I haven’t posted about the resignation of Minnehaha County State’s Attorney because I knew many news agencies would cover this and I was waiting for all the details available to me.

But what I don’t understand is ‘why’ would we give an elected official a payout to resign? First off, even if nothing was done wrong (let’s say he is leaving because of health issues – which is part of it) why would he need a payout for that? I’m sure his health issues are covered by his insurance.

But secondly, if he has done something wrong (The Public Assurance Alliance, the AG and the Commission are all investigating him for sexual harassment and other things) why would we pay him to NOT sue the taxpayers?

Some on the MCC (I’ve heard) have argued the payout is a lot cheaper then fighting a lawsuit, which on it’s face is probably true. But why would he be suing the taxpayers? If you are accused of wrongdoing, it would be your responsibility to pay for your defense – whether you are found guilty or not. He could sue later for being falsely accused, but would he?

Am I missing something here?

Then there is his staff members who didn’t report this to the MCC. Why?

But lastly, as I have said before, where was the MCC when McGowan was asking for all this extra funding? Wouldn’t they want to audit his department and see if everything was on the up and up?*

This was a failure of government on many levels. Government employees failed us, elected officials failed us (Both State and County) and the State’s Attorney failed us.

Has the MCC commission learned anything from the fairgrounds fiasco and embezzlement? We pay each member of the MCC around $25K a year as part-time officials. Is this not enough money to do their jobs? Maybe that is the real fraud here. Paying an elected body who are consistently in the dark because apparently their heads are stuffed somewhere, I’ll let you take your guesses.

Maybe this is why the MCC is consistently non-transparent, maybe because they don’t even know what is going on?

*Cindy Heiberger is the liaison for the State’s attorney’s office.

6 Thoughts on “How does an elected official get a severance when they resign?

  1. "Very Stable Genius" on December 4, 2019 at 10:38 pm said:

    It’s just further proof that increasingly corporations, and their mentality, run our governments at all levels today and such a reality is now becoming self-evident as failed politicians are given – apparently – a severance, or should we say golden parachutes.

    One of the reasons that caused Nixon to resign was that it would save his federal pension, which would have been lost had he been impeached and convicted by the senate. But today, apparently, we create this reality to effect such an outcome and where does this reality, or mentality, come from, but from a corporatist one.

    Also, it is, in this case, ironically like some kind of a financial plea bargain, is it not?

    ( and Woodstock adds: “I just want to know if that new lady is finally going to get us that Copper Lounge grand jury, that we have all been waiting for?”….)

  2. D@ily Spin on December 5, 2019 at 8:57 am said:

    The payout is more an enticement to resign and soon. Getting him out of office would have taken a lengthy due process. I’d like to believe he saw what he needed to do. To some extent, I sympathize with him. It’s evident there’s overwhelming case load due to the increase in crime. Drugs, gangs, and murder are rampant. The jail is full so some are released. They almost immediately come back into the system. It would drive State Attorney to drink or look for escape from the pressure and overtime. Sexual harassment innuendo disturbs me. It seems used often to get an older man out of office and replaced with a young woman. I wish him the best. His life will improve now. Here’s more proof a career in public service is not a good choice. He served well but left unappreciated.

  3. Shocker no not really….

    Another Democrat wanting to get paid not to work

    Where was the Democrat party asking him to resign?
    The silence was deafening

  4. I think McGowan is/was a DINO like our last mayor.

  5. Ogrerants on December 5, 2019 at 8:52 pm said:

    Where’s the Republican party asking Trump to resign after many many accusations of sexual harrassment and assault and boasts of pussy grabbing. It’s the new low standard to look the other way. God help us all.

  6. "Woodstock" on December 6, 2019 at 1:44 pm said:

    “I think most Democratic leaders in the state are “DINOs,” and its only the Democratic voters, who are the real Dems”….. #TrojanHorseLeadership

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