SOUTH DAKOTA STRAIGHT TALK

Dusty Johnson, Chairman of the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission has taken a Visiting Professorship at Dakota Wesleyan University. He will be teaching an upper level course in public policy formulation.

Becoming the McGovern Visiting Professor of Leadership at DWU is a perfect fit for the PUC Chairman. There is no one better suited to bring ability and enthusiasm coupled with practical experience in both policy formulation and leadership. As stated several times on this blog, there is no one in statewide elected office today at the state or federal level who is better on public policy than Dusty Johnson. Before becoming a PUC Commissioner, he served on Governor Rounds’ staff as a senior advisor on Economic Development, Tourism, and Energy Issues.

Dusty is a graduate of the University of South Dakota and has a Master’s degree from Kansas University where he was a Truman Scholar. Dusty has worked as a public policy analyst for Johnson County Kansas and for the U S Department of Agriculture in the office of Rural Development in Washington, DC.

Not only does Dusty know his subject but also there isn’t anyone who knows him that doesn’t agree he does everything with high energy and great enthusiasm.

There will be political flak over the perception that he is not working full time. Beyond honoring his first responsibility of protecting consumers, Dusty Johnson has continued the transformation at the PUC that Bob Sahr started in making the PUC an agency of Economic Development. From cellular telephone service to wind power, Dusty is tireless in leaving no stone unturned to improve that quality of life in South Dakota.

Political flak in this case is just that Flak. Dusty will adjust his already busy schedule to accommodate his Commissioner’s responsibilities, his professional life and his personal life. Teaching this course and inspiring other young people is a plus. This was noted in a previous post Good Job Dusty on his Commencement Address at the Mitchell Technical Institute.

In any event this appears to be an evening class and should not be a conflict. You can bet that if there is a conflict with a Commission responsibility, class at DWU will be rescheduled.

Although he is in his office in Pierre most days when not out working and listening to the people of South Dakota, Dusty and his wife Jacquelyn along with their son Max maintain a home in Mitchell a two hour drive from his Pierre office.

Jacquelyn also is worthy of notice. She is a professional financial advisor and active volunteer in the Mitchell and South Dakota community. Jacquelyn serves on the Avera Hospital Board, the Mitchell Chamber Board, the Discovery Museum Board, and the Board of Directors of the University of South Dakota Alumni Association. She most recently joined the South Dakota Junior Achievement Board.