I get it all the time, “Scott, have you liked any mayor since you have lived in Sioux Falls?” My answer is always the same, “No.”
I would love to see a dozen or more candidates running for mayor next Spring. I think the last time we had that many candidates is when Munson ran for a second term (well he decided not to, then everyone jumped in the race, then he got back in at the last minute).
Some basic traits would be someone who understands the US Constitution, the State Constitution and City Charter. They also should be a non-partisan at their core, and would prefer someone who has been a registered indy most of their lives. They also have to be a consistent local voter. I don’t care about race or gender, but I would like to specifically see a (younger) retired person in the position who isn’t looking to climb any ladders or do favors for friends but has the best interest at heart of the citizens. They should have also worked in a leadership position in their career, either as a CEO of their own company or a director or manager in the public sector.
I guess I am looking for someone who will run the city like an administrator and let the council handle the policy and the purse strings, like they are supposed to. I know I am asking a lot, but let’s keep our fingers crossed and don’t forget your jumping jacks.
Tell me in the comments what would be your ideal candidate.
I know when Kermit Staggers ran for mayor he got accused of not working with the developers and Kermit told me, “I’ll work with developers on re-zones and regs to make sure their projects get done, but handouts and tax rebates, not so much.”
Just what kind of mayor do we want? Well, do we want a mayor who used to drive a Rolls Royce around town like Cruzenberry, then there was a political caretaker mayor named McCart who was also a city commissioner simultaneously (Caretakers always have a cart.), or how about a Shirmer that the people weren’t too sure about, so they elected a DJ, or how about the DJ who road an elephant when the circus came to town? Then, there was a Cooper (This was our DJ/anchorman era.), not D.B. Cooper, although this Mayor Cooper only lasted two years like a guy who jumps before a landing, then we got a White, a developer/real estate kind of guy who gave us Prairie Green who was re-elected thanks to Skippy’s long name, and what about a Hansen who gave up a year of his term so the mayoral races would coincide with council races, but then wrote a letter to the local Bishop pleading with him to not create a Spanish speaking church, or what about Munson who got rid of the loopsters, wanted a Skunk Creek named after him, build the Phillips to the Falls without correct appropriation, and somehow got re-elected after the campaign manager for his run-off opponent had earlier in the campaign, by first name only, recommended on a local radio talkshow that Munson should seek re-election(?)? Then, after that, we got a Buck who became a Jackrabbit and then a mayor, who built all kinds of things and tried to make a rectangular office look oval, then finally we got Mr. Ironman, who came along and gave us Chic-fil-A, a finished State Theatre, a bunch of selfies, some Jumping Jacks, and the finesse of a 73 percenter, oh yes, indeed. 🙂 ….. So, let’s just say we have had them all…. Meanwhile, in a macro sense, the city has prospered, while in a micro sense, not so much, because Sioux Falls has become the test case for supply-side economics over the last 40-plus years, which now lends itself to the realities of a ‘Tale of Two Cities,’ indeed.
( and Woodstock adds: “Say, I’m currently working on autobiographies of the McCart and Cooper eras…. Hopefully, they will come out in ’26 🙂 ” …… )
Oh, and I forgot to mention how Mr. Ironman completed his predecessor’s Bunker Ramp and another wall, which is actually a fence, and how Noem, as a four-year-old, was probably inspired by our elephant-riding mayor….. AND, I think Woodstock is working on some biographies and not autobiographies unless he suffers from that disease where your dual personality causes one of your personalities to try to be some or someone else (?) …. 🙂
( and Woodstock adds: 🙁 …. ( ….”Wow, imagine doing selfies with your Rolls Royce :-0 …… ” …… ))
Fire warning for Friday, but a blizzard warning for Saturday, is Trump now in control of the weather? #ClockworkOrangeLeadership
Mitch Richter. The mayor Sioux Falls didn’t know we needed. And now we can’t get him back. I blame Bill Peterson.