Author: @SoDakCampaigns

Given how vague the Attorney General’s press release is on charging Joop Bollen , I went back and asked the AG’s office what charges were being filed. They replied “I can give you the file number – 16-383” and noted “More detailed release tomorrow after initial appearance…”

In having an attorney friend of mine look it up, it’s my understanding that the felony criminal charges filed in this case consist of 5 counts of Class 6 felonies for violating 44-1-12, which reads as follows:

44-1-12.   Destruction, disposal, or removal of personal property subject to security interest as felony. Any mortgagor or grantor of a security interest or other lien of personal property who, while the lien of his mortgage, conditional sales agreement, or security agreement remains in force and unsatisfied, willfully destroys, conceals, sells, or in any manner disposes of or materially injures any part of the property covered by such mortgage, conditional sales agreement, or security agreement without the written consent of the holder of such mortgage, conditional sales agreement, or security agreement, or who willfully abandons the property covered by such mortgage, conditional sales agreement, or security agreement without first giving written notice to such secured party of his intention to abandon such property, or who removes any part of the property covered by such mortgage, conditional sales agreement, or security agreement from the county in which such mortgage, conditional sales agreement, or security agreement is filed except temporarily in accordance with the usual and customary use of the same or similar kinds of property while the lien of his mortgage, conditional sales agreement, or security agreement remains in force and unsatisfied without the written consent of the holder of such mortgage, conditional sales agreement, or security agreement, is guilty of a Class 6 felony.

Read that here.

This is not unlike what’s taking place in the matter of the Gear-Up case, where what’s currently being prosecuted for two of the defendants are similar low level charges involving falsification of evidence.

Not the most significant of charges, but sometimes you have to play the hand you’re dealt.

Attorney General Files Charges in EB5
and SDRC Inc. Financial Investigation

PIERRE, S.D.- Attorney General Marty Jackley announced today that felony criminal charges have been filed in relation to EB5 and SDRC Inc.

Joop Bollen voluntarily turned himself in on an arrest warrant. He has cooperated and has been released by the Court on bond conditions. Bollen is presumed innocent until such time as proven guilty.

Attorney General Jackley will be handling the initial appearance, which is scheduled for Friday, April 1, 2016 at 9:30 a.m. at the Brown County Courthouse and will be available for comment following the hearing.

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Today, Milbank City Administrator Jason Kettwig announced his candidacy for the District 4 House race as a Republican.

Kettwig noted “I have been a Milbank resident for the since 2003. I have owned TJ since July of 2003. I have been the cut administrator since June of 2005. I have been in the military for the past 21 years. I spent 4 years on active duty and the remainder of the time has been spent in the South Dakota national guard. I have deployed twice once to Iraq and once to Afghanistan. I am currently the battalion commander for the 139th Brigade Support Battalion in Brookings SD.”

“I am running for the District 4 house seat because I feel I bring a unique amount of experience to the job. With my experience in local government I feel that I can bring a real world perspective to Pierre that benefit the small communities in district 4. I love and appreciate the small town way of life and will work to ensure that the small communities have a voice in Pierre.”

When asked how it would affect his position with the City of Milbank, Kettwig noted, “If elected there will be an adjustment period for the city of Milbank however every business or employer that sends a representative to Pierre has a similar adjustment period. It is the nature of our representative form of government. I will still be available to the citizens of Milbank during the legislative session.”

The Wall Street Journal has an article this evening on Slick Rick Weiland’s proposal to eliminate party from the ballot, so he won’t have to run as a Democrat anymore:

In South Dakota, where the shadow of Mount Rushmore’s presidents looms large, political parties could become nearly invisible on ballots.

and…

Some Republicans in South Dakota say the ballot initiative is simply a desperate ploy by Democrats to overcome their struggle to win statewide elected posts. When Republicans swept all statewide races in the 2014 midterms, they reduced the party of former Sens. George McGovern and Tom Daschle to its lowest representation since 1962.

“This is ‘we can’t achieve power, so we’re changing the rules,’ ” said Sioux Falls resident Joel Rosenthal, a tractor parts salesman and former chairman of the state’s Republican Party.

Other Republicans see no need to tinker with a system that already works.

“I don’t believe there’s a problem with our current nominating process,” said the state’s senior U.S. senator, Republican John Thune.

Read it here.

And Joel is 100% correct. Dems have let their party go so badly they have to change the rules because they feel they can’t compete.

Maybe they should look in the mirror, instead of blaming the rest of us.

