By Denise Ross 

With Sen. Jim Lintz, R-Hermosa, retiring from the Legislature, the battle of 2 Gordons rises up to fill the void in District 30. (See the official candidate list here.) 

Loooonnggtime legislator Gordon Pederson, R-Wall, the venerable recaller of the 1970s - and with astonishing detail and nuance - will be up against Gordon Howie, R-Rapid City, a spirited newcomer. 

Pederson might best be described as a member of the GOP establishment, a pragmatic sort who can see a problem coming from a mile down the road (that’s an attempt at a Transportation Committee joke - a committee chaired by Pederson) and can disarm most any argument with his folksy charm. (He once said to me: “That’s the way the pickle squirts.” I swear it’s true. If you know Gordon, you know it’s true. He also voiced, to another reporter, my favorite insult: “That’s lower than a snake in a wagon-wheel rut.”)

Howie has more passion for issues, particularly social conservative issues - he sponsored the abortion ban bill (HB1293) in 2007 - and he’s not afraid to float bold ideas. During the most recent session, Howie offered his plan to raise sales taxes as a way to cut property taxes. 

Probably way more District 30 voters have voted for Pederson in their lives than have voted for Howie. Will that put Pederson over the top in the June 3 primary? Or will Howie’s bold ideas and ideals sway hearts and minds?

As of the close of business Monday, no Democrat had filed to run for District 30’s Senate seat. If that holds through the end of this week, the primary could be the whole show.  

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