We’ve noticed this job advancement on David Montgomery’s blog:
Former South Dakota Attorney General Larry Long, currently a South Dakota judge, is moving up a step to be the presiding judge for Minnehaha and Lincoln counties.
It reminds us of something we have been wondering about. When Larry Long was running for re-election to the SD Attorney General position in 2006 he received a very large contribution from a curious contributor (page 7 of PDF) Republican State Leadership Committee 2006 Oct 31 2006 3177 Larry Long.
Why would the Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) give $25,000.00 to an already sitting SD Attorney General who could have been elected without it even dressed in a clown suit.
South Dacola highlighted the slimy Koch Brothers, John Birch Society, ALEC based RSLC recently and their money giving ways. We know he accumulated thousands of dollars from other ALEC PACs to run for office so why the RLSC donation?
This is also the same AG Larry Long who ‘returned’ $1,950.00 to Sioux Falls used car salesman Dan Nelson in 2005, about the same time he offered his positive opinion of Nelson’s business operations.
In 2009 as a term limited AG and Republican, he curiously left / resigned the AG office to accept an appointment by Gov. Mike Rounds to a judgeship in the state’s Second Judicial District. We now have Marty Jackley as our AG.
Most of us don’t usually worry about such mundane positions as Presiding Judge. This little job decides which Judge gets to preside or be your Judge, if you go to state circuit court for any reason. If a local citizen or group of citizens do not like an action the city, county or state undertakes, we citizens can take them to court. If we are harmed by a corporation or neighbor, we have the right to have our gripe heard in open court. It is the Presiding Judge who determines which circuit courtroom / judge hears – decides the case.
Now he is being appointed to be ‘presiding’ judge for the state’s busiest circuit.
Food for thought.
What does Long do for $25,000.00? Wasn’t his door open wide enough for them already?
Judge Long is a stand up guy. I think the AG’s have maintained a General’s Club, similar to the Governor’s Club.
Was Dan Nelson a General’s Club member?
Long was a good AG. He’s fair and a good choice for circuit court. Like most politicians, he has skeletons in his closet. Dan Nelson was a prominent cars retailer. He got himself in trouble. Long took contributions, so did other politicians. Pay attention to John Birch Society. The next mayor election will be a million to get Huether out.
Anyone with ALEC – John Birch Society connections is a bad choice for anything. Period.