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A Look Back: How AG Ravnsborg’s career rose–and fell

By Todd Epp Jun 21, 2022 | 8:20 PM

Impeached S.D. Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — When he ran for Attorney General in 2018, Jason Ravnsborg was a little-known politician and lawyer from Yankton.

His first big political race was the 2014 Republican U.S. Senate primary that featured another political newcomer, Dr. Annette Bosworth; state Rep. Stace Nelson, a retired NCIS officer; state Sen. Larry Rhoden; and eventual winner, the recently retired Gov. Mike Rounds.

Ravnsborg came in last with 2.77% of the vote with 2,066 votes out of nearly 75,000 cast.

But 2018 beckoned. Attorney General Marty Jackley was term-limited and running for the Republican nomination for governor against U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem. But in 2018, Ravnsborg would only have to convince a majority of about 500 GOP delegates at the state convention to get the nod.

He worked hard, hitting the Lincoln Day Dinner circuit and staying in contact with potential delegates.

Ravnsborg won at the convention.

His Democratic opponent, Randy Seiler, like Jackley before him, was a former U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota and an experienced trial lawyer.

It was not to be for Seiler. Republican Ravnsborg won that November in a state with a large GOP registration advantage.

Ravnsborg takes office in January 2019.

Now, skip ahead to that fateful day in September 2020.

On the night of September 12, 2020, Joe Boever, 55, from Highmore, was walking on the far side of the shoulder along U.S. Highway 14 after having trouble with his truck. He was carrying a flashlight.

Ravnsborg was returning to Pierre from a Republican event in Redfield. Ravnsborg said he had not been drinking at the event.

As physical evidence has shown and law enforcement has testified, somehow, Ravnsborg’s car was fully on the shoulder, and he struck and killed Boever. Law enforcement testified that Ravnsborg was distracted.

Ravnsborg said he thought he hit a deer. Ravnsborg borrowed the local sheriff’s car and return to Pierre.

The next morning, Ravnsborg returned. There, in the grass, was Boever’s lifeless body, the flashlight still on.

The rest of the story–full of twists and turns–is told by KELO.com headlines (with links), below.

 

 

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