From my email box today, when I asked Mark if he was running;
Most likely, yes. I’ve lived in SF for 47 years, lived in the NW district for 27 years and have driven the district from one end to the other five days a week forever. I have a passion for helping people who can’t always help themself. It’s why I volunteer and have served on the boards of The Banquet, Red Cross, Volunteers of America, Make A Wish, Multi-Cultural Center and others. It sounds corny, but that’s why I chose journalism over engineering in college … a chance to do something that I enjoy and make a difference in my community. It’s why I left KELO after 25 years in 2008 to become President at Kilian Community College. And the beauty of my current job, besides getting to know such an interesting cross-section of our community, is that I can pursue an opportunity like City Council. And, for the record, I was the guy (as news director) who added your blog to the KELO web site. I’m not responsible for whatever happened after that. All I can say is, keep up the good work. I enjoy your observations and sense of humor. Sorry to be so long-winded. I hope to meet you sometime.
Mark
I have told Mark I will remain neutral on the appointment, unless some dream candidate drops from the sky.
Say, how come we never see folks from KSFY or KDLT moving up to city government?
4 year terms.
Mark is very sharp, and also has a rather long view of what Sioux falls is and what it can be…which is a good thing to have on the Council.
do we really need more kelo people in city government?
Does anyone actually stay at KSFY or KDLT long enough to be an established member of the community? I mean their webmaster must get tired of updating bios every other week.
That said, Mitch Krebs went to work for the state, so he skipped right over the city level.
Stands to reason if someone is informed about city government and the issues… they might have worked as a journalist or in that industry. Can’t really hold it against him.
The KSFY people have personalities which is more than can be said for KELO.
I just looked up the longest term KSFY people.
Nancy Naeve -Brown has been with them for 18 years.
Phil Schrek has been there 23 years.
Erik Thorstenson has been there 16 years.
Who really cares about network experience? Other than one could argue that KELO has held the top spot for many years and Mark maintained that. What that tells me is he’s a “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” kind of guy.
Mark is also honest and a strait shooter, and I think that would be a refreshing change from who he would be replacing.
I’m impressed with his response. He sounds like a people’s candidate who will go up against the fascist mayor.
Mark is a great, people person. I hope he does well, how does this work then, will there be a special election or what?
Nope. The current council will select the councilor by a vote. And as I understand it the mayor cannot break a tie, so if there is one, they have to re-vote.
Funny thing about a KSFY person who has been there 20 years is that they can still go into a bar without anyone recognizing them. Well… except Nancy – she has a bit of a reputation around the bar scene (or at least did have before adding the “Brown” to her name).
On the flip side, if you have a news intern working at KELO, they are recognized when they walk into JCPenny.
KDLT is a different story. They seem to change people more often than I change oil.
Costner – Funny, 3 on air personalities came into where I work the other night from KDLT, and I told the server they were all TV reporters. And he said “Really?”