JAMES STARKEY: Celebrating Spring’s Arrival
l3wis 
April 2008
Elect Populists to the Sioux Falls City Council
Populist: A supporter of the rights and power of the people.
This is what I look for in a city council member, and I hope other voters do to on April 8th.
Why is it that the city can tax us, regressively, then turn around and not give us a voice when it comes to city priorities, budgeting and spending? I don’t want a leader sitting on the city council, I want a listener. They are elected by us, to represent us. That is why they are split into districts so they can interact with the people who live within that district.
The local media, especially the Gargoyle Leader, constantly says we need more leaders and less populists on the city council, but lets look at how the public perceives leaders over populists;
Councilor Brown has been considered a leader by the media, so let’s look at Brown’s effectiveness as a councilor:
– He took 3rd in the last mayoral election.
– He supported the rec center and indoor pool which the voter’s turned down by a large margin.
– He continues to support luxuries, like fancy windows for the Pavilion, buying the zoo and Great Bear and expensive floors and trim for the new library.
Brown is being challenged in the upcoming election for his at large seat, and it is a close race with a populist. If he loses it will show that this community wants populists over leaders.
Councilor Staggers is considered a populist by the media, they have even beat him up a few times for it. But let’s look at Staggers track record:
– He was unchallenged the last time his seat was up for reelection.
– He is the most talked about candidate for the mayoral election in 2010, and would be a shoe in.
– He is the only councilor with a political science degree and actually teaches it at a local university.
I’m all for leaders. We need them at our churches and schools, we them at work, we need them as friends. It wouldn’t even hurt to have them running our local media. But when the city is spending our tax dollars, they need to listen to us, not their inner voice.
Theresa Stehly who is running against Brown said it best “The city works for the citizens, we don’t work them. It is time to get our priorities straight.â€
Damn right!