Mayor Huether’s 2012 Budget Release
l3wis 
Mayor Subprime Mike Huether
Ellis’ weekly column touches on my post about campaign promises
Poor Mike, no matter how hard he tries, he can’t bury the past. Just like a Shakespeare play;
Then out pops an ad from the Huether camp. There’s a picture of a smiling My Man Mike, and he’s promising to save taxpayers $100 million by building an events center that costs $100 million.
How do you save $100 million by spending $100 million? Next to Huether’s picture is a picture of Brown and Costello, looking like ghouls who eat puppies. Below that is a summary of the plan they endorsed, albeit with some exaggeration. The ad says Brown and Costello supported a plan that would cost $202 million and increase sales taxes.
At the time, Huether said he would build the facility using private investment, the existing entertainment tax and user fees.
The irony in all this is actually Vernon Brown, while the mayor has HAD to change his mind based on polls and studies and by already securing the office of mayor, Brown is notorious for flip-flopping like a fish out of water. Maybe that is why he got 3rd place in the mayoral election, TWICE.
But back to campaign promises. There was only one candidate running for mayor that would have given us exactly what he promised. And since he told the truth, he was not selected. What a sad state of affairs we are in now. As I told some commenters the other day, you made the Mike Huether bed, now you can sleep in it.
A very ‘questionable’ capital plan
The mayor’s capital plan is finally available online (see the full document here).
Here are some parts I cherry picked;
Notice he has set aside almost $8 million for projects voters have REJECTED – TWICE! Looks like he is going to let the council approve these projects and sidestep the voters. Very unwise to thumb the voters. He has also tried to mislead the voters on the Events Center funding;
We all know there isn’t a snowball chance in Hell that the EC is only going to cost $110 million. He also misleads the public with this statement;
I brought this up last week during the City Council meeting, utility and recreation rates being increased is NEW and HIGHER taxes. They are shifting infrastructure costs over to rates and out of the 2nd penny in order to fund the EC. THAT IS A TAX INCREASE. PLAIN AND SIMPLE.
NIELSON: High Approval Ratings for SF Mayor Huether
For immediate release:
Date: 6/13/2011
Subject: Nielson Brothers Polling Sioux Falls Survey  —  Mayor approval/Sioux Falls direction
Contact information: Â nbpolling@gmail.com, 605 496-0911, Paul Nielson
Website: nielsonbrotherspolling.com
High Approval Ratings for Mayor Huether Match Optimism About Sioux Falls Direction
Over 60 percent of Sioux Falls voters approve both of the job of Mayor Mike Huether and of the direction of Sioux Falls, according to the Sioux Falls Survey by Nielson Brothers Polling (NBP).
Looking more closely, 69 percent of respondents approve of the mayor’s job. Among those, 18 percent say they strongly approve and 51 percent somewhat approve. On the other hand, 10 percent say they strongly disapprove and 21 percent somewhat disapprove. Concerning the direction of the city, 61 percent of respondents say Sioux Falls is headed in the right direction, 18 percent say wrong direction, with 21 percent undecided.
“Our poll indicates Mayor Huether has more than maintained the public’s approval since October 2010 when 60 percent rated his job performance as excellent or good in a poll published by the Argus Leader and Kelolandâ€, said Paul Nielson, a partner in NBP. Nielson added, “Optimism about the city’s direction is high.â€
Mayor Huether receives slightly higher approval numbers from respondents under 65 years of age (71 percent), men (71 percent), and Democrats (74 percent).
Nielson Brothers Polling surveyed a random selection of Sioux Falls voters over a three day period — May 23-25. NBP polled 460 respondents for the question on the direction of Sioux Falls — margin of error of 4.6 percent — and 431 respondents for the mayoral approval rating — margin of error of 4.7 percent. Both questions have a 95 percent confidence level.
From the Sioux Falls Survey, NBP has previously released findings on the proposed Sioux Falls events center and Grand Falls Casino. Still to be released are findings on questions about teacher salaries and at-large city council members. NBP plans to continue to research and publish local opinions as a civic resource. For more information, contact nbpolling@gmail.com, or call 605 496-0911.
SF Mayor Huether reacts to the death of Bin Laden
“The American people will not be able to truly rejoice until we break ground on a new events center.”
SIOUX FALLS (STORMLAND ENDORSER NEWS)
On the eve of one of the greatest presentations mayor Huether will ever make, he reacts to the jubilance of the American people on the death of Bin Laden.
While many Americans are rejoicing in the death of one of the worst terrorists to ever exist, the good folks of Sioux Falls are rejoicing also. Rejoicing, because not only a chapter in American history can be closed, but a new chapter in Sioux Falls history can be opened, and that’s the construction of a new events center in Sioux Falls.
At the press conference, held at the McKennan Park tennis courts late Sunday night, Huether seemed to avoid questions about his Monday presentation;
Sorry, I am not going to answer questions about the greatest investment Sioux Falls will ever make, I’m not. This press conference is about the death of Bin Laden. And while I could go on and on about the millions in economic impact, the lack of parking downtown, and just how good and swell a new events center could be, I would rather concentrate on Bin Laden’s death instead of bonified studies proving the Arena location is the best spot for an events center or that Steve Hildebrand is trying to sabotage my plans.
But the shocker of the night was when STORMLAND ENDORSER reporter, Ben Dunnless asks Huether a direct question about Afghan caves or something, and Huether breaks down in tears;
We got . . . we got em’ . . . right where we want em’ . . . and gosh darn it . . . it’s not Bin Laden, it’s the good people of Sioux Falls. We got em in a corner and we are going to shove this events center train down their throats just like American special forces shoved their way into Bin Laden’s compound.
We are closer then ever to conquering terror in the world and we are closer then ever to building an events center in Sioux Falls. These goals can be reached together! God Bless America, and God Bless Sioux Falls, South Dakota! It’s time to cut the mustard!
After his speech, Huether immediately turned around and removed a tennis racket, a tennis ball and a can of lighter fluid from a gym bag, doused the ball in fluid, lit it on fire and hit it into the sky. It landed somewhere near the sunken gardens where it seemed to bounce off of the statue of liberty. Supporters of the new events center could be seen running after the ball while singing God Bless America.