I Am Going To Vote For Terry Winter

The preposition in the post's title is important. It's been a long time since I voted for someone.

In November, I will mark a box that indicates I chose Rick Weiland, Larry Pressler, or Gordon Howie to be South Dakota's next United States Senator. Whichever candidate I select, my vote likely will not be for him, It will be against Mike Rounds who created budgets that allowed his successor to decimate education funding in South Dakota and who will likely support every effort to increase the scope of the national security state.

I will also mark a box indicating support for Susan Wismer or Mike Myers. That vote will certainly be a vote against Dennis Daugaard, a smiling Machiavellian who will pursue policies that guarantee "the least of these" continue to get less.

To her credit, Kristi Noem has taken to issuing press releases on the evils of human trafficking, but her vapid mouthing of red meat talking points will leave me not choice but to vote against her by checking the box next to Corinna Robinson's name. (I confess that I fear Robinson, whom I once had high hopes for as a candidate, will prove herself to be so ineffectual on the campaign trail that I may not vote for either one.)

When I mark the box next to Terry Winter's name, I will be voting for Terry Winter for District 18 Representative for the South Dakota House of Representatives. This vote will not be against incumbent Mike Stevens or Jean Hunhoff who is seeking this state house seat while Bernie Hunhoff runs for the state senate.

Terry will bring an understanding of what all of the polices imposed by Pierre have done to the average classroom teacher. Most importantly, he will fight for those Rounds, Duagaard, and the rest of the state's power structure have ignored. He will bring a sharp intellect and well honed wit to floor debates. Terry will speak truth to power with the wisdom of and, if one can trust Hollywood, the physical features and voice of an Old Testament prophet.

I have few illusions. Mike Stevens will have a campaign that's better funded than Terry's, and Stevens has conservative bona fides that ensure him a large base. Jean Hunhoff is part of a family dynasty; she too will have more than enough financial support; further, any vulnerabilities she may have lie to her right flank, political ground Winter does not occupy. For all I know, this endorsement may cost him a vote or two, although by November, most will have forgotten the post.

I am a realist and know that, if elected, Terry will cast votes I disagree with. Thankfully, he marches in lockstep with no one. It will be refreshing to vote enthusiastically for someone rather than against the status quo. Besides,anyone who can make less cynical about the political process, deserves to be elected.

Reason #33 Cory Heidelberger Is A Better Blogger Than I Am

Cory and I both saw this Nathan Johnson post on the recent Yankton City Commission meeting. We both read the hyperbolic rant:

A lack of volunteers does not indicate community disinterest, Commissioner David Knoff said.

“The Fourth of July is a perfect example,” he stated. “If you don’t think it’s that important of a deal to the community because the Chamber doesn’t want to do it, then let’s quit doing it. Then (the public will) come in here, set us all on fire, shoot us and do everything else. They want the event. They just don’t want to step up to it. They want to go to it.

Cory saw Dave Knoff's rant as the basis for profound philosophical questions about human nature, the role of government, and the needs of a well-ordered society.

I saw

A Few Musings About The Yankton School Board Election

The Yankton Press & Dakotan has the final tallies.

With two positions available on the Yankton School Board, voters across the district cast their ballots electing current School Board president Kathy Greeneway and newcomer Matthew Pietz to serve three-year terms on the board Tuesday.

Unofficial results show Greeneway with 1,394 votes (27 percent), Pietz with 1,088 votes (21 percent), Mark Westerman with 1,020 votes (20 percent), D.G. “Butch” Becker with 852 votes (16 percent) and Michael “Moose” Welch with 811 votes (16 percent). Voter turnout was 24.5 percent with 2,946 voters of a possible 12,035 casting ballots.

To use and extend a rather bad metaphor, the results of the opt-out elections were kicks to the teeth.  Given that the We The People Yankton (WPTY) candidates finished at the bottom, these results come as a relief. I'm not comfortable enough yet to visit the dentist to get dentures, but I will start buying name brand pain reliever instead of generic aspirin.  I'll also probably start gargling with Listerine instead of salt water to head off the infection

Update: Candidates Or Procrastinators?

I guess the answer is procrastinators.  The Secretary of State's website shows that Democrats Bernie Hunhoff and Charlie Gross have filed petitions, joining Republicans Mike Stevens and Thomas Bixler as candidates for the South Dakota House of Representatives from District 18.

No Democrats filed to run against incumbent Republican Jean Hunhoff.  Ten other districts have only one candidate for the South Dakota State Senate.  Joining District 18 as a one party district are Districts 1, 5, 8. 15. 23. 27. 28. 29, and 32.

UPDATE:  The Secretary of State's office now has added Republicans Thomas D. Stotz and Matt Stone to the District 18 candidtate list (10:30 am 3/28/12).  That gives the Republican 5 total candidates.  I guess I will have to change my voter registration from I to R for a bit.

Candidates Or Procrastinators?

It's the last day to file Primary Election nominating petitions with the Secretary of State's office. Last Friday, the Yankton Press & Dakotan reported,

On the legislative end, incumbent Sen. Jean Hunhoff (R-Yankton) is the only candidate for the District 18 Senate race.

For the two District 18 House seats, House Minority Leader Bernie Hunhoff (D-Yankton) announced Thursday that he will seek re-election.

Two Republicans also told the Press & Dakotan Thursday that they are seeking House seats.

Yankton attorney and former Yankton School Board member Michael Stevens said he filed his petition Thursday.

Thomas D. Stotz, treasurer of the Yankton County Republicans and a chiropractic physician, also announced his candidacy

Two quick observations:  First, are the local Democrats really that weak that they can't field a candidate for state senate?  Second, gotta love procrastinators.  As of this morning, Representative Bernie Hunhoff and Thomas Stotz have not yet filed.  Thomas Bixler, however,  has filed as a Republican candidate for the South Dakota House of Representatives.

Sunday Morning Talk Goes Local

I love it when local and national politics converge.  I produced my own Sunday morning gab fest to celebrate.

Update:  The letter to the editor can be found here.

Signs Of The Times

Many South Dakota communities will hold school board elections in early April.  We Hate Teachers Yankton Chapter (WHTY) We the People Yankton (WTPY) is holding a candidate forum tonight.

Several candidates have declined the invitation to attend.  It's unknown if advertising for the event, which includes several hand painted signs that evoke images of a friendly ransom note, had anything to do with their decision.  I suspect, however, that this sign may have had something to do with the candidates' decision.

I do give We're The Group That Hired A Guy Who Brags That He Wants To Eliminate Public Education (WTGTHAGWBTHWTEPE) WPTY credit  for showing some school spirit and using red, one of the school colors, in their advertising.