I just about fell out of my office chair when I heard Jolene say this today to TenHaken at the DT Rotary debate at noon.
It is something I bring up ALL THE TIME on this blog. Being truthful is the OPPOSITE of negativity. Honesty means you have integrity. Loetscher showed that integrity today.
The incident occurred towards the end of the debate when the two candidates were allowed to ask each other questions. Jolene looked straight at Paul and asked him why he continues to spread the lie that the PD is not interested in precincts. She informed Paul that she had a very long discussion about the lack of space at the law enforcement center with McManus and Burns and researched the idea before going public with it. She also accused him of fear mongering by claiming Jo’s plan would have jail cells at the precincts (not a part of the plan). TenHaken got very nervous, waived his hands around than complained he was questioned by DCI because Loetscher filed a criminal complaint on Friday over her website and campaign bank accounts being hacked. He never responded to her question.
Actually Paul went into a diatribe about how he vowed to never go ‘negative’ in his campaign. That is when Loetscher made the above comment. She has never accused Paul of the hacking, though it makes you wonder if he knows who is behind it. My guess is that it is someone in the nefarious Republican hack job underbelly of the SD GOP working alone to destroy her campaign. They have so many weasels it would be hard to dig one of them up.
But what was more revealing during the exchange was when Paul said, “I have dirt on all seven of the mayoral candidates, but I’m not going to go there, it’s not my style.”
Then why do you have this ‘dirt’?
As I have told people in the past, I get tons of tips about the candidates running for office, and I have been very impressed that I have not heard ONE negative thing about Jo, except the fact that she is a strong outspoken woman, and IMO that is an asset. All we have to look towards is other local female politicians with strong personalities that have done superb jobs like Loila Hunking, Anne Hajek, Pam Nelson, Karen Soli, Theresa Stehly and soon to be councilor Janet Brekke. We expect this from a leader, and today Jolene showed just what kind of leader she would be. Bravo.
I was disappointed in moderator Jack Marsh after the exchange for warning the candidates to keep it civil moving forward with more questions. Really Jack? Does the ‘truth’ make you uncomfortable also?