2012

Is the Varilek machine all it’s cracked up to be?

I was Alfalfa in a previous life.

From a South DaCola foot soldier;

Pam Gulleson (ND-AL) is in a similar position to Matt Varilek. Open seat with Obama at the top of the ticket. Both states have a Republican controlled state house and state senate. Both candidates have raised about $125K. Republican Rick Berg defeated Democrat Pomeroy in the last election and Repulican Noem defeated Democrat Herseth Sandlin. However, according to this, the DCCC is targeting Pam Gulleson for help but not Matt Varilek. Is the Varilek machine all it’s cracked up to be?  How much power do Daschle and Johnson wield anymore if they can’t get Varilek added to the first important fundraising rescue list the DCCC puts out to their donors?

While I agree, Noem is dangerous, and well, an idiot. Varilek will really have to step up his game to beat Noem, especially when it comes to money. The first thing I suggest is that he gets his hair cut in Mitchell and not at the Little Rascals barbershop.

Councilor Erpenbach proposes replacing the city clerk w/ 2 positions

Two for the price of one (Image: KELO-TV)

Not sure if you watched Erpenbach’s items she walked in at the council meeting last night (#22-23), but worth the watch (end of the meeting, FF: 1:11) The items are still not visible on the website in PDF form.

They basically are replacing Owen with two people. One as an administrative clerk and one as a legislative lobbyist for the city (legislative operations manager).
There argument is that the city clerk should only be an administrative person and not an advocate for the council, but for all citizens and A-Political.
As for what the Legislative manager is going to do is beyond me, Erpenbach says they are going to be a ‘researcher’. Something Owen also did, very well, in fact probably too well, since she often found many things we were doing incorrectly as a Home Rule city. (and you wonder why we are always getting sued).
They also want to create a operations research committee.
I still scratch my head that they fired one of the most talented and transparent people working for our city and now want to replace her with TWO people and an entire committee! But Erpenbach points out that they are actually saving money in the council’s budget. Who cares if we are saving money when we are creating more unnecessary bureaucracy.
We are going to be paying for this bad termination decision by the city council for years to come.