November 3, 2010
Rev to Rep: Steve Hickey wins!
We won! Thanks to the voters in District 9 and to everyone who supported me in a million different ways. It was a blast to get bombarded with texts and encouraging calls and emails from all over the state, nation and even a few from overseas - and a skype call from a soldier in Afghanistan. Incredible. Thanks everyone. My family is grateful. And to see Kristi Noem win makes last February worth it.
Here are the results:
I'm looking forward to representing District 9 in Pierre!!
However, right now I'm about to get on a plane for Athens where I will be training and teaching leadership to pastors and church leaders from all streams of the Christian faith. Then I'm off to Moldova to help lay the groundwork for strategic rescue mission aimed at stopping what my friend describes here in his soon to be released documentary. The Sunday I return (11/21) I will have with me the young man who did this documentary and he will speak at Church at the Gate where, among other things, he'll report on what we just accomplished together in Moldova.
Today I'll surely sleep on the plane… after all that was a whole lot of work to simply swap out one letter before my name…. Rev. to Rep.
Comments on Rev to Rep: Steve Hickey wins! »
Bob Ellis @ 8:34 am
Fantastic job, Pastor Hickey! Congratulations!
Nancy Peske @ 9:12 am
Hearty congratulations! Although I'm "blue" and you're "red," I know you will do a fine job representing your district and thoughtfully considering all sides of every bill, and you'll root your decisions in integrity and a deep commitment to serving the people. Very, very happy for you!
David Laughlin @ 10:46 am
Definitely a heartfelt congratulation- I have heard and seen you in action enough to know who you go to for advice. He will lead you in all your ways "someone famous said that once I think"
And although I am away from what your choices will influence I support you, in prayer, my last vote as a south dakotan, and anytime my voice or pen will help you out.
Thankful for your win!
sincerely,
The Laughlin Family all of us.
Clifford @ 4:18 pm
Why would you want to swap it out? Be a Rev. first then a Rep.
caheidelberger @ 9:43 pm
Hey! Get back here! I can't blog about you fairly if you're not in the country to respond. Congratulations… now expect to catch heck from me on a regular basis.
caheidelberger @ 9:44 pm
By the way, historical question: has any other ordained minister served as a South Dakota legislator before?
BRAD BOMHOFF @ 10:04 pm
AWESOME NIGHT !! WE ARE EXCITED FOR YOU TO GET TO PIERRE AND GET ALOT DONE FOR DISTRICT 9 ! YOU AND DISTRICT 11 REP TODD SCHLEKEWAY ARE THE 1-2 PUNCH THE LEGISLATURE NEEDS AND YOU WILL ACCOMPLISH THINGS THAT WERE NOT POSSIBLE BEFORE,ONWARD !!
Steve @ 7:10 am
Cory - I'm hardly the first historically or currently. Right now there is one pastor serving already - I think it's Ed VanGerpen in Dist. 19 though I may be confusing him with someone else. I know there is one pastor serving now not including me.
Actually, the further you go back the more common this is - ha! This nation was founded on the work of lawyers and clergyman and I love telling the stories. Like the one I told last Sunday about our 20th president, Garfield - also an ordained minister, he'd leave the white house on weekends to preach in the revival services of the 2nd Great Awakening up and down the east coast (the Jesus can save you from a fiery hell brand of revivalism). He and his wife would return to the white house and in the records of congress there is notation how he'd report "200 converted in the camp meetings" of the past weekend and there would be a notation of Thanksgiving in the congressional record. Can you imagine a sitting president today leaving the whitehouse to preach revival meetings on the weekends?! HA.