South DaCola

Editorial Cartoonist from South Dakota

Sioux Falls

David Barranco Dr. Sarah Cole Elections Janet Brekke Rich Merkouris SF City Council Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls City Council Candidate Merkouris doesn’t believe our Police should follow National Standards

l3wis 7Comments

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.

Elections SF City Council Sioux Falls

South DaCola City Election Endorsements

l3wis 18Comments

No candidate has asked me to endorse them . . . maybe there is a reason why, LOL.

As I have already mentioned, I think that voter turnout is going to be extremely low. This makes it hard to predict some of the races, so I will avoid that, because quite honestly, this is probably one of the most challenging elections I have ever seen.

Coming out of a pandemic and the cluster of the last city election being during a primary of uneducated city government voters and the factor of a popular incumbent mayor.

ENDORSEMENTS

Mayor; David Zoikates. David was an easy choice, while I will admit that he can be a little quirky at times, several things standout; police reform and open government. Any candidate that will put transparency first will always get my vote. I also believe in his campaign promises. I recently told David that the issue I have with his two opponents is they are cut from the same cloth.

At-Large A; Janet Brekke. Not only is Janet the most qualified city councilor we have ever had, she is more qualified than any one in the entire pool of candidates, including the mayor’s race. Janet IS a consensus builder and she does it by asking the tough questions and promoting open government. I got to know Janet when she was running for office and assisted with her direct mail in her first race. Trust me, I don’t agree with Janet on numerous issues, but I also know Janet will listen to you and weigh your opinion in her decisions. She also has no one to impress, Janet has been involved in public service for decades, she has NO ulterior motives besides good government. I call her the Republican Pam Nelson.

At-Large B; Pam Cole. I had to be sold on Pam. But after reviewing her resume and experience, I think she is genuine in her intent, and I think we need more progressives on the council. I also don’t trust her opponent who comes across like our previous mayor with promises of inclusion that fall away on inauguration day.


SE District; Cody Ingle. I don’t personally know Mr. Ingle, but his stances on diversity, inclusion and equal rights stand out for me. He is also young, vibrant and progressive in his ideals. He is also a super nice guy. His opponent is a grand mystery. His opponent recently told a constituent that he only cares and represents his district and is not concerned about the rest of the city. Which means he is oblivious to his role as a councilor and extremely unqualified, kind of like the person he wants to replace.


Central District; Emmett Reistroffer. Where to begin? A candidate who is young and full of ideas. A deep understanding of policy and citizen advocacy. I dare any candidate running, even for mayor, to match up their resume to Emmett when it comes to public policy. While Emmett has a strong personality, he is also respectful of citizens opinions. In his work as a cannabis advocate he has proven that time and time again. He understands the people’s work, and knows how to get it done and work hard to implement policies that benefit this city as a whole. Emmett is the most well-rounded council candidate we have probably ever seen in the history of our city. It would be a disservice to NOT elect him.

I encourage everyone to vote, local government is the most important government. They determine most of the rules and laws you should follow, the majority of your taxation and the amount of government services you receive. It is the most important decision you will ever make effecting your life over the next 4 years.

Property Taxes SF City Council Sioux Falls Taxes

The City of Sioux Falls is misappropriating surpluses

l3wis 2Comments

The biggest issue before the upcoming city election isn’t just affordable housing it is how the city is misappropriating millions in tax surpluses from 2021. (Item #86)

Typically surpluses from the previous year are not given out or appropriated in the following year until a financial report from that year is presented to the public and city council in a public meeting.

It should certainly NOT be given out before an election. The council, that normally controls the purse strings should have gotten the report and had public working sessions with public comment to determine how this money is to be spent, and it should have happened after the election.

Instead, the mayor is keeping information from some of the councilors and certainly from the public and secretly appropriating this money as booty prizes and then dropping it in councilors laps to approve. It’s a violation of the charter and certainly an ethical violation, it may even violate campaign rules.

In my humble opinion, with $74 million in surpluses the best way to spend this money is to give tax rebates to the core neighborhoods for property owners to spend it on home and neighborhood improvements (stipulated). Instead of complicated grants and added bureaucracy, just give it back to the taxpayers and have them decide how they will spend the money.

It’s bad enough we have been overtaxed, but to turn around and hide it from the council and public and to hand it out to the mayor’s special friends is just sickening, especially right before an election.

ENTIRE PDF OF PRESENTATION

1st Amendment Elections Open Government Open Meetings Rich Merkouris SF City Council Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls City Council Candidate Merkouris will not protect your right to Public Input

l3wis 6Comments

The Sioux Falls Election is bringing out the best of the worst, including this endorsement of taking away citizen rights by City Council candidate and preacher Rich Merkouris was expressing in 2018. 36 Citizens who gave impassioned Public Input on June 12th, 2018 were wrong? They are according to Marshall Selberg and Rick Kiley. The Mayor and 4 Councilors are saying “Stay away from our meetings, quit interfering!” We’d like to say, “Good Bye!” The Mayor is being encouraged to shove our civil rights up our backsides by the TenHaken best friend, Rich Merkouris. The City Council candidate Merkouris who doesn’t want audits of the millions of dollars he has received from the city coffers? Yup.

Elections Mayor TenHaken Sioux Falls

Poops Puzzling Postcard

l3wis 5Comments

In the 2nd installment of Mayor TenHaken’s mail campaign he continues to make up fake crises;

flooding, tornadoes, civil unrest, divisive politics, and a worldwide pandemic.

I am still trying to figure out the ‘civil unrest’. The BLM rally was 99.9% peaceful. I participated in it. It didn’t get weird until some latch key kids decided to throw some rocks at the police at the mall that had NOTHING to do with the day’s activities.

I also really don’t know what he means by ‘divisive politics’. The city council has pretty much been a rubber stamp council. Even councilor Starr who puts up a fight on occasion has voted the line most of the time. City government in Sioux Falls has been anything but divisive. There is very little discussion or debate. I hate to say it, but Paul has gotten every thing he has wanted.

But the most concerning thing about his postcard is the mask he is wearing, he admits in this interview he broke the tie for the mask mandate voting it down. So which is it?

Mayor TenHaken is a politician full of contradictions.

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