I’m going to request the media in Sioux Falls ask one simple question of all newly announced council candidates;
‘Were you recruited to run, and if so, by whom?‘
The friends and family line just doesn’t cut it for me.
While us local political nerds know full well who is recruiting candidates, the public does not.
While I have ZERO issues with the mayor and current city councilors helping candidates with advice I think it is completely unethical for a sitting mayor (that has 2 years left on his term) or councilor to be recruiting, raising money for, publicly endorsing and consulting on a campaign.
Today I got an interesting observation texted to me by another city political nerd about the blatant disengagement of the new city councilors and the current ones with their foot out the door which I of course nicknamed ‘cruise control government’.
When our city council turns into patsies for the administration all vestiges of open government will be lost.
Joe Kirby said it best, “The mayor’s office has become authoritative.”