[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZX8RAaRNIk[/youtube]
(this video is dedicated to James Ysbrand)
I voted last week, absentee, in the recent city election. I encourage everyone to vote early at the Minnehaha courthouse, 6th and Minnesota. No lines, hassle free.
Charter Amendments
I voted NO on all of the amendments. Whether they are good or not, does not really matter. I DO NOT trust our city attorney and anything he pens.
AT-LARGE
Kermit Staggers
Not only is Kermit one of my friends, he is the nicest person I know. I know, I am a meanie, and every time I do something mean, I think to myself, ‘Kermit would not do that.’ and I feel guilty. He is also incredibly smart and informed. His opponents can’t even hold a candle to him.
SCHOOL BOARD
Todd Thoelke
Well, because he is cool. Need I say more? Todd has been heavily involved in the arts and theatre in our community, and we need more arts advocates on the school board.
Kate Parker
I like her husband, who is poli-nerd like me, and she is shorter then me (not a lot of people are). Just kidding, Kate is well informed, concerned and vigilant.
OTHER RACES I CAN NOT VOTE ON, BUT IF I COULD
NW District
James Ysbrand
I think James has a ‘Heart of Gold’ I like that about him. It is not often you meet someone running for office that has that. I think his opponent cares about one thing, HIMSELF.
NE District
Kenny Anderson Jr.
The one thing I like about Kenny is that he challenges leadership and the mayor, when he needs to. He also is very in touch with his constituents.
SW District
Kyle Vanderlinden
Okay, I know Greg is probably not going to like this endorsement. But, I will say this about Greg, he is informed, and his incumbency is a benefit to him. He also has the knowledge of his father. Greg does a fantastic job, and if he is re-elected, I will support him and know he will continue to do a good job.
But this is not about Greg, this is about a shining star, Kyle Vanderlinden. He is only 26 years old, but he is so brilliant. Every thing that comes out of his mouth makes sense, is progressive, and fresh. FRESH! The SF city council lacks fresh ideas, and like this about Kyle.
So go vote already!
Just for the record, my rundown of these same picks tomorrow on KRRO was of my own accord.
I also like most of your picks, with one exception. I have, over the course of the last couple of years, learned to like Greg Jamison. I KNOW he will question this mayor and his band of rubberstampers. His record on that speaks for itself. I know nothing about his opponent in that regard. Wish he were running against any one of the five rubberstampers. Then I would think he deserves his chance.
I agree with all picks, but would wouldnt mind if Jamison won either.
I would agree, I struggled with that one a little, but I also think we need more Kyle’s on the city council. If he loses (which he probably will, it will be hard to beat Greg) I think we will see Kyle again in the future.
I agreed with all your choices, I think James will be a nice change for the council. I just couldn’t help re-select Karsky.
Big-B
Did you hear Karsky in the council candidate forum last night? WTF was he rambling about? He drives me crazy, he is like the male, younger version of The Quen Be De.
l3wis: Apparently the lawyers – er, PAC – at Woods Fuller agree with you on the DE and DEan similarities. Check out page 7:
http://www.siouxfalls.org/~/media/Documents/city_clerk/elections/pac-reports/Pac_report.ashx.
Look forward to reading the latest finance reports, due Thursday at 5pm.
My problem with Thoelke is that he is a big “Thunite.” I know these are non-partisan races, but a persons partisan beliefs are often an insight into their philosophical bends.
As far as the Knudson/Staggers race, I do not believe a
true progressive has a horse in this race. On the one hand, you have a candidate who is a member of a political family, which in turn is a member of the local political 1%, who blur the meaning of political parties for the sake of their own political ambitions. Although, this
is a non partisan race, I do not care to promote the success of those who have a flippant attitude about the
importance, meaning, and the sanctity of a our two party system.
My problem with Staggers is how does a person, who is
associated with a midwestern liberal arts college, claim
to be a man of the people, when in the 2010 mayoral campaign, he was not afraid to use code and allowed the “Gay Card” to be played by members of his campaign against Huether because of his political association with Hildebrand.
I guess, I might be force to just sit back and have a donut with Cory.
ST – I heard De got buckets of money thrown at her. Can’t wait to see the financials tomorrow.
