There will likely be a recount (it is within the 2% with only 110 votes separating them out of over 28,000 votes)
In hindsight, I still think Theresa could have pulled off the election if it was held in April, I think it gave the Jensen campaign time to accumulate more support by postponing it. But let’s face it, this wasn’t about Theresa vs. Alex, this was about Theresa vs. Herself. I have always felt that you either like her or you don’t. I also think her decision to make all the campaign strategy decisions herself this time around didn’t help. I offered my help early on to no avail.
Controversial candidates usually have a tough road a head of them. I am glad that she may be able to go back to normal life (and hopefully help with some city petition drives). I actually didn’t want Theresa to run for re-election, I saw the affect it was having on her mental health and like I said, I think she can do more with petition drives, which she can do at her leisure.
Let’s also face it. When you spend 5 times more than your opponent, your chances are greatly enhanced. Like I have said before, Alex is a nice kid and all, but he will beholden to the big money donors who funded his campaign. Do you really think a business banker would turn his back on these donors? Not a chance. The RS5 may just turn into the RS6. It’s going to be rough over the next two years. You are going to see a lot of steamrolling, higher taxes and fees and a total loss of citizens rights. And transparency? That was bad already, it will go into complete darkness, because the RS5 and Mayor HATE, HATE, HATE transparent government. It is the darkness in their souls.
Hopefully Stehly requests a recount and is successful. With all the crap I heard going on over the last couple of days with this election (indies told they couldn’t have a ballot – primary or city), I think it is high probability she could turn this around. Let’s pray justice will prevail.
I would agree with your post. She is maybe ready for a break from some of the other Councilors and their two faced arrogance. I would guess that this Mayor and the RS5 will now be quietly celebrating (or gloating) after the Council meeting is finished. Somehow, I feel that the city has taken a step backwards in regards to working for the citizens and now will concentrate on supporting those with deep pockets.
Did the city allow a representative from the Stehly and Jensen camps witnessed the counting? They should have. How many of these 30,000 ballots are questionable? Stehly needs to hire an attorney and fight this. 110 out of 30,000 is not much of a win, unless you are a self-serving developer.
( and Woodstock adds: “Does SF Rubber Stamp offer a $85000 rubber stamp?”….)
Steve, I agree, the big money in this town is holding us back. I see so many opportunities for the working class squelched by these greedy folks.
I was 100% with you until you claimed if she would’ve had your help she would’ve won. Modest much? She lost for the same reason Hillary lost. A lot of people just don’t like her. Come to think of it, same reason Jolene lost. Well, that and the lies that piled up at the end.
She would be wise to challenge this, to much room for thumbs on the scale.
Apparently, a very slim majority prefer Bunker Ramps, TIFS for a state entity, a lack of tornado relief, and a 26th Street bridge to somewhere.
Great post Detroit. I was excited at first. I mean who doesn’t love snowgates?! And someone to buck back against MMM. But I quickly realized that snowgates were like her legacy project. She really never got anything else done but blathering on about herself. Conspiracy theories and the utter inability to work with anyone (except Pat..how many times did we hear that) led to her demise.
I was Theresa’s chief message and marketing strategist when she kicked ass in 2016, been doing direct mail marketing for 20+ years. I may suck at a lot of things, but I know that part of the bizzo. I would have ran her re-election campaign totally different. It’s not about modesty. I have learned when you follow a predetermined plan with simple message (the KISS theory) your chances are greatly increased. Just look at how Jensen did with NO policy stances. Not a one.
“NIQFNR,” tell Jeremy and Mike Hi!
Have Jensen’s campaign finance reports ever mentioned the in-kind contributions from Premier due to having him appear in their commercials during the duration of his candidacy, which goes back to May 2019, while these commercials began this fall?
( and Woodstock adds: “Maybe Haggar could help us with that one”….. (jk)….)
Did you read the Argus? Now, our buddy at the court house claims he might find a few more city ballots at his office. #WTF? #AtLeastDaleyWasCompetent
Teresa lost for one reason, Theresa. She made too many unforced errors the last year or so. She had the advantage by being an incumbent and having a rep of fighting for regular folks. Her failure is she made too many things larger than they needed, everything was a hill to die on. I think the worst thing she did was how she treated the lady who got the auditor job, that did not play well. She had history on her side but, lost that battle due to how she handled it. It’s too bad but really won’t matter in the end. Instead of 5-3 it will be 6-2,still outvoted. Now she can have some peace and quiet.
I voted Election Day in NW district at Tech Center. I was told by republican at reception that as independent I could only vote in school election. I stated I’d still vote. My ballot was councilors and 2 charter revisions but no schools. I almost walked out thinking I’m not interested in schools. I wonder how many did. Elections are controlled if not rigged. I’d rather succumb to the mayor putting me in jail rather than being redirected by a corrupt regular citizen republican. I’m not sure what to do except register as Republican and vote them down. This whole circumstance reminds me of the French Resistance in WW2. They did Nazi salutes but were an important factor defeating Hitler on D-Day.
Perhaps the ‘I can’t breathe’ protest can include general constitutional liberty. I’ll demonstrate and breathe tear gas to restore civil rights from Strong Mayor Charter in Sioux Falls.
I’ve voted in the same precinct since 1979. On Tuesday, I was initially told that my name was not on the roster. I then protested, then miraculously my name was found. They also didn’t have those plastic sleeves to put your ballots in either. They claimed they couldn’t have them at this time because of COVID-19. A poll watcher told me that as she looked at my ballots (school and city/Dem) as I slid them into the appropriate ballot boxes.
I personally want to congratulate Democrat Billion and “Democrat” Heidepriem on their victory.
Stehly could use a break. I think she’d be better in the state legislature. City government is rigged. It’ll not change until the right case goes into state Supreme Court that removes the unconstitutional charter and sets establishing new government. For now, she can’t be blamed for city debt and the high rise useless parking ramp. Revenue is down because of weak sales tax. It’s best if she’s not part of cutbacks.
There was only one worker at my polling place wearing a mask.
Theresa and Crystal fell behind, because they were out spent.
I really thought that TS was going to win 55 to 45, or else get blown out. The fact that it is a 50/50 race proves that money matters and her controversies really didn’t matter. Without the special interest money, TS would have won comfortably.
Good
A, tell Jeremy, Mike, and anti-quotation marks (let’s just call him Mark) boy, Hi!
When only 100+ votes separate the winner and the loser, I think we can say that Bob Litz’s utter incompetence casts a pall over voter confidence in whatever the final outcome will be.
I am hearing way too many examples from voters of misinformation and wrong ballots at the precincts. Once again, poll workers did not receive proper training. Bob was too busy making up new excuses for his piss-poor performance.
Can Bob be recalled before the next disaster? It’s like Trump – funny at first, until you realize his stupidity is a danger to democracy.
is there an election where it didn’t take litz forever to count votes? and now his excuse is humidity?
He’s trying to stretch the counting out to four years, so that he’s guaranteed an additional four year term.