SOUTH DAKOTA STRAIGHT TALK

No Surprise! With his pre announcement announcement this past week Ron Volesky announced yet again he would announce his candidacy for Governor. His announcement will come on November 4^th to capitalize on any newsworthiness of the “one year out” syndrome. Ron is a mediahound and his greatest ability is to cultivate the media and “get press.”

Several years ago the Mitchell Daily Republic awarded Ron their year-end Fax A Quote Award for the sheer volume of press releases, contacts and information they received from him. In 2003 during Ron’s campaign for election to the Huron City Commission, it was related to me that someone complained to the Huron Daily Plainsman that Ron was mentioned almost every day in their paper. The Plainsman’s response was to paraphrase as I heard it – gee we only run about a third of the stuff he sends to us.

In any event Volesky CAN articulate issues and always has a sound bite at the ready.

To those following South Dakota politics in the past twenty-five years Ron Volesky is no stranger. The story of his beginnings is admirable. A Native American born I believe on the Pine Ridge Reservation, Ron was adopted and raised by the Voleskys who were of Czechoslovakian heritage. Ron was an outstanding athlete and went on to attend Harvard and become a lawyer.

At age twenty-seven, in 1980 he was elected as a Republican from Beadle County to the South Dakota House of Representatives. He served in the House for six years, four years as a Majority Whip. He showed great promise as a star in the Republican Party. In 1986 when the At Large U S House seat became open, Ron Volesky entered the Dale Bell, Scott Heidepriem, Don Frankenfeld hotly contested primary. Ron came in a dismal last with 7133 votes or about 6.3% of the total vote. He was devastated and disappeared from the political scene.

For the 1992 election the Phoenix reappeared from his ashes to regain his State House seat, although this time as a Democrat. The only explanation that he gave that I am aware of is the old lame saw, "Democrats are the party of the people." (Editorial sidebar - It has always amazed me that Democrats make this claim insinuating that Republicans are somehow unrepresentative of average people who make this country work. This claim is more unusual because in South Dakota, Republicans generally outnumber Democrats).

The reasons for the party conversion were the two A’s. Ambition and Attention. Very simply put Ron had (has) ambition to higher office and the paucity of would be Democrat challengers presented greater opportunity. As a Democrat in South Dakota it is far easier to garner attention. You look much bigger on the stage and it is far easier to gain the spotlight when their are fewer actors on the stage. Do not believe for one second that the party change had anything to do with his philosophy. Ron will chase any issue that gets attention.

After serving eight years in the House and being term limited Ron became a switcher and ran for the Senate in 2000. There was some consternation whether he would run for that seat or Pat Haley who was also term limited in the House would run. Volesky prevailed. In 2002 Volesky ran for the Democrat nomination for Governor and again was shellacked by Jim Abbott with a dismal second place showing receiving 16.9% of the vote to Abbott's 68.8%. He must not have been too disapointed because he almost immediately accepted the Democrat nomination for Attorney General and again was defeated by the competent Larry Long who received 53.5% to Volesky's 42.8%.

Never say die - In 2003 again proving that name identification is crucial Ron captured a seat against a popular incumbent to the Huron City Commission. Despite irregular attendance at various meetings and the fact his children attend school outside of the local school district Ron ran for Mayor of Huron in 2004 against the incumbent Mayor Mary Pearson. Again he lost that election although he still retains his commission seat.

Ron Volesky is one of the most complex politicians in South Dakota. While always seeking attention he is smart, very quick at finding hot button issues and a good communicator. Unfortunately his positions are not always well reasoned.

Should he become the Dem general election candidate (which looks more likely each day) you can count on a campaign that will be entertaining on those few days that he engages Mike Rounds but not successful. Volesky has never been a good fundraiser and 2006 will not be much different. Volesky despite all the noise he will try and generate  support but despite 18 years of public service, and despite thousands upon thousands of words really cannot point to any meaningful accomplishment.

Ron Volesky is not the Comeback Kid. He should learn to be satisfied with who he is. He needs to learn what successful politicians know government is about how government affects others not you.

Democrat prospects - While Volesky may be the default candidate in an otherwise moribund Democrat party (with the exception of Stephanie Herseth), the Democrats would do far better running University of South Dakota President Jim Abbott again. Abbott also a three-time loser does understand that government is about others not self. President Abbott's recent State Of The University Speech showed a vision and a plan. Should he choose to be a candidate, Jim Abbott would be more formidable in 2006 than he was in 2002.