CL – Never heard about the ‘Gay card’. And trust me, I would have heard. I am very clear about my opinion on gay marriage and gay rights, to each their own. I am pretty sure if Kermit had a strong opinion about homosexuals, I would have heard it by now.
During the 2010 SF mayoral race, I witnessed on television, but I cannot remember which station, that Staggers was asked about Huether and his political association with Hildebrand. Part of Staggers answer made reference to a 5000 year tradition, which to para- phrase, “should not be ignored or ended.” In addition,
all the Pro-Gay allocations made against the Huether camp during the run-off were never disowned by the
educated open minded college professor candidate.
If you have had a chance to watch HBO’s movie GameChange, you will develop a new sense of respect for candidates who are not willing to allow some issues to be used. Like McCain’s reluctance to use the Rev. Wright issue in 2008.
Surprise! Surprise! The Argus endorsed karsky and the quen be. Ever wonder why the Sunday Argus rack is FULL at the local grocery store on Tuesdays? $3.00 an issue is one thing. Their city politics is another.
l3wis – Here is another example of what CL is referencing:
http://www.voicescarryblog.com/656/.
It didn’t come from Kermit, but he could have told his closet supporters to knock it off.
Nobody takes Hickey seriously.
CL – If you have a problem with Thoke because he is a “Thunite” what is your opinion of Kermit’s support of Gordon Howie?
Kermit threw his full unfettered support behind a Birther spouting, Anti-Gay rights, Anti-Choice theocrat who wants to drive all non-Christians out of the state of South Dakota. For documentation about this – go poke around http://www.ghowie.com or http://www.lifeandlibertynews.com/ or any of his other inter-related web of right wing hate and read this in Kermit’s running mate’s own words…it is scarier than hell.
If Kermit doesn’t follow these beliefs, he certainly doesn’t have any problem associating and supporting those who do.
I voted for Kermit in past elections. I voted for him for every time his name was on the ballot, but it’s not going to happen again. Ever. It’s one of my rules of thumb – If someone is on the same side of things as Gordon Howie, Stace Nelison and Steve Sibbson, I’m on the other side fighting as hard as I can against them.
Kermit isn’t dumb, he knew what he was doing when he jumped on the Gordon Howie for Governor band wagon. Now it’s time to pay for that mistake. Hopefully with a loss.
Anthony, I would agree with you, didn’t like the Howie association (he is unstable). But like I have said in the past, I think Kermit is a nice guy, and when Howie asked him, he just couldn’t say NO. (Which is ironic, since they paint him as Dr. No.) I don’t know why he did it, but I told him I wasn’t happy about it, and I think that he personally regrets the decision to run with Howie, but would never say it.
This of course is JUST my OPINION, you would have to ask Kermit.
After a decade of Fox News pointing the fingers at supposedly evil Democratic extremists, I’m not going to do the same and disqualify somebody on the other side simply because they have even scarier extremists.
Kermit’s association with Howie was a blip on the radar. Everyone knew Howie wasn’t going to win the primary.
“…I do not care to promote the success of those who have a flippant attitude about the
importance, meaning, and the sanctity of our two party system.”
I’m new to South Dakota (and Sioux Falls), so I’m still learning about the local political scene. I had been leaning in favor of De Knudson, but some of the things I’ve read at this blog have been giving me second thoughts (and seeing as its April 10th as I type this, not a moment too soon!), but I really feel the need to step in and be abrasive here for just one moment:
There ain’t no “sanctity” associated with “our two party system!” The two-party system is an abomination to democratic government, and is the functional (and less honest) equivalent of a one-party system. The relationship of De & Dave Knudson exemplifies the cozy, content-free character of the authoritarian “two party system,” in all its managerial iniquity. If anything, the existence of the Knudsons does us a favor, by demonstrating that the Democrats and the Republicans are just two formalized wings of a collection of errand boys (and girls) who are mere servitors of the class of people on who’s behalf they run this country/state/city. I’m sorry, and I hate to come out swinging right off the bat, but the phrase “sanctity of our two party system,” well, it frankly makes the bile rise in my throat. The “two party system” is the enemy of all idealists, left, right, and center.
Oh, Kevin, would agree. I think if we had a 10 party system with indies, that would be ideal. There would be discussion and debate.