SOUTH DAKOTA STRAIGHT TALK

Straight Talk Commentary – Dave Volk, a friend and an associate for over twenty years, makes it official he is a candidate for one of the At Large Sioux Falls City Council seats for the election that will be held next April. By running for the open seat, he is running for the seat currently held by Andy Howes who has announced he will not seek re election. (With the loss of Howes it will be key that a pro business and numbers person take his place.)

David Volk brings a set of skills that would enhance City Government. He has demonstrated public policy skills, management skills, and political skills. He understands what makes government work and would be a solid addition to the Council.

Volk is a proven winner having won statewide elections 5 times. At a young age, Dave won his first election in 1972 as one of only two Republican Statehouse winners in the year the Democrats led by Governor Dick Kniep took over the Statehouse. Dave did lose in the GOP Primary for 1^st District Congress in 1978 (a lucky break for rookie Tom Daschle) to Leo Thorsness and again for Congress in 1988 to then veteran Congressman Tim Johnson.

The campaign should be an interesting one. The At Large race looks to have three or four candidates and should be hotly contested. This election will be different for David.  He has not run for election in 18 years and his name identification may not be very high, and unlike  statewide races this campaign will be absolutely retail. On the plus side David knows how to raise campaign funds and is extremely well networked for that purpose both in Sioux Falls and statewide. Finally he knows the campaign drill and will be not only a tough campaigner and voters like him - he interacts so very well with people.

While I don’t agree with his Mainstream Coalition proclivities, David Volk will be an effective agent working with those council members not up for election, Bob Jamison, Vernon Brown, Kevin Kavannaugh, and even the ever publicity seeking disparate Darrin Smith.

Should De Knudson, Gerald Beninga and Mayor Munson be re elected, along with Volk, Sioux Falls would have the pro people, pro business, progressive leadership to continue making Sioux Falls a great place to live and continue fostering the amazing economic engine that Sioux Falls has become.

Barring big surprises next year – we can call David Volk – Councilman.

Following is the press release:

David Volk will run for Sioux Falls City Council

For Immediate Release: 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 29, 2005

David Volk announced today his decision to run for an open seat on the Sioux Falls City Council. He will make a formal announcement in January.

Volk, who was elected South Dakota State Treasurer five times and served eight years as Cabinet Secretary of the State Department of Commerce and Regulation, said his background and experience would be the basis of his candidacy.

“As State Treasurer, I spent 17 years investing hundreds of millions of dollars of the taxpayers’ money and developing efficient cash management programs to benefit South Dakotans,” said Volk.

Volk said his Commerce Department experiences also give him important background for government operations in a rapidly diversifying city. “The Commerce Department had 400 employees in 12 divisions and 22 boards and commissions. Its activities included banking, securities, real estate, insurance, law enforcement, public safety, nursing, social workers and human rights.”

Volk is a graduate of Northern State University in Aberdeen, where he also worked as Field Representative for former Congressman Ben Reifel, the first Native American elected to Congress. He served two years in the United States Army, a year of that in Vietnam. While in Vietnam, he was awarded the Bronze Star and the Army Commendation Medal while serving with the 101^st Airborne Division.

Volk more recently worked as Congressman Bill Janklow’s State Director of Constituent Services in Sioux Falls. He also helped found a property and casualty insurance company in Sioux Falls. He has recently been teaching history, public finance and investment courses at Colorado Technical University and teaching classes, including special education, at local elementary schools.