South DaCola

Editorial Cartoonist from South Dakota

Mayor Hubris

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Sioux Falls has a PURPLE problem(?)

l3wis 1Comments

Remember when Rec MJ passed and the idiot governor at the time convinced some hillbilly deputies to challenge the law. Probably one of the biggest C— moves of her entire political career, though what she is doing in Minneapolis right now isn’t exactly resume building work. (unless you are trying to get a permanent residence at a Federal Prison).

Either way, all the rural counties were crying because Rapid and Sux floated the victory on that.

Which brings us to city elections, which on paper are non-partisan, but they really are NOT.

Since Munson the run-off election for mayor has always had a blue candidate and and a red candidate with the RED candidate candidate winning ALMOST every time

WINNER – LOSER

Munson vs. Brown

Munson vs. Halverson

Huether vs. Staggers

Huether vs. Jamison

TenHaken vs. Loetscher

TenHaken vs. Islam

Huether was the only candidate to flip the scales, but as you can see the Red Candidate has a better record of winning by 100%.

So it is obvious to me, there are only 4 scenarios in the runoff;

Jamison vs. Smith

Jamison vs. Batcheller

Erickson vs. Smith

Erickson vs. Batcheller

I don’t see a matchup between Jamison and Erickson.

The political landscape these days is in total chaos right now so I could be wrong, but in the past 6 mayoral elections there has always been a left and right candidate because Sux is purple. Honestly, I would rather see a matchup between Erickson and Jamison, but I don’t see that happening. Jamison is pretty moderate and actually gets razzed by his caucus for being purple, Erickson is a moderate, but she tries to wear the MAGA hat sometimes, which is annoying. I just don’t see two moderate Republicans battling it out in the runoff.

And if I was Jamie and Joe, I would be trying to knock the other one out, Jamison and Erickson aren’t your biggest competitors. I think Jamison understands he needs to knock Erickson out in the first round or it is lights out for him.

Like I said, norms could be broken this time around, which I welcome, but I’m pretty sure our next mayor will be Republican, I HOPE Sioux Falls proves me wrong and elects David Z. I think having a Zombie as a mayor would be an improvement, a hundred fold.

Mayor Almost Done Mayor Grump Toad Mayor High Crimes Mayor Hubris Mayor Pants on Fire Mayor Subprime Mike Huether Mike Huether Open Government Open Meetings Sioux Falls

UPDATE: Mayor Huether a finalist for the 2018 Golden Padlock Award

l3wis 14Comments

UPDATE: I have been reviewing the past 8 years of city government (2,800 posts) because I want to post about the highlights and lowlights and I found the below post. I found it funny that the city council is considering changes to public meetings, all meetings, when just 8 years ago when the council attempted to make this change in ordinance, which I have encouraged this council to do, Mayor Huether vetoed the transparency ordinance and it has gotten worse since. You can’t fix transparency in baby steps. The next council needs to pass a series of ordinances that address transparency and if they want to form a citizen committee on it I would be willing to serve. We need to stop the corruption and bleeding.

He may not win, but I’m guessing there won’t be a press release about this honor on the city’s website;

Sioux Falls Mayor Mike Huether: For going beyond even state law to shroud public business in secrecy. In early 2017, the city council passed an ordinance to require meetings of a city board to be recorded and published on the city website. Huether vetoed the bill and said: ‘Here’s the way (transparency) works: It protects you one minute. It stabs you in the back the next.’ The Argus Leader newspaper filed a lawsuit in 2015 against the city that went all the way to the South Dakota Supreme Court to get a simple contract detailing what the city called a $1 million refund from a settlement over flawed siding installed on a $115 million event center. After the court ruled in the newspaper’s favor in September 2017, the documents showed city officials weren’t telling the truth: The city received less than half of what Huether claimed. After the drowning of a 5-year-old girl in a park in March, the city defended its safety protocols by citing a 2016 audit officials said was conducted on the park. City officials denied the Argus Leader’s request for a copy of the audit, claiming it belonged to the insurance company. When the newspaper contacted the insurance company, reporters confirmed no such audit exists. Huether is term-limited but has indicated he’d seek public office in the future.

Surprised he wasn’t a finalist every year of his administration.

