UPDATED: In all fairness to Mike, I have updated my comments about the EC.
While, I have been telling people, including, Mike Huether, that he is my second choice – after the past week, and things I have seen and heard, I no longer have a ‘second choice’.
Let’s not muddy the waters. Some things do not change.
FACT: Mike Huether was VP of Marketing for First Premier before quitting in June 2009 to pursue being mayor. He told me to my face that he quit at FP because he “Won’t do the bidding of T. Denny Sanford.” But let’s not be silly folks, the damage is done. As VP of marketing Mike was in charge of the marketing strategies for FP, he probably knew about how they targeted consumers, no, HE DID KNOW. I worked in the CC industry for 4 years as a mail piece and document designer, I knew a lot for being the low man on the totem pole. The CC industry is cloaked in secrecy, not just because of Federal Law, but because of trade secrets. Trust me, Mr. Huether was well aware of what he was doing, and he can say ‘Out damn spot’ all he wants, but it won’t go away.
Sure, he helped Sanford become a billionaire and he helped employ alot of people in Sioux Falls. But guess what, those strategies are now deemed illegal by the Federal government, and for good reason, they were bleeding their customers. Mike just can’t wash his hands of First Premier, I’m sorry, you participated in something that makes me not want to trust you and that is what scares me about a Huether administration.
I also have trouble swallowing some of the things he tells the public. In his Gargoyle Leader interview he told the Ed Board that he has been saving up for years to run for mayor. Yet he told me that he quit at First Premier because he wouldn’t do the bidding of Denny. So would Mike still be working at FP if he wasn’t worried about the perception of the public and the ‘business experience’ he achieved at FP? He is kinda like Costello in the realm of business, he loves to mention his experience but doesn’t tell people what that experience entailed. Pat likes to talk about burgers instead of meat-market bars and Mike likes to talk about ‘financial institutions’ instead of fee harvesting schemes.
When it comes to the Events Center, Mike says this; “I will present a palatable plan to the public, that touches on one point, and that is – let’s come up with a proposal to replace the existing Arena.” He also touches on funding, and says we can build a new EC for aroung $90 – $110 million. Mike does have some great ideas. He does agree that most residents are opposed to the current funding plan. He also suggests we can bond for the EC and use the BB & B tax. But in his AL interview he says he will introduce a plan once he becomes mayor. But why not NOW? I have told Mike in emails that it would actually help his campaign if he introduces a concise plan for the EC. Yvonne Hawkins (who sits on the Ed Board) even says to Mike that his proposal is ‘philisophical’ It seems she was trying, as I was, to get Mike to tell us his plan. He also would not promise a EC would get build during his administration. And he finishes by saying, “He will present a plan after he is elected mayor.” In an email to me he said this;
“Scott, if you don’t know me like you reiterate in your blog, then how can you attack me like you do? No one has been more open than me on the Events Center Task Force proposal and future plans than me. No one.”
He apparently was upset about this comment I made;
“That’s just it, that is all we have with Mike, is just his word, and I don’t think it is worth much. I sent him an email simply asking him to tell me his plan for the Events Center and he couldn’t do it. Why is that? That worries me.”
He talks about ‘ideas’ he has but still maintains that the task force needs to meet again and it is up to the voters. That’s not a plan, Mike, that is a suggestion. Leaders lead, they don’t make ‘suggestions.’
Just for the record, I have told Mike, on numerous occasions he is more then welcome to defend himself on my blog, with a guest post or even in the comments section. So before you start hollering at Detroit for being the big bad wolf, maybe Mike should build his campaign house out of bricks instead of straw. But what can you expect from a ‘straw man’
