Mike Huether

South Dakota Hall of Shame

It’s been no secret that for years that the SD Hall of Fame DOES induct people that sacrifice themselves to make SD better. But then they play the ass kiss game. Almost 50% of inductees are there because they are wealthy and many of them ‘bought’ there way into the Hall of Shame. So this year, they inducted one of those folks, Mike Huether, but I have to shred his statement that is littered with lies and half truths;

A visionary leader and dynamic changemaker, Mike Huether served two terms as mayor of Sioux Falls, transforming the city into a national model of growth and innovation.”

I guess when he talks about GROWTH he means our city debt.

“With a background in executive leadership at Premier Bankcard, where he helped build the 10th largest credit card company in the U.S., Mike brought a results-driven mindset to public service.”

He was the marketing VP, NOT a banker as he likes to tell people. He also spearheaded policies so bad that Congress had to create laws to stop FP from screwing clients on fees and interest. When this law passed, Mike was still working there, and Congress described their credit cards as predatory.

“Under his leadership, Sioux Falls launched transformative projects including the Denny Sanford Premier Center, Midco Aquatics Center and Levitt Shell, while preserving the city’s strong financial standing.”

Okay, had to get back off the floor after reading this sentence. A million dollar closed settlement, a failed contractor at the indoor pool, the Levitt was spearheaded by Tom Dempster, NOT Mike, he just signed the paperwork. Ironically I have NEVER seen him at a Levitt concert, but when you have FREE tickets to every concert at the Denty why hang with the peasants at Levitt? (Mike had a security badge to the backdoor of the Denty and would use it to attend concerts. The Denty turned the card off after Poops was sworn in.

“Beyond politics, Mike champions leadership and public service through the Mike Huether Public Service Academy at SDSU and the Huether Foundation, which supports causes across South Dakota. An author, TV host and lifelong volunteer, Mike continues to inspire others to lead boldly, serve passionately and leave every community better than they found it.”

An author and a TV host? Yeah, just like you are a banker. Hopefully a skid steer can clean up the stage after his acceptance speech. You know I was DJ once on a local FM/AM station. I just tell people I was a Radio Communications Executive.

I hope MMM runs for mayor again. This time I will make darn sure this guy doesn’t cross the finish line.

Mayoral Race shakeup?

Since we last discussed this here was the short list of potential or rumored candidates running for mayor;

Mike Huether

Curt Soehl

Rich Merkouris

Alex Jensen

David Z

Erica Beck

Christine Erickson

Marshall (Mr. Illegally living out of his district) Selberg

Well, the shakeup is interesting. I guess Beck has decided to NOT run which put Mastor Poops in a tizzy to find a NEW recruit, apparently he must make sure his horrible policy decisions continue in a good prosperity gospel candidate. He found someone, and they are a nobody, well in the public square sense. They are the president of a local company I have never heard of. Of course, I will not share his name yet, because we truly don’t know until they announce and I will do some digging to find out more about this white, christian, male in his late 40’s. Sound familiar? I hope in next year’s city election folks wake up and realize this current mayor sucks dog do do and anyone he would recruit or endorse will likely go down in flames. Maybe Beck realized this, or maybe she wants to keep her very lucrative job? (Her pay and benefits would be cut in HALF if she became mayor).

I couldn’t agree more with Mr. Kirby

Joe did a great blog post today about the charter. While I disagree with some of his premises and anecdotes he is right about ONE thing;

City government would be improved if we established a better separation of powers while at the same time, strengthening the role of our legislature. Here are some changes I think are worth considering in the charter and/or the way city government operates.

  1. Take the next mayor off the city council to establish better separation of powers.

I think this would FORCE the council to do policy because they would be running their own meetings and agendas. This doesn’t mean the mayor could not still present policy but he would have to get at least ONE sponsor on the council and if it really is HIS policy and not something a department head cooked up, he needs to come to the council and present.

I think the charter has worked well also, but the biggest problem is the laziness of the councils since and the corruption at city hall. This of course spells incompetence.

Some rules and regs really do work, but you must apply them, this city has NOT when it comes to policy and our legislative branch.

Sioux Falls Chamber has shakeup

The Chamber announced they are replacing(?) Debra Owen;

The Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce announced Thursday that Mitch Rave has been hired as the organization’s vice president of public policy.

The son of former South Dakota House Speaker Tim Rave, he holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of South Dakota.

Debra confirmed to me she left the Sioux Falls Chamber and is happy to be moving on. Her husband David leads the State Chamber. Debra’s title was VP/Director of Public Policy, so I am assuming Tim is replacing her.

Mitch has some big shoes to fill. Besides years of government experience working for the City of Sioux Falls as clerk and a top legal advisor to Governor Daugaard. Debra also has a law degree and has extensive knowledge about city and state government.

In my dealings and conversations with Debra in the past, she was always fair and listened to your side, she didn’t always agree but was never combative and would always dig for answers, probably the reason former Mayor Mike Huether* pushed for her termination. City government has a knack at getting rid of the good ones.

Mitch’s dad, Tim Rave, is president and CEO of the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations and sits on the Board of Regents.

*SPEAKING OF MIKE, WHO IS RUNNING FOR SIOUX FALLS MAYOR?

The list is still pretty short but it seems Mike Huether and Christine Erickson may be in. They have both been reaching out for early support (Mike more then Christine) I have not heard any more rumblings about Alex Jensen. Greg Jamison will also probably be exploring a mayoral bid, and I think if Huether officially announces he will jump in.

Another name that was floated was Vaney Hariri. I guess friends and colleagues have been asking him to run. I don’t know him personally so I have no idea if he is taking the encouragement seriously but he would be a great addition to the field.

I want Christine and Mike to know I have been greasing up the way back machine, and once I get it running it will probably start smoking once it’s gets to your government careers. Erickson has a much better record, and has shown to be a good campaigner. Winning both a school start date ballot initiative and the slaughterhouse vote (even though they mothballed the place).

I think any outside candidates are going to have fun watching these two duke it out on the debate stage.

Who is running for the next mayor of Sioux Falls?

I know, I know, a little early, but you would be surprised how much chatter has been going on already about the next mayoral race. The below predictions are PURE speculation based on convos I have had with city government nerds;

• Mike Huether, the former mayor has been actively reaching out to potential supporters and it is highly likely he will run.

• Greg Jamison, Greg currently serves in the SD legislature, but I have a fishy feeling he would love another round with Mr. Huether.

• Christine Erickson, she is coming off a very successful campaign against the stinky folks, and she has the ego to take a stab at this.

• Alex Jensen, not sure what to think of this, but his name has been floated out there by TenHaken worshippers.

• Greg Neizert, not sure if he is interested, but it seems like the most logical next political step.

• Theresa Stehly, I doubt she will run, but I can almost guarantee if she does run she will be in the runoff.

I’m sure there will be a couple of other Zombies (SNARK!) entering the race, but I have a feeling we will see a very crowded and diverse group.