Hello! I'm Keith Block, a dedicated social worker and Democrat running for State House in District 14. I'm a son, an uncle, and a volunteer around D14 for the better part of 20 years. I'm a therapist who talks with everyone: younger families, children, the elderly, people having their most difficult challenges, people about to emerge into their best moments. Everyone matters, and I know my neighbors share that value with me.

Throughout my career, I’ve engaged with people of all political stripes, and one thing remains clear: we all want the same thing in the pursuit of a happier life. It doesn't matter if we're Republican, Democrat, or Independent—we all want a roof over our heads and the ability to put food on our table.

As a social worker, I know all too well the importance of childcare and the escalating crisis we face in South Dakota. The factors that go into childcare’s financial sustainability require thoughtful solutions; we need to achieve meaningful results without throwing money at the issue.

As a healthcare worker, I see how expensive medical treatment is for families in South Dakota. Forbes Magazine recently said South Dakota is the second most expensive state in the nation for healthcare. We must take action to improve costs for everyone without putting undue burdens on families who are already struggling. We also need to improve healthcare access for women, as local OB/GYNs regularly leave the state, which creates a maternity healthcare desert.

We must support our teachers and students in public education. Public education provides the means for success for everyone, and everyone deserves a chance. That's why I'm in support of solutions that not only make public teacher pay competitive, but also creating an environment that is supportive of our public educators and the work they do for our families. District 14 is filled with public teachers who deserve that respect!

My expertise in mental health as a therapist helps me to understand why many people feel stuck on their road to health and wealth. We have opportunities to better coordinate existing services to help people on their feet and get going, particularly in achieving full employment. We all need meaning in our lives, and our state offers a landscape for achieving both financial and medical security. That's why I'm for establishing measurable outcomes for our state social services to make sure they're doing their job, as well as implementing preventative measures to ensure we're using our existing services to help people on their feet.

I recognize that many politicians are either not careful with their words or unavailable to their constituents. I am here to lower the temperature on politics and help make state government more accessible. My pledge to District 14 is to foster an open and accessible government through regular town halls and updates about what's happening in Pierre, ensuring that your voice is heard. We might not agree on every issue, but I believe, as former D14 state representative Marc Feinstein stated, that "chances are we think alike".

Join me in this campaign. We'll do good for South Dakota together!