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02/09/2006

Whalen announces intention to seek U.S. House seat

PINE RIDGE, S.D. – Bruce Whalen of Pine Ridge announced Tuesday that he intends to seek South Dakota’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Whalen, who serves as the Shannon County Republican Party chairman, said he wants to bring his unique South Dakota perspective to the U.S. House. “South Dakota is a great place to live and work, but I believe that it can be even better,” Whalen said. “As a member of Congress, I would be able to work with President Bush and with the Republican majorities in both houses to get things done for South Dakota.”

Whalen said increasing entrepreneurial opportunities, ensuring students get a quality education and giving our farmers and ranchers the tools they need to succeed are just some of the important issues on which he will focus.

“We have much to be proud of in South Dakota, but we always need to be looking for bigger and better opportunities for each and every citizen,” he said. “I look forward to traveling the state and visiting with my fellow citizens about how we can all find those opportunities.”

Whalen is the Judiciary Committee Coordinator for the Oglala Sioux Tribe in Pine Ridge. He has previously worked with the SuAnne Big Crow Division of the Boys and Girls Club of America as a gang prevention coordinator and as an alcohol and drug education counselor for the Oglala Sioux Tribe. He also served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army National Guard. He obtained a B.S. degree in Human Services with a minor in Chemical Dependency and is working toward a Master’s degree from Oglala Lakota College.