I was pondering this today, what if I didn’t know any of the candidates running for mayor? I didn’t know them personally or even knew what they looked like and I was asked to review their professional resume (non-government experience) who would I lean towards? Well, just based on resumes it would be Joe Batcheller.
I know this sounds odd, because Joe has NOT announced yet, but it sounds like he is running, and he checks most of the boxes;
• Non-partisan moderate (not even sure if he is a Dem, Repug or Indy)
• Lead a non-profit for several years
• Worked as an urban planner (his degree)
I think the last point sealed the deal for me, because we had no mayor since Hanson that had any government experience, especially planning.
This is NOT an endorsement of a fella who hasn’t announced yet. It’s just something I thought I would look at. Joe is going to have to show some enthusiasm and some pizzazz when he is out on the trail, and I’m not sure he can pull that off, BUT on paper, he’s a winner.
We know how it rolls in SF, it comes down to looks and personality, and if you ain’t got it, you are toast.
I am encouraging citizens to actually research the professional resumes of the candidates running instead of just looking at a wink and a nod from another salesperson.
The next mayor will be handed a giant stinking turd; half the directors will be gone, the operating expenses on all the new play palaces will drain tax dollars and we will likely be in a ‘light’ recession by the end of the year, and like the last one in 2008, it will take several more years for the middle class to get caught up in Sioux Falls. I still know people who are still behind the 8-Ball from that recession.
We are going to need a leader who knows city government and how to pull it’s levers.