Sanford Hospital
Retired Sanford Executive John Paulson to challenge Staggers
I guess we are one step closer to be re-named Sanfordville. Not sure what John brings to the plate, but I guarantee his campaign will be very well-funded by the swishy-tishy in town.
And if you think a former Sanford executive will be looking out for the best interest of Joe Six-Pack in Sioux Falls, I have some rental property to sell you next to a Sanford Hospital parking lot.
Enough of former ‘executives’ in city government. They have only one mission, to butter the bread of their friends.
I heard Paulson was considering the run last week, but wasn’t sure when he would announce. But I also suspect that Staggers will have several challengers (I have heard two other names thrown out there considering the run).
Mayor Mike Christie drops his balls at the Junior Football Field
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBlkxXtkgAc[/youtube]
Mayor Huether to pull a Chris Christie on Saturday
In case the audio doesn’t work for you:
. . . Wanted to let you know that you’re invited to our kick off Saturday celebration that is taking place at 8:00 AM on Saturday morning prior to the game is beginning, Sanford helicopter will be landing on field two and dropping off the balls. Mayor Huether will be in the helicopter and also get out and have a little bit of a speech about mission accomplished because our fields are now finished up in Sioux Falls . . .
Looks like a little Deja Vu to me. I thought the Junior Football fields were completed a long time ago?
What are your feelings on the Police Chief Barthel retiring and working for Sanford?
And I thought I was going to miss out on the free lunches in my retirement.
I’m not sure what to think of our Police Chief going to work for Sanford;
After more than 12 years on the job, Sioux Falls Police Chief Doug Barthel has announced his retirement.
Barthel made the announcement Wednesday at the police’s daily media briefing, with Mayor Mike Huether by his side.
Barthel has served as a police officer more than 30 years. He has spent 12 years as Chief, making him the second-longest serving Police Chief in the history of Sioux Falls.
Huether credits Barthel with making the department more transparent, as well as improving community relations.
Barthel says he has accepted a position with Sanford Health as director of community relations.
I missed the press conference, but I guess the mayor gave Barthel credit for basically covering up the increase in crime rates in our city during the last mayoral election campaign. I guess Huether’s version of transparency is being able to sucker the public about statistics to help his re-election campaign. Oh, and we also don’t have access to any evidence from the night of the Tuthill shooting incident. Thanks.
I had heard rumors that Barthel was considering this retirement after assistant chief Lyons announced hers, which is no surprise after 30 years of service, but I’m surprised he is getting such a high profile job. I’m sure his pension from the city is very nice, and I don’t have an issue with him working after retirement, but it almost seems like a golden parachute handed to him from the mayor and his buddies at Sanford and First Premier for being a good soldier (Huether likes to reward his loyalist boot lickers with substantial raises and other perks (on our dime), it’s evident who follows orders and who rocks the boat when you look at the salary increases for management over the past 5 years) Well at least this time, Sanford will be footing the bill.
It also gives Sanford an edge over Avera when dealing with city police issues having an insider on their team, smart move by them, ethically questionable move by Barthel, but hey, we don’t have any ethics rules for public service in this state so what can we do about it? Also, to tell you the truth, I wouldn’t even know what ethics he would be violating? (I guess it is kind of hard to come up with something when no standards exist to begin with).
I wonder if he will continue to get free meals?


