I guess if you want to take that as an endorsement for Loetscher, so be it.
Even with all the missteps by the Loetscher campaign over the past couple of weeks (which has more to do with HOW she responded, NOT what she was responding to) I just can’t bring myself to vote for Paul.
I have heard many voters tell me they are so disgusted with both campaigns they are not voting for either.
I try to remind them of my Banana VS. Raisin argument, you have to pick one.
Let’s face it, there really isn’t many differences between Jo and Paul in their professional lives. Both young business professionals that have been very successful. Neither has elected government experience, but both have been involved with boards and legislation and both have worked on political campaigns with their agencies.
So what separates Jo and Paul?
Some of those things are obvious. While Paul has been a little wishy-washy about diversity, Jo has made it a part of her campaign platform. And while Jo has been beat up a little about not having a 100-day strategy or plans for a transition team, unlike Paul, Jo understands that this is all new to her, and those plans have to be made carefully. I also think Jo understands the separation of power between the council and mayor.
Jo has made many missteps along the way, but she has never lost my trust and she has always continued to show a genuine passion for people.
Jo has also not lined her campaign chest with the business elite in Sioux Falls (or their toddler children)Â who will be the first to be asking for corporate welfare if a TenHaken administration rolls in.
Besides the fact that Paul has been involved with some pretty shady political hackery in his past, thinks it is OK to troll your employees on Facebook and tends to take an authoritarian approach to government the thing that has bothered me the most about Paul is that he has never really has had a consistent platform from day one. Jolene has never waivered from her platform.
Like I said, the inexperience of both of them is worrisome, but you gotta pick one. I pick the Banana.