Argus Leader: Incumbent faces primary challenge

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The contest is one of four legislative primaries in the Sioux Falls area, and one of three in which an incumbent faces a challenge. And because it's a Democratic primary, voting also is open to registered independents.

Abortion is a strong undercurrent in the race: Miles is a anti-abortion Democrat while Buhl has been an advocate for abortion-rights causes.

Miles is seeking her second term in the Senate after serving three terms in the House. She said she was a little surprised by the challenge. Buhl, at 25, said she would be the youngest woman elected to the Legislature if she can beat Miles. The two have not met.

Buhl said voters are interested in topics such as affordable housing, wind energy and job creation, and she criticized Miles for being out of touch with her constituents. An example of that, Buhl said, was Miles' sponsorship of a bill that placed restrictions on minors from using tanning salons. Buhl thinks the voters in District 15 have more pressing concerns.

"I'm running because there are some basic issues that aren't being addressed in Pierre," she said.

Miles, who has been in the district 20 years, said she has a better understanding than Buhl about voters' desires.

"She's only been in the district a couple of years, so I don't know how she's evaluating that," Miles said.

Miles is proud of her voting record, she said, which includes measures to protect the young and the elderly. She was happy to sponsor the tanning bill because skin cancer is becoming more common in young women who tanned when they were teens.

"As a nurse, I'm interested in health issues, especially concerning our young people," she said.

Buhl is running full time in the race, and she's knocking on the doors of registered Democrats. Many of those residents have not had a candidate come to their door before, she said.

"To have not met most constituents makes it hard to represent their interests," Buhl said.

Miles waited until after the Sioux Falls mayoral race before starting a media campaign with yard signs and mailings.

"People can look at my voting record," she said. "I think I know the issues for District 15. I'd like to represent it again in Pierre."

Reach reporter Jonathan Ellis at 605-575-3629.

http://www.argusleader.com/article/20100512/NEWS/5120322