During the council debate on Thursday night Janet Brekke said she will work with Chief Thum to try to implement some national standards for the police. In her recent mailer she said;
• Secure a stable Police Department training budget so our officers have the latest instruction available.
• Support Chief Thum’s 3 new initiatives to engage young people so they don’t become offenders.
• Strengthen relationships between patrol officers and neighborhoods.
Apparently this really irritated candidate Merkouris who went on this rant;
While I would partially agree you don’t take all National standards and hope they work in Sioux Falls, you still have to look at what could work. I was very surprised how agitated he got over it, considering the problems we are having with our police and other city employees. There have been 4 arrests over the past couple of months of city employees. Two for abuse and two for child porn.
There was also some other ‘dog whistles’ on other candidates postcards;
David Barranco said this;
I have two strong boys . . .
and continued on the back;
We must not assume someone who shares our values will prevail on April 12.
You can take that how you want to, but I think Barranco is painting his opponent as someone who lacks values and it is a low blow.
Sarah Cole also made some false claims on her latest mailer;
I am not a politician.
I hate to break it to you Sarah, but when you run for office you become a politician. As a recent female business leader said to me when TenHaken made the same claim, “He is extremely tone deaf.”
Politician; a person who is professionally involved in politics, especially as a holder of or a candidate for an elected office.
Sarah continues her rant;
The people of Sioux Falls deserve a city councilor that will serve with integrity and respect for others. I won’t play games or pick petty fights.
The timing of this statement after TenHaken tried to intimidate Brekke is interesting to say the least especially coming from a POLITICIAN who has never voted in a single city or school board election in the community she wants to serve.
I think on Tuesday, your choice is very clear; Reistroffer, Brekke, Pam Cole and Cody Ingle.
“I am not a politician”…. Ya, and the check is in the mail. What she should have claimed is that she is not a typical politician, and then let the voters decide.
No “national standards”? Let me guess, this attitude comes from the same strain of paranoia involving CORE and CRT as well, right?
Two “strong boys”? Are they proud, too? Because maybe they could be full of pride “Someday” as well.
AND, I also still can’t get out of my head how our Mayor really struggled and seemed uncomfortable in the first debate when uttering the letters “LGBQTA”…. I must admit, there wasn’t much pride in that utterance.
( and Woodstock adds: “Ya, but don’t forget the ‘+’, too”… “That’s important as well”…. “And the Mayor definitely did look like he had just ate a crow when he uttered those letters”…. “But, I think in a political debate every candidate should be allowed to phone a friend once and/or take a pass on one question”…. ” ‘Camping anyone?’, could have been a good save to that question for the Mayor”…. “I think”…. )
Just cause you run for public office to represent people, does NOT mean you are a politician. You can classify yourself as a “Statesman”
A person of whom is versed in the principles or art of government, whereas this person is a wise, skillful, and respected political leader who is actively engaged in conducting the business of a government or in shaping its policies.
James Madison, the author of the Constitution wrote in Federalist #10 (1787) – “It is in vain to say, that enlightened statesmen will be able to adjust these clashing interests, and render them all subservient to the public good. Enlightened statesmen will not always be at the helm: Nor, in many cases, can such an adjustment be made at all, without taking into view indirect and remote considerations, which will rarely prevail over the immediate interest which one party may find in disregarding the rights of another, or the good of the whole.” –
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/01-10-02-0178
A “Statesman” is someone who places the interest of others above their own, and not make a career out of politics, but actively works among political leaders to keep the people engaged within their governing process. A statesman does not make a career out of politics, but yet, remains engaged in the process of actively participating in the process of which the people play a direct role in their government.
If Sara Cole refers to herself as a “Statesman” – she is then saying that she wants to actively engage in the governing process, while not placing herself above another person(s).
Politics derived from the ancient greek word “politeia” – which means:
POLIS – City-State
and from the verb politeuomai – which means “I am living as an active citizen of the polis.”
So basically – “every citizen” of this State is a politician, for he or she plays an active role in their government, with the intent to protect his or hers best interest as it relates to the over all needs of a community. IF a “politician” is someone who will his/her own interest, then are we NOT all politicians at heart, within the American Governmental System?
Therefore, a Statesman is someone who chooses not to serve his/her own interest, but maintains an active role in politics in order to place the needs of the community above their own.
A Statesman does not do it for a paycheck, he/she does cause they are called upon by the ‘people’ of the community to actively take the lead within the political process of governing the city.
Wow, that is a very long rebuttal. I just used Webster’s definition.
Lol, My email was even longer, in describing what Politician vs Statesman means.
Do statesmen exist anymore? Hasn’t the dawn of the continual campaign ruined that path?
got a merkouris door hanger today. I looked up his twitter and it seems ha can’t function unless he’s topped off with mountain dew, which is a child’s drink. Hard Pass.
A politician is one who misrepresents the truth and lies when the real answer is right. Their career is steering tax dollars into their bank account instead of making an honest living.
In case nobody noticed, there’s a serious drug and sex crime problem in Sioux Falls. MJ and Coke yes but nearly worse are Meth, Fent, and Jaba. Pimping, sex trafficking, and porn are prevalent. There’s not enough jail for prosecution. The 75 million budget excess belongs toward building more incarceration or updating water treatment.