SOUTH DAKOTA STRAIGHT TALK

Former State Representative Bill Peterson's recent announcement that he would be a candidate for Mayor brought the number of candidates with their hat in the ring for the job as Mayor of Sioux Falls to three. Peterson joins Councilman Vernon Brown and business executive Mike Huether.

All three are formidable candidates who bring their individual talents and perspectives to the race. Certainly they will be joined by several or many more. Expected to certainly join the race is Councilman Kermit Staggers. Political talk around the town speculates that Minnehaha County Commissioner Jeff Barth is in and Councilmen Greg Jamison, Pat Costello, and Gerald Beninga are considering the City's Top Spot. Former Mayors Rick Knobe and Gary Hanson have also raised their name up the “I am interested again” flag pole hoping someone salutes. I also hear that former Sioux Falls School Board Major Domo Roger Risty is seriously considering joining the fray.

The election is in April of 2010 and the winning candidate must receive 50% of the vote to win. If no candidate receives 50% then there is a runoff election two weeks later when the top two vote getters face off.

Candidate Observations

Bill Peterson is a politician and has considerable political skills. Bill grew up in Vermillion and lived in Pierre for a time before locating in the mid 1980s to Sioux Falls. He has worked in public affairs and been active in Sioux Falls and South Dakota politics for his entire adult life. He currently works for Western Surety / CNA Surety in Public Affairs and Lobbying where he has been for about 20 years. Prior Bill worked in public affairs for the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce, the Sioux Falls Chamber, and a brief stint with Colle - Mc Voy a Minneapolis base ad agency. Bill also has served as Chairman of the Minnehaha County Republican Party, Majority Leader of the South Dakota House of Representatives, and as a mover and shaker (I am not sure exactly what his official position was if any) in the effort to move the City of Sioux Falls from the City Commission form of government to the current Home Rule Charter - Mayor and Council form. Remaking City government was a big priority for one of Peterson's former bosses, Joe Kirby, though in addition to that Bill has intense personal interest in government and was mentored of USD legend Bill Farber a strong proponent of streamlined government. Peterson has flirted and suggested frequently that County governments and governmental services in South Dakota should be consolidated.

Bill's business executive skills are unknown (at least to me) but he has excellent political skills that a Mayor of an increasingly diverse city requires. His management of the three or if not more caucuses among his Republican House Caucus was nothing short of masterful. Majority Leader Peterson often described leading the GOP House Caucus like herding cats. Bill Peterson is also one of the best communicators in South Dakota.

Most recently he served as President of Downtown Sioux Falls. This is both a plus and a minus. It is a plus because it gives a coalition that offers a strong base of support. The other side of the two edged knife of support from the Downtowners is that he will be marked as representing just one area rather than s the broader interest of the City at large. Another negative may be the suggestion of his possible lack of administrative experience. Though this should be offset by his strong political skills and voters may not care as Mayor's Hanson and Munson did not bring strong admin skills to the job either. The fact that his name ends in "son" is a plus.

In the last few months at various several functions I have seen Peterson and political guru and advisor to political campaigns Lee Brown with their heads together. While I do not know if it is a fact this leads me to suspect that Lee is advising the Peterson Campaign. Bill's wife Sue also is political and been through many campaigns. Her support will add vitality to his reach for the golden chair at 9th & Dakota.

Vernon Brown has been actively running for Mayor for about six months. He has been raising money and building coalitions. Vernon who came in a strong third in the 2006 race in my opinion would have easily been elected Mayor had not Dave Munson changed his mind to be a candidate and filed for re election at literally the last possible minute. Vernon has high name identification both as a popular current Councilor and a former television news reporter for KELO. Like Peterson, Brown is also a great communicator. Brown's quotient of personality and likeability are off the charts.

Brown is an Arlington native who after SDSU located in Sioux Falls. He is politically and independent though formerly a Republican. He is fairly representative of South Dakota conservatism though often finds a government solution to most every issue or problem. Vernon Brown is working with Georgia Hanson an experienced Sioux Falls and South Dakota consultant who previously worked on Dave Munson's and Pat Costello's campaigns.

Of the three announced candidates Mike Huether is the new face on the block. Clearly Huether has the proven management skills to lead City Hall. As executive vice president of First Premier Bank Card, Huether commanded an army of business executives counting to nearly 120 persons. Assuming modern day business practice, he probably had a group of top level lieutenants perhaps 10 to 15 reporting directly to him. This would parallel the organizational chart at City Hall with its departments and division directors.

The unknown about Huether is what kind of communicator and campaigner is he. His campaign appears well organized and thought out. Unlike Brown and Peterson, Huether has never campaigned for himself before nor won an election. A big plus for Huether is that he is well networked throughout the City. Because of his extensive networking Mike will raise a significant war chest.

At first look it appears he is building his name identification by stressing Mike rather than the troublesome to pronounce Huether (heather, heater, heether?). Rather than adopt the triter, I Like Mike, he has chosen My Man Mike. This is inventive and appears to be an adaptation of Governor of Indiana (and former Budget Chief (OMB) for President Bush) Mitch Daniels, who use My Man Mitch.

I will offer more commentary on the candidates as they officially announce or file the requisite papers with the City Clerk.

Who’s In and Out?

Kermit Staggers as noted above is in. Pat Costello is in. Greg Jamison is working his checklist and is on the fence. Gerald Beninga is out (it is also rumored he is considering running for a seat on the Minnehaha County Commission.

Political intel is that Jeff Barth is running for Mayor but I am reticent. His election chances may have seemed better when he was the only Democrat in the race (despite that the Mayor’s office is non partisan). Huether’s candidacy takes that distinction away from Barth. Thus Barth who enjoys public service will stand for reelection rather than run against the heavy odds of being elected Mayor.

Rick Knobe is out. Gary Hanson is out, not because he wouldn’t like to be Mayor again but doesn’t have the political courage. Roger Risty I don’t think will run but he may surprise. Roger is widely known and though not currently on the political scene is active in the community and well known. His wife Julie, Minnehaha County Register of Deeds, is a plus.

There are certainly a couple of more persons looking at the race and I wouldn’t be surprised if the field of candidates is not six or even more.

For a short period late next winter and early next spring all eyes will be on the Queen City’s mayoral election just before next year’s Big Enchilada, the primary election for the GOP nomination for Governor.