UPDATE: I see he had no trouble getting in front of the camera to talk about ice cream, just not controversial issues like panhandling. Nice mask by the way 🙁
Looks like they already have by letting his staff phone in his answer in a story last night about panhandling;
Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken’s office provided KELOLAND News the following statement from him on the topic:
I think this is unfair to his opponents for several reasons. This was clearly a story about what the ‘candidates’ think about the signs and Paul should have answered the question directly as a ‘candidate’ instead of tasking his paid by taxpayers staff and SFPD communications officer answering for him. This is ethically questionable since he is having paid city staff answer campaign questions. The only people who should have answered that question was Paul or someone from his campaign.
If the media doing this story had any integrity they would have NOT aired the story without a direct response from Paul and if they could not get one, run it with just his opponent’s response or NOT at all.
This was the little game he played when running last time, acting as though he didn’t have any competition and the media playing along and letting him sneak under the radar. In the future the media needs to start treating him like a candidate (since he does have 2 competitors now) especially when one of his opponents brings up a concern, and if he doesn’t want to respond as a candidate, then don’t run his canned response.
I also wonder if Stormland TV reached out to his other opponent for a response?
Paul is a declared candidate now and he has two declared opponents, he needs to be treated like a candidate and not a cruise control, phone in, part-time Mayor. If he has time to tell Dad jokes for 10 minutes on FB, he has time to answer an on camera question from the media.
EDITOR’S NOTE: I want to make it clear, this is NOT an attack on the journalist who did this story, just a critique of how this ONE article was handled. Overall I thought it was a good article, it was Paul’s lackluster response that tarnished it.
I’d like to know what the daughter thinks of the whole panhandling situation. She seems to be a straight” shooter. If she knows enough to call the mayor a Poops”, then I think she is quite wise and in command of the issues.
( and Woodstock adds: “I bet she’s good at raising $1000 contributions for her Dad, too, from classmates”…. )
The Mayor will most likely execute a campaign similar to what Rounds did 2014, when Rounds stopped showing up at debates and stayed above the fray with his own campaign commercials which weren’t negative.
It’s a smart strategy for a popular incumbent, but the media does encourage this approach often by not giving challengers any coverage time. At least in this case an opponent’s views are being aired, but what good is it if the media doesn’t go looking for the current Mayor – in his garage cutting another FB video most likely – for a response?
( and Woodstock adds: “Maybe that Big Mouth Billy Bass on his garage wall has something to say, too”… )
Wait a second? So Scott is in favor of panhandling now? After all that crying about it? Let’s go Scott, make up your mind and be more transparent about your flip flopping.
Where did I say I agreed with Paul’s opponent? I still despise panhandling, and think we need to start fining drivers for obstructing traffic, it would end the gift giving real quick. Reread the post, it’s about giving the mayor a pass in the media.
The head window kicker in charge has changed the rules…my little commie buddy. No longer do they need to go out and campaign or answer questions for that matter. Just look at the “transparency†of President Xiden! Doesn’t need to answer any questions, chews out reporters, hides in his basement during the “campaignâ€, criminal. And the MSM is allowing it cause….Mean Tweets
There will be many political plays. I’ve made up my mind to never vote for an incumbent in a city election. I feel it’s the only way to force change. I suggest a movement as such. We (the general population) must show a half million advertising campaign fund by the rich must not produce another upper class corrupt prejudice mayor.
Once upon a time, local journalists never used a “quote” from a press release – they tracked down the mayor (or whomever) at one of their daily public appearances. Wasn’t PTH one of the Cherapa cheerleaders on Monday? Should have been easy pickings.
Today, if it’s a Facebook post or a GoFundMe account, it’s a news story. SMH.
Watmq is merely gaslighting. Because I didn’t know that Biden was directly involved in the panhandling situation in Sioux Falls.