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We are fortunate to have good choices in the upcoming city election

l3wis 0Comments

These were my final words to a mayoral candidate today after we had coffee. I really believe that. While this candidate wanted me to be on their team, I told them my mind is not made up yet, and I am going to weigh all of them equally. This wasn’t an interview for the blog, we were just touching base and talking issues. Let’s just say a municipal ambulance is in our near future and Erica Beck ain’t running for mayor (she’s a bit busy running from her past command post).

They also asked me what I would like to see in my city, knowing that I was a biking advocate. I said I had to think about it;

ITS TIME SIOUX FALLS SUPPORTED AN ARTIST COOPERATIVE

There is an artist cooperative in Downtown Omaha that is really cool, and I always thought we could have one here with the help of the taxpayers. We used to have such a space at Falls Park, the Horsebarn Art Center, but the city kicked them out because they needed the barn for lawn mower storage (no f’ing lie). The reason I started thinking about this is because I have been watching our fine stewards 🙁 on the council give away $1 a year leases for city property to for profit businesses. There is tons of space downtown the city owns that they could lease for a $1 a year. The bus barn would work perfectly (if they build a replacement). The location is awesome, plenty of parking in the back and enough space for an amphitheater, gallery space and workshops and studios. The best part is on nice days you can open the garage doors! You could also set it up as a non-profit with a partnership with the city (they would do all maintenance to the facility (externally) and cover utilities and provide a used city van for facility transport. While we are at it, put the Arts Coordinator’s office in the building. We can do good artsy things in this community without kissing the ring at the Bazillion (Wash Pav). I think the city is considering cutting their subsidy substantially which is way over due.

What Hubris! I heard that Selberg was seriously still considering a run for mayor. A word of advice, Marsh, probably need to move back to Sux from Hartford 🙂 you know, that whole district thingy.

OH, and still not sure where MMM stands on the election. I guess the bride isn’t too keen on it (like the rest of the city) but peeps have been seeing him appear in public like those parasites on that new Alien TV series. I saw him on the bike trail the other day with his grandkids(?) it was quite the scene 🙂

Elections Former Mayor Former Mayor Bucktooth & Bowlcut Former Mayor Coors Light & Olives Mayor Almost Done Mayor Grump Toad Mayor High Crimes Mayor Hubris Mayor Pants on Fire Sioux Falls

UPDATE: A sigh of relief

l3wis 1Comments

UPDATE: Well, I guess the cat is out of the bag, or should we say, Greg Jamison. Yesterday on the Belfrage show, they mentioned that Jamison is considering a run for Mayor. This is true. I also heard another mayoral candidate will announce either this week or next, he has already been mentioned in the past.

I was in a pretty good mood yesterday, even as I was sweating my ass off on the pedi-cab. After Erickson’s announcement last week, I was feeling a bit bummed. The run-up to this year’s mayor’s election was going to be boring as Heck, even though I do think the council races will be fun to watch. It seemed to me Erickson has it in the bag so what’s the point of even following it. I know I have held out hope of a Darkhorse candidate coming forward, I am sorry to report, there isn’t one. But there may just be a more Salted Caramel Horse candidate coming forward. I am excited to hear about these new prospects and look forward to their announcement. (no timeline has been set) Let’s just say in certain circles, we are thinking we have hope in installing a mayor who truly wants to help the people instead of the chamber. Let’s keep our fingers crossed on this one, if all else fails depend on superstition, or prayer, whichever you prefer 🙂

And Woodstock says, “Aren’t they one in the same?”

Elections Former Mayor Bucktooth & Bowlcut Former Mayor Coors Light & Olives Mayor Almost Done Mayor Grump Toad Mayor High Crimes Mayor Hubris Mayor Pants on Fire Mayor Subprime Mike Huether Sioux Falls Sioux Falls Mayor Race

My latest conspiracy

l3wis 2Comments

All the talk lately about who may run for mayor and the possible appointment of Erickson had me thinking. Even though Huether has been out of office for 8 years, there is plenty of ‘bad press’ surrounding his previous term that is still fresh. I guess what I am trying to say it will be hard for him to defend his reputation.

So what is my conspiracy theory? I don’t think he is running, BUT, I think he has been mentoring a candidate and will likely run their campaign. If this person wins (I have NO guesses, but I’m sure it’s some stuffed shirt banker) this would set up an opportunity for Huether to be chief of staff (which basically means he would be running the city like the current COS does).

I base my theory on NO evidence, but a gut feeling about how he operates.

I will admit though, if he does run again, I would rather listen to him talk every night on TV instead the Orange Menace.

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