Is Mayor Huether Sioux Falls version of Trump?

First, I will start by saying people who are upset about the election results to stop crying and get involved on a local level to make change. Change doesn’t come from the top, it starts locally.

I say this because the similarities between Trump and Huether are a bit startling when you start looking at it. Huether became our mayor almost 7 years ago on the promise to run the city like a business and to ‘get things done’. Sounds like a familiar stump speech by Trump.

So how has this business acumen attitude worked out for our city?

• Huether has grown our economy and population

• Huether has grown development (mostly thru annexation and urban sprawl)

• Huether has improved infrastructure and quality of life amenities.

But what has been the cost?

• By the time Huether leaves office, he will have bonded more then any previous mayor, even crushing Munson’s record. We will most likely be a half-billon in debt by the time he leaves office. His total credit card bill during his administration will be well over $200 million in 8 short years. To put that in perspective, when Hanson became mayor our city debt was $90 million, 23 years ago.

• The rapid growth has caused two major problems. Not enough jobs for medium skilled workers and violent crime increase. Huether himself has even blamed rapid growth on the crime increase, so you ask, ‘Why did you promote it, and what are you doing to fix it?’

• Corporate like salary increases for city management and crumbs to support staff.

• Transparency at an all time low. Secret development deals, secret settlements, secret firings, behind the scene bullying and intimidation, and the list goes on.

• Lack of a diversity coordinator. Two people have already stepped down from the position.

So if you think Huether’s business acumen has worked out for the city, you certainly won’t have a problem with how Trump will run our country.