// Workers AI · dad joke modeWho's Merle Bartnick? A merle lot nicer than his nickname.
Merle Bartnick | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the South Dakota House of Representatives from the 1st district | |
| In office January 10, 1989 – July 31, 1990 | |
| Preceded by | Kent Frerichs |
| Succeeded by | David Gleason Mona Greseth |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 11, 1931 |
| Died | July 31, 1990 (aged 58) Fargo, North Dakota, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Grace Trittin (m. 1953) |
| Children | 2 |
Merle D. Bartnick (November 11, 1931 – July 31, 1990) was an American politician and farmer. Born in Claire City, he moved to New Effington after high school, where he became a farmer. In 1988, he was elected as a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives, representing the 1st district as a Democratic. Early into his tenure, Bartnick was diagnosed with cancer; he later advocated for a standardized system for collecting cancer reports across South Dakota. Bartnick did not run for re-election in 1990 and died before his term ended on July 31, at a hospital in Fargo, North Dakota.
Life and career
[edit]Merle D. Bartnick[1] was born on November 11, 1931, in Claire City, South Dakota.[2] He graduated from Sisseton High School in 1948. He later began farming near New Effington.[1] Bartnick married Grace Trittin on October 24, 1953; together, they had two sons: David and Jeffrey.[1] Bartnick served variously as township clerk, school board member, and town finance officer.[1] Bartnick was nominated for the Outstanding School Board Member Award for 1972 at the Associated School Boards of South Dakota; he was also presented with a certificate of meritorious service by state senator Harvey Wollman.[3] In 1983, Bartnick was a member of the board of trustees of New Effington.[4]
In 1988, Bartnick was a candidate for the South Dakota House of Representatives, seeking to represent the 1st district as a Democrat.[5] The incumbent, Kent Frerichs, did not seek re-election.[6] In the general election, Bartnick won the election alongside incumbent and fellow Democrat Neil Gleason. Bartnick defeated the lone Republican in the race, Roger A. Williams, by over four points and a margin of nearly 600 votes.[7] Bartnick was sworn in alongside the rest of the South Dakota Legislature on January 10, 1989.[8]
As a member of the House, Bartnick was against abortion unless in circumstances where the mother's life was in danger.[9] The South Dakota Farmers' Union gave Bartnick a perfect rating for his voting record during the 1989 session.[10] In March 1989, Bartnick was diagnosed with cancer.[11] In February 1990, Bartnick voted against a proposal for a constitutional amendment that would limit the annual increase in local property taxes to 2%.[12] That same month, Bartnick was absent for 10 days as he was undergoing treatment for cancer. Soon after returning, he voted in favor of a bill adding lottery tickets to the South Dakota Lottery because of an agreement to let a bill that would move regulation of grain elevators to the state Department of Commerce die.[13]: 2A He also advocated for a bill that would compile and analyze cancer reports from hospitals across South Dakota.[11] The House and Senate passed different versions of the bill and attempted to compromise, but failed to do so before the end of the legislative session.[14] Bartnick did not run for re-election in 1990 and was succeeded by David Gleason and Mona Greseth.[15][16] On July 31, 1990, Bartnick died of cancer at a hospital in Fargo, North Dakota.[2]
Electoral history
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Neil Gleason (incumbent) | 5,431 | 38.64% | |
| Democratic | Merle Bartnick | 4,606 | 32.77% | |
| Republican | Roger A. Williams | 4,017 | 28.58% | |
| Total votes | 14,054 | 100.00% | ||
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 South Dakota Legislative Research Council, ed. (1989). Biographical Directory of the South Dakota Legislature, 1889–1989. Vol. 1, A–K. p. 68. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
- 1 2 "New Effington Rep. Bartnick dies of cancer". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, South Dakota. August 2, 1990. p. 1C. Retrieved July 31, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "At ASBSD Convention: Onida Woman Receives '72 School Board Award". The Daily Plainsman. Huron, South Dakota. November 5, 1972. p. 1. Retrieved July 31, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Notice for Bids". The Forum. Fargo, North Dakota. June 27, 1983. p. B-7. Retrieved July 31, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Legislative candidates". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Associated Press. April 8, 1988. p. 2C. Retrieved July 31, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Brekaw, Chet (April 7, 1988). "Democrats to seek more legislative seats". Rapid City Journal. Rapid City, South Dakota. Associated Press. p. B3. Retrieved July 31, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 Hazeltine, Joyce (ed.). Official Election Returns and Registration Figures for South Dakota: General Election, November 8, 1988 (PDF). Pierre, South Dakota. p. 12. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
- ↑ Woster, Terry (January 10, 1989). "Legislature's '89 session opens today". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, South Dakota. p. 1C. Retrieved July 31, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "How South Dakota legislators stand". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, South Dakota. July 4, 1989. p. 2B. Retrieved July 31, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "13 lawmakers gain perfect score". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, South Dakota. July 30, 1989. p. 1E. Retrieved July 31, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 Kafka, Joe (24 February 1990). "House changes mind on collecting data". Rapid City Journal. Rapid City, South Dakota. Associated Press. p. A5. Retrieved July 31, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "How they voted". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, South Dakota. February 1, 1990. p. 2A. Retrieved July 31, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Bolding, Julie (February 24, 1990). "For S.D.: At long last, lotto". Argus Leader. pp. 1A, 2A. Retrieved July 31, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Plan to collect cancer data fails". Rapid City Journal. Rapid City, South Dakota. Associated Press. February 26, 1990. p. A8. Retrieved July 31, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Woster, Kevin (April 5, 1990). "Democrats a bit short of Legislature candidates". Rapid City Journal. Rapid City, South Dakota. p. B1. Retrieved July 31, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Hazeltine, Joyce (ed.). Official Election Returns and Registration Figures for South Dakota: General Election, November 6, 1990 (PDF). Pierre, South Dakota: South Dakota Secretary of State. p. 19. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
- ↑ "South Dakota House results: District 1". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, South Dakota. November 10, 1988. p. 4C. Retrieved July 31, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.