February 2022

UPDATE II: KELO AM turns into the ‘State Media’ for Mayor TenHaken on Thursday

UPDATE II: As I suspected this was not a paid for commercial. Not once in the two hour event in which the mayor talked a lot about the city did he say it was paid for by his campaign. This means his 2 opponents can and should ask for free and equal time.

UPDATE: It looks like there is a little rule that needs to be followed here;

The equal-time rule specifies that American radio and television broadcast stations must provide an equivalent opportunity to any opposing political candidates who request it. This means, for example, that if a station gives a given amount of time to a candidate in prime time, it must do the same for another candidate who requests it, at the same price if applicable.

I suggest other candidates ask the station for equal time.

I also see now the State of the City Address is being billed as an RSVP event;

Join Mayor Paul TenHaken for the 2022 State of the City Address. The event also will feature a panel discussion with youth leaders from the 2021-22 Mayor’s Youth Council on the future of our community.

Advance registration is required; seating is limited.

8-9 a.m. Wednesday, March 16

Doors open at 7:30 a.m. Breakfast is included with registration.

Event is free and open to the public. RSVP by March 4, 2022.

Seating is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. The address is also available to view via livestream on the City of Sioux Falls’ Facebook page.

I have NEVER heard of a public event like a public meeting being a RSVP event, especially in a facility owned by taxpayers (Convention Center). I am also curious who is paying for the breakfast? The tickets appear to be FREE. This looks like a campaign event funded by the taxpayers. Unbelievable!

Section 3.03  Mayor’s duties and responsibility.  

The mayor shall, at the beginning of each calendar year, and may at other times give the council information as to the affairs of the city and recommend measures considered necessary and desirable. The mayor shall preside at meetings of the council, represent the city in intergovernmental relationships, appoint with the advice and consent of the council the members of the citizen advisory boards and commissions, present an annual state of the city message, and perform other duties specified by the council and by article III. The mayor shall be recognized as head of the city government for all ceremonial purposes and by the governor for purposes of military law.

Imagine me NOT being surprised when the morning host on 1320 AM, Belfrage, announces this morning that on Thursday between 7-9 AM, Mayor Poops will be able to have a 2-Hour campaign commercial on the station.

I will have to give the mayor’s campaign folks props, who wouldn’t want what appears to be a FREE 2-hour commercial?

But what is surprising is a station that constantly bitches about the supposed ‘state media’ they just turned into the propaganda wing for city hall. Maybe they will give Poops more awards during the show.

Mayor Paul ‘Poops’ TenHaken didn’t sign up for it, but he survived


Poops sent out this fundraising email talking about how he navigated us through all the things he didn’t sign up for;




Friend,
In less than two months (49 days, to be exact), voters will choose who will guide Sioux Falls forward for the next four years. As Mayor, I’ve worked to provide a steady hand as Sioux Falls dealt with the unexpected.

Flooding.

Tornadoes.


Civil unrest.

And a worldwide pandemic.

While leading through it hasn’t been easy, our city has shown incredible resilience. I’m proud of the way we’ve pulled together and hope through.

When he talks about ‘Civil unrest’ is he referring to panhandling, the Dudley house parking lot, union contract negotiations, his police department, management turnover or all of the above?

Big Surprises in the Sioux Falls City Election should come on Friday

All candidates have until 5 PM Friday to turn in petitions to get on the ballot. I’m hearing a lot of chatter that Friday will have some big and new announcements.

This is where we are at;

• Mayor; 3 candidates announced (I have not heard of any more, which disappoints me, but we may never now).

• At-Large A; 3 candidates announced, ALL WOMEN! (I also have not heard of any more in this race).

• At-Large B; 3 candidates announced (While I have not heard of any more, I wouldn’t be surprised if another candidate(s) jumps in).

• SE District; 1 Candidate announced (I have heard there may be up to 3 more announcing by Friday).

• Central District; 2 Candidates announced (I have heard this may be a crowded race with a possibility of 2-3 more candidates jumping in on Friday).

With some of the names being thrown around, I am excited that ALL races will be well balanced. So far we have a color blind graphic designer, a medical lab manager, 2 doctors, 3 lawyers, a pastor, a used car salesman, an insurance salesman (retired fire fighter) and many more professions.

There will likely be at least 1-3 runoffs in this election with city council seats. Unfortunately I don’t think there will be a runoff in the mayoral race. Winning candidates MUST receive at least 51% of the vote in the general election to avoid a runoff.

I will announce my early predictions and candidate profiles probably this weekend once I know who is running and more importantly who they are. Of the ones that have NOT announced, if they do, we will have one of the most diverse city election candidate pools of all time when it comes to ethnicity, gender and profession.

I am pretty excited . . . this time around we must stop big money in its tracks and hopefully create a more balanced council and since we won’t have silly primary voters mucking up the voting rolls we may get a very fair and balanced city election.

Cannabis Leaves are fine for The Denny Sanford Premier Center Promotions but not for Medical MJ Dispensaries

I had to chuckle a bit when I saw this announcement today (where was Paul’s SECRET insider text message?).
Apparently it is okay to use Cannabis leaves to promote a Snoop concert at a taxpayer funded entertainment facility, but using the leaves on a medical MJ dispensary sign would be the end of the world.
What makes both ridiculous is that it is only a plant and not some kind of evil imagery.