Well deserved applause, indeed.
The GOP County Chairman who could
I imagine being the Republican County Chairman in Shannon County would be as thankless a task as being the Republican Legislative Recruiter for Legislative District 15 in Sioux Falls. In both places, Republicans historically just don't win.
But rather than view it as a mountain that couldn't be climbed, GOP County Chairman Bruce Whalen decided to be an optimist. Instead of thinking of the huge imbalance of party registration as an obstacle that couldn't be passed, he decided to make it an effort where he'd get over that mountain by building a road - one pebble at a time.
Celest Calvitto has an excellent article today in the Rapid City Journal profiling Bruce and his efforts. Here's just a snippet:
One of the things that Bruce mentions in the article is that he believes the GOP needs a permanent outreach coordinator for South Dakota's Native American populations. And I would tend to agree.
One only has to look at the massive party disparity in the 2002 U.S. Senate vote for Shannon County to come to that conclusion. 248 votes for Thune and 2856 votes for Johnson. Many of us went to bed thinking that Thune had won before Shannon County came in. And that overwhelming vote in Shannon County just blew the whole thing out of the water.
Starting in 2004 Bruce Whalen went to work. And from his efforts we have 56 more Republicans in those counties that weren't there before.
The outreach effort is time, labor and financially intense. One look at the 2004 GOP financials will tell you that. Tons of travel for 56 voters. But when the day is over, something was accomplished. We have "a spark" of new Republican voters in those counties.
It's not going to be cheap, but when elections are won or lost by 500 votes, it's inexpensive considering the alternative. So cast me among the people who think the GOP should continue to fund this worthy effort.
I look forward to someday saying Bruce Whalen's spark of Republicanism in Shannon County has been fanned into a flame.
But rather than view it as a mountain that couldn't be climbed, GOP County Chairman Bruce Whalen decided to be an optimist. Instead of thinking of the huge imbalance of party registration as an obstacle that couldn't be passed, he decided to make it an effort where he'd get over that mountain by building a road - one pebble at a time.
Celest Calvitto has an excellent article today in the Rapid City Journal profiling Bruce and his efforts. Here's just a snippet:
Whalen traveled many miles and attended 22 events, signing up a total of 56 Republicans, 18 Democrats and 3 independents in Shannon, Todd and Bennett counties.Read the whole thing here.
“There’s one thing I am convinced of,” Whalen said. “Even though some people registered as Democrats, they lean toward the Republican platform. It’s up to our candidates to give them a good message. And it’s paramount to get them (all registrations) turned in. That’s not happening across the board,” he said.
Whalen said he believes American Indian values such as respect for life are reflected in the Republican Party platform. “Young people are asking what the Republican Party position is on abortion, and when I tell them Republicans are against abortion, they say that’s what they believe,” he said. “The other theme is that they are tired of the way things are. There is 80 percent unemployment in Indian Country, and Shannon County fights to be the poorest county in the nation.”
One of the things that Bruce mentions in the article is that he believes the GOP needs a permanent outreach coordinator for South Dakota's Native American populations. And I would tend to agree.
One only has to look at the massive party disparity in the 2002 U.S. Senate vote for Shannon County to come to that conclusion. 248 votes for Thune and 2856 votes for Johnson. Many of us went to bed thinking that Thune had won before Shannon County came in. And that overwhelming vote in Shannon County just blew the whole thing out of the water.
Starting in 2004 Bruce Whalen went to work. And from his efforts we have 56 more Republicans in those counties that weren't there before.
The outreach effort is time, labor and financially intense. One look at the 2004 GOP financials will tell you that. Tons of travel for 56 voters. But when the day is over, something was accomplished. We have "a spark" of new Republican voters in those counties.
It's not going to be cheap, but when elections are won or lost by 500 votes, it's inexpensive considering the alternative. So cast me among the people who think the GOP should continue to fund this worthy effort.
I look forward to someday saying Bruce Whalen's spark of Republicanism in Shannon County has been fanned into a flame.
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