South Dakota District 4 House Candidate Emelia Enquist Discusses Property Taxes, Data Centers in Watertown
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Emelia Enquist, a Democratic candidate for the South Dakota House of Representatives in District 4, joined Northeast Radio SD live in the Watertown studio to discuss her background, campaign priorities, and approach to representing rural communities in Pierre ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.
District 4 encompasses the rural area surrounding Watertown, including Milbank, Clear Lake, Estelline, Florence, Henry, Strandburg, Stockholm, Revillo, Corona, and Marvin. Four candidates are vying for two House seats in the district.
Background and Return to Northeast South Dakota
Enquist grew up in Strandburg and Stockholm, attended Grant-Deuel School in Revillo through eighth grade, and graduated from Great Plains Lutheran High School in Watertown. She earned a degree in advertising, public relations, and music from Drury University in Springfield, Missouri.
After about 10 years in digital marketing, youth ministry, higher education communications, and public health marketing in Arkansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, and Rapid City, Enquist returned to northeast South Dakota in late 2022. She worked as a writer for the Grant County Review in Milbank and currently serves as a synod-authorized Lutheran minister for three small congregations in Deuel and Grant counties.
"I look at it as another arm of service to this place that is a good place to live and that we can make better," Enquist said of her decision to run for the Legislature.
Data Centers, Tax Incentives, and Economic Development
Addressing recent discussions around data centers in District 4 and across the state, Enquist emphasized the need for local control and state-level regulatory guardrails.
"I am 100 percent with the people who are cautious, who are concerned about what a data center does to the land, what it does to the overall quality of life in a place," Enquist said. "And I am very much for regulation that would come at a state level to encourage these local communities to put these guidelines and guardrails in place so data centers would pay their fair share, so they would be beholden to not decimating a water supply."
On broader corporate tax incentives, Enquist stated she views corporate subsidies cautiously and prefers focusing economic development efforts on local communities.
"When I think about economic development, I think more about making sure that we have strong schools, making sure that there are opportunities for child care, making sure that there is affordable housing, and making sure that our small businesses and our local people have these opportunities to grow and to develop," Enquist said.
Property Taxes and Constituent Concerns
Enquist noted that rising property valuations and property taxes are key issues raised by District 4 residents. She described recent legislative efforts that shifted portions of the tax burden toward sales tax as a temporary measure rather than a permanent fix, noting that sales tax increases impact renters who do not own property.
She added that she does not expect a state income tax to be enacted in 2027 and opposes further taxing the earnings of lower-income workers and teachers, noting that South Dakota ranks 46th out of 50 states in teacher pay. Alongside tax policy, Enquist said constituents frequently voice concerns about the cost of living, teacher salaries, child care availability, and keeping rural nursing homes staffed and open.
Bipartisanship and the Nov. 3 General Election
Running as a Democrat in a Republican-majority Legislature, Enquist said she welcomes the opportunity to work across the aisle and avoid partisan divisiveness.
"We're all South Dakotans, everybody," Enquist said. "We basically want the same things, which is for the state to function, to have a budget that works, and to serve the people who've elected us out there."
Enquist also highlighted voting procedures for the Nov. 3 general election, reminding District 4 voters that while they may vote for up to two candidates for the House of Representatives, they can also cast a single vote for one candidate—a practice known as bullet voting. She also encouraged voters to participate even if they leave certain ballot measures or amendments blank rather than guessing.
More information on Enquist's campaign is available at enquistforhouse.com and on Facebook at Enquist for House.
*This was a paid interview by Enquist for District 4.
