A longtime lobbyist and legislative observer is retiring. South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry president David Owen presented his final legislative session review to the Mitchell Rotary Club Thursday.
He also reflected on his 47 year career working for various chambers of commerce, with the last 27 years in South Dakota.
Owen says he’ll miss solving problems. “Because that’s my great passion, I loved public policy, I lived working with various groups,” said Owen. “I loved that moment when we said, ‘hey, what if we did XYZ’, and having people that had been in contention with each other, finally, even with reluctantly say, ‘that will work’.”
His advice for potential candidates: “Study the issue, learn who thinks like you do, talk, listen to as much as you can,” Owen advised.
The search for his replacement is continuing.