Bret is a longtime resident of the Black Hills.  He is a strong advocate for the rights of all people in the region.  He is a gifted and sought after educator who currently teaches on the Pine Ridge Reservation, and his career as a teacher led him to run and serve on the Rapid City Public Schools  School Board.  He has traveled internationally as a visiting teacher and his passion for young people is unending.

Bret is married to Jackie Swanson, a fellow teacher, and together they have 4 adult children and 11 grandchildren.

Also passionate about dogs, Bret and Jackie boast a pack of 7, all of them rescues.  They nurture and care for animals that have been discarded, owing to physical challenges.  These dogs are cared for as if they raised themselves.  Some of them would be considered untrainable.  However, they have not killed any dogs.  Ever.

Bret is running for the Senate for District 30 because he, like many he has spoken with, wants a Senator who will focus on the needs of the 30th Legislative District, rather than working on national issues, nuisance bills that have no place in our legislative agenda, or grandstanding.  

He vows to listen to your needs, HEAR you, regardless of your political philosophy, and work hard to advocate for the needs of the 30th.