active service as a Lieutenant Colonel with 48 medals and commendations, including the Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award twice. The Douglas MacArthur award is given to company-grade officers who best demonstrate duty, honor, and country. Earning it twice reflects a sustained standard of leadership that spans more than a single assignment.

After retirement, he spent 19 years in business, selling American-made products and earning top salesperson recognition more than 17 times. He ran for the District 30 House seat in 2016 because he had identified a specific, long-standing problem in his community and decided the legislature was the right place to address it. Read the full biography at timrgoodwin.com/who-we-are.

What Has Tim Goodwin Actually Delivered?

The legislative record is concrete. His most significant single achievement is House Bill HB-1110, prime-sponsored in 2019. The bill established criminal penalties for failing to file birth and death certificates, addressing a 14-year accountability gap at the FLDS compound in Custer County that had operated without registering a single birth or death since 2005. The bill passed 67-1 in the House and 33-0 in the Senate. Governor Kristi Noem signed it into law. Less than two years after passage, the compound sold at a sheriff's foreclosure sale for $750,000 after three former members won a multi-million dollar federal lawsuit against FLDS leadership.

He also voted to impeach Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg in April 2022, entering the floor debate personally and stating his reasoning publicly: a law enforcement officer found untruthful by investigators should be removed from office regardless of party affiliation. The floor debate is available on YouTube by searching SD Legislature Special Session April 12, 2022.

What Is the Tim Goodwin Campaign Focused On?

The Tim Goodwin campaign heading into the 2026 midterms is built around four specific issues that directly affect District 30 voters:

• Property tax reform: his proposal to replace residential property taxes with a 5.5% state sales tax increase, generating approximately $1.65 billion against $1.49 billion in current collections, backed by publicly available revenue modeling at timrgoodwin.com

• ALPR surveillance: his proposal to make South Dakota a one-plate state, eliminating the front license plate requirement to reduce the data automated license plate reader cameras can collect on ordinary drivers

• Military infrastructure: sustained advocacy for Ellsworth Air Force Base investment, including the B21 Raider deployment bringing 40 aircraft and a training squadron to Pennington County

• Fiscal accountability: consistent opposition to government expansion during surplus revenue periods, with a stated preference for returning excess revenue to taxpayers

These are not campaign season positions. Each has a documented legislative history or a current bill in development. Follow the campaign at timrgoodwin.com.

How Does He Engage With Voters Between Elections?

This is where Tim Goodwin separates himself from most state legislators. Between sessions, he publishes regular blog posts in plain language covering legislative analysis, community events, and policy positions. He shares his personal phone (605.390.5324) and personal email ([email protected]) publicly. He maintains a Facebook page at facebook.com/GoodwinforSD with regular updates. And he invites direct constituent input on specific legislative questions before drafting bills, as he has done with the ALPR one-plate proposal, asking voters to email a yes or no to [email protected] before he moves forward.

This approach reflects a campaign philosophy that does not stop on election night. It treats representation as a continuous, year-round responsibility. Join his email list at timrgoodwin.com/contact to receive updates directly.

Why Tim Goodwin Is Still the Right Voice for District 30

The 2026 midterm elections are arriving in a South Dakota political environment marked by a historic governor's runoff, active debate over property tax policy, and new constitutional questions around surveillance technology. Tim Goodwin has a specific, documented response to each of these developments. His decade of service in District 30 is not a reason to take his seat for granted. It is a foundation for the work that still needs to be done. Get involved at 605.390.5324 or timrgoodwin.com.