The lawmaker, the troublemaker and the deal maker
It was a nice surprise to not only see councilors Neitzert and Stehly, but legislators Michael Clark and Greg Jamison were also in attendance talking to constituents today and the Coffee with Council event at HyVee. Jamison and I had a good conversation about repealing IM 22 (we didn’t solve much though) He thinks (mostly his caucus) we should repeal it ASAP, I told him that we should let the Supreme Court address it, and further more, Judge Barnett has already halted the law, so what’s the hurry for repeal until the SC weighs in? I also I have a problem with the legislature making it’s own rules when it comes to ethics.
To be quite honest with you, I may stay out of endorsing or helping a candidate this time around. I had a discussion this weekend about the candidates possibly running;
Kenny Anderson, Greg Jamison, Jim Entenman, Darrin Smith, Rob Oliver and Michelle Erpenbach. I have also heard of about 2-3 ‘ghost’ candidates. Even disgraced former Deputy Secretary of State is getting into the speculation game;
But what I do keep hearing – and did so again tonight – is that former Republican Legislator Christine Erickson who had said “no†before might be softening her no into a “maybe.â€Â And it might be a strong maybe at that.
I’m glad Pitty Pudge could put down is double whopper for a moment and get with the times. I asked Christine about a mayoral run several months ago, and her response was that she was going to ‘keep her options open’.
It’s not that I don’t think any of these people are qualified for the job, I just don’t think any of them really stand out. And councilors have a horrible track record of winning the mayor’s seat.
I think the next mayor is going to have to be a true populist with economic savvy and an appetite for transparency and someone who is willing to invest in rebuilding our core while putting urban sprawl on hold. While the race is technically non-partisan, I don’t think a Republican or a Democrat can manage a city that way, it will take an open minded independent who is willing to listen to all sides of the table. They are going to have to also deal with the financial mess credit card Mike has left behind.
But to anybody who is willing to run, I wish them luck.
Dakota Wuss College confirmed that Greg will run for House in District 12, with no primary challenge at this point.
On the Democratic side, Casey Murschel is taking another run at it.
Greg and I had a rocky start when he first got on the council, in fact, I felt like his seat was a coronation from his father. But in his second term, I have felt he had come around and grown as a city legislator, and has become his own lawmaker, and I have appreciated his leadership over the past 4 years.
He would make a great legislator and be a strong voice for Sioux Falls in Pierre.
