As the city elections get closer, I love the more prepared quotes candidates give to the media. Here is a few from yesterday’s Gargoyle and my analysis;
“On a short-term basis, I think we’re going to see some real financial challenges as we continue to work our way through the economic troubles our country has had,” Peterson said. In the long-term, he said, the city’s next mayor will have to find ways of providing opportunities for current and future residents. Jobs, quality of life, and keeping the city safe and clean are among the significant issues facing the city, he said.
Hey, Bill, aren’t those the issues EVERY SINGLE AMERICAN CITY face? How about some new ideas and vision?
“The top three issues for me are jobs, jobs, jobs,” Brown said.
I agree, Vernon, jobs are important. But what kind of jobs? More of the same $10 an hour call centers or high-paying technical and green manufacturing? That is the million dollar question. We are gonna need specifics Vernon.
“Clearly, the economy in Sioux Falls has slowed down, so we’ve got some short-term fiscal issues we need to address – that we’re going to be forced to address,” Costello said. Long-term, the city’s elected officials need to institute policies that make Sioux Falls a good place for business investment and job creation, he said. Those policies include investments in the city’s quality-of-life projects.
Slowed down?! Pat, it has come to a screeching halt, wakeup. You said yourself in the informational meeting, our unemployment is through the roof and we are buying levy bonds based on the precedent that our city is in ‘General Distress’. Building a couple new parks and an events center by raising taxes on food and utilities won’t bring ‘jobs’ to Sioux Falls. I agree that the city as a whole needs to invest in quality of life, BUT, I think those investments should be paid for by the very people benefitting from them, CORPORATIONS. Having happy employees helps their bottom lines. It’s time to institute a corporate entertainment and quality of life tax and stop making the people least likely to use these facilities pay for them. Pat, you may act like you will be different then Munson, but so far, all I am seeing is a carbon copy.
“The most pressing issue certainly is ensuring that Sioux Falls stays vibrant in one of the most challenging economic times we’ve faced as a city, state and country,” Huether said. “Also, I think one of the greatest opportunities is to make city government even more productive in terms of utilizing our city tax dollars.“
Well, Mike, I think our ‘vibrancy’ has dulled a bit over the past year, and I think it will take a few years to recover that vibrancy. I couldn’t agree more about being more prudent about how we spend taxdollars. I have often told people Sioux Falls can still have great parks and quality life projects but spend less. It’s about priorities and money management. I’m just not sure that a guy who worked for a FEE HARVESTING company is someone I want managing our city budget.
Staggers said a key issue facing the city is trying to control spending and taxation.
Taxation is a sticky subject, BUT controlling spending should be the number one priority of the next mayor, it is clearly out of control.
If I had to pick the two leading candidates at this point, it would be Huether and Staggers.
l3wis 
