Reader Suggestion time - people potential candidates should know
I've been noodling on a post that I'd like to do, but before I weigh in, I'd like to hear what the readers think.
If a political newbie showed up at your doorstep one day and said "I want to run for office" - Who are ten people involved in South Dakota partisan politics that you would say they need to meet? And that's ten for each side of the aisle, if you care to take a stab at both. But arguably, it's more authoritative if you're just speaking for your own.
Would most Republicans include Larry Russell and Gypsy Hines on their list? Would most Dems include Rick Hauffe and Jody Severson?
What I want to know is - Who do the political insiders point friends to when they've got someone
who wants to jump in with both feet? Once you've all weighed in, I'll drop in with my list in a separate post.
If a political newbie showed up at your doorstep one day and said "I want to run for office" - Who are ten people involved in South Dakota partisan politics that you would say they need to meet? And that's ten for each side of the aisle, if you care to take a stab at both. But arguably, it's more authoritative if you're just speaking for your own.
Would most Republicans include Larry Russell and Gypsy Hines on their list? Would most Dems include Rick Hauffe and Jody Severson?
What I want to know is - Who do the political insiders point friends to when they've got someone
who wants to jump in with both feet? Once you've all weighed in, I'll drop in with my list in a separate post.
Comments
hmmm...are you the newbie? You've got the politician thing down.
Admittedly, I don't have a huge window into the D side. On the R side, My experience is 18 years deep.
But before I comment, I'm hoping to filter out a few of my own personal prejudices and rivalries to give valid advice.
Jody Severson? Who's that?
There are people you should always approach from old timers through the new players.
If they have to ask then they haven't been around very much.
There is a political community in SD, not an insular society. That's when parties begin to fail, when they start to shut people out.
I know what you mean, I should not have stated "tell you" I should have deleted it. It was placing names on line. There are many people and the party I would have a person talk to who was considering a run.
RANDALL FOR GOP CHAIRMAN!!!
Georgia Hanson
Joel Rosenthal
Lee Brown
I agree. Joel Rosenthal is a divider, not a uniter. The SD GOP needs an articulate, engergetic Chairman who will unite the party.
This is on top of the folks he helped get re-elected.
If you don’t know who he is, it’s because he is not out looking for attention.
I’ll give you a hint; he’s in the House from Pennington County.
I’ll check back later to see if anyone is in tone enough to figure out who he it.
Dems in the state are beginning to get organized and smart, young operatives like Chad Schuldt and others are helping prospects for good progressive candidates all across South Dakota.
Democrats:
1. Steve Hildebrand
2. Steve Erpenbach
3. Rick Hauffe
4. Barry Foster
5. Sheldon Osborn
6. Jody Severson
7. Chad Schuldt
8. Scott Heidepriem
9. Elaine Roberts
10. Kay Davis
11. Drey Samuselson
12. Bill Thompson
13. Stephanie Herseth
14. Steve Dick
15. Deb Knecht
16. Bernie Hunhoff
17. Jack Billion (after he's chair)
18. Judy Duhamel (for now)
19. George McGovern
20. Jim Abourezk
21. Pam Nelson
22. Tim Dougherty
23. Bob Simpson
24. April Reis
25. Janelle O'Connor
26. Reynold Nesiba
27. Mike O'Connor
28. Pat Haley
29. Pam Miller
30. Marylou Mahan
31. Brendan Johnson
There are others I just can't think of right now.
Republicans (I'm obviously not in this loop. It's based on people I know and have dealt with. Again, in no particular order.):
1. Joel Rosenthal
2. Rick Knobe
3. Matt McCaulley
4. Ron Parsons
5. Georgia Hanson
6. Gary Hanson
7. Lee Schoenbeck
8. Laura Schoen
9. Pat Powers (Sorry, I should have thought of you sooner!)
10. Carol Twedt
11. Rob Regier
12. Bob Sutton
13. Bob Miller
14. Dianna Miller
15. Bill Janklow
16. John Thune
17. Jon Lauck
18. Michelle Rounds
19. Jan Nicolay
20. Shantel Krebs
Others (Again, no order):
1. Bob Burns
2. Dave Kranz
3. Bob Mercer
4. Bill Dougherty
I think all of these people have something worthwhile to offer a candidate in terms of campaign themes, planning a campaign, looking for money, or what to do or not do as a candidate.
Todd
($$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$)
Bob Sutton is a great person to contact in the Pierre area if you are a Republican.
Dana Randall? Are you serious, this is the guy who cost the Republicans a seat. It was his brilliant idea to have Latterell take on Duane Sutton.
As far as NE South Dakota is concerned, Dana must not be doing a great job there because Districts 1-5 (NE SD) are all controlled by the Democrats for the most part. So, I guess if I were a Democrat I would call Dana.
Joel is not who the GOP needs....he is still a person who wants to have his hands in everything....followed Janklow around and was the general to over see Janklows marching orders.
Dana Randall is a good guy...but very very to the right,maybe even to conservative for SD.
Rob Regier is a registered independent but is helpful to anyone of either party who has morals.
For a know-it-all genius such as yourself who's won 3-0 as claimed, isn't it odd that you failed to reveal your identity?
I'd reveal mine, but I am frightened of big, powerful people like you. I'm a chicken. What's your excuse, big shooter?
Thomas Jefferson
Franklin Roosevelt
John Kennedy
George McGovern
Bill Clinton.
For Republicans:
Vlad the Impaler
Attilla the Hun
Joseph Goebbels
Machiavelli
Rush Limbaugh
Ann Coulter
Tomás de Torquemada
and last but not least
"anonymous"
You might have to read the dead"s writing to get the gist and true related spirit.
More seriously, I think I will have to copy Todd Epp's list. Names to remember for letters to the editor.
Jon Hoadley is another name is neglected. The kids got brains and instincts like crazy.
Also, my list has a lot of out-state people on it, not all SF.
I think this was a fun exercise. Frankly, I have sometimes learned as much or more from the GOPs on the list as the Dems. As a lawyer, a soccer coach, and a politico, I've learned that your opposition can always teach you something useful if you are not too arrogant or closed-minded. Sometimes the lessons are friendly, sometimes they are painful.
And why you GOPs don't like Joel Rosenthal is beyond me. If I were a GOP, I'd at least talk to him even if I didn't like him.
Todd Epp
http://thunewatch.squarespace.com
Epp
Steve Sibson seems to detest Bill Fleming. That should be nearly enough to make Bill worth talking to as well.
And probably for sheer remembered knowledge if the judge can talk politics is Bill Srstka who has the kind of mind that retains political data.
On the other hand, South Dakota perversity is really good at proving experts, experience, and creativity wrong.