Wiik Announces Senate Bid

District 4 Representative John Wiik, (R) Big Stone City, is launching a run for the South Dakota Senate for District 4. The first term Representative served on the House Commerce and Energy Committee, the House Taxation Committee, and is currently the Vice Chairman of the River Basin Natural Resource District Oversight Advisory Task Force.

With the retirement of Senator Jim Peterson, (D) Revillo, the District 4 Senate seat is open. District 4 includes all of Grant and Deuel Counties, and the rural areas of Brookings and Codington Counties in Northeastern South Dakota, including 30 small towns and 10 school districts. “I hope to bring my record of common sense conservative principles to represent District 4 in the South Dakota Senate.”

John Wiik is the Parts Manager of The Shop, Inc. in Big Stone City, a Truck and Auto Repair and Towing Business owned and operated by the Wiik family. John lives in Big Stone City with his wife of 14 years Chelsey, and their two sons, Connor and Cody, who attend Big Stone School. John and his family are active members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Henry, SD, where John serves as Mission
Treasurer/Secretary on the Church Council.

We’re finding out this morning that slick Rick Weiland isn’t just a snake oil salesman. Courtesy of a Weiland backed measure, we’re finding out that he’s actually a two-faced snake oil salesman!

A press release out this morning on Amendment V (allowing Democrats to hide their party affiliations on the ballot) notes…

Amendment V – Non-Partisan Elections will:

• Place all candidates, regardless of party affiliation, on one primary ballot for voters to decide.

• Advance the two candidates who win the highest number of votes to the general election.

• Prevent taxpayer dollars from being wasted on private party elections.

Take note of the part where it cites as a reason to support the ballot measure that it will “Prevent taxpayer dollars from being wasted on private party elections.”  The release goes on further to note Slick Rick Weiland as one of the campaign’s co-chairs.

An uninformed observer might take that all at face value. … But what about the other ballot measure that Slick Rick is sponsoring, Initiated Measure 22?  IM22, is described in part by the Attorney General as creating “a publicly funded campaign finance program for statewide and legislative candidates.“

So, out of one of his mouths, Weiland is grousing about taxpayer dollars being spent on party elections. But at the same time, the mouth on his other face is promoting a measure that sends taxpayer dollars straight into the pockets of politicians.

Did we forget to mention that the promoters of Weiland’s other measure tries to hide that major premise of their act?

You’ve got to love liberal politicians! And it’s little wonder why people don’t trust them.

Governor Rounds’ Chief of Staff Rob Skjonsberg recently submitted a letter to the editor in the Pierre area, and posted the same to his facebook website, regarding how State Senator Jeff Monroe and State Representative Tim Rounds voted on House Bill 1182.  (Not speaking for his employer, obviously).

And agree or disagree, one thing Rob wanted to point out that it wasn’t an easy decision, and people fell on either side of the issue, because there are some districts where this made sense, and some not.

One sentiment that Skjonsberg is trying to convey is something Ive always believed in – that men of good character can disagree on the issues, and they can remain good people. As opposed to the chair throwing that seems to take place all to much in recent times. As Rob noted in an e-mail to me, “a return to civil discourse and respectful disagreement would have helped this discussion a bit.”

So, have a read, and let us know what you think:

Long-time SDWC Contributor Mike Clark has set up a Go Fund me page in support of his race for District 9 House:

I believe that common sense, is common. People know what they want and are conscious of the changes that are needed in politics. Together we will bring “Under God, the People Rule” back into South Dakota politics

Please, don’t stay on the sidelines of politics. Tuning out is saying that you are happy with the way things are going presently. I know that you actually DO care! So please, make a donation now.

What We Need

Most people work hard for what they earn, and asking them to give up some of that money is hard when I would rather they keep more of what they earn.

However, political funding is a sad reality to face and I need your help! I’m asking for $10,000.00 which will be used for internet, print, and radio advertising. If I do not reach my entire goal, the funds received will be used on exactly the same purpose.

Give Mike some love from the readers of Dakota War College, and help out with his campaign today!

Kristi Noem is asking her followers on social media to fill out their “Bankruptcy Brackets,” so they know what they’re in for if either Hillary or Bernie get into office!
Both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have impressive plans…to bankrupt our nation.

If either one of them wins the White House, you will lose. Period.

That is why — in the spirit of the Sweet 16 — I’ve launched my Bankruptcy Bracket to vote on which of their ideas would be most harmful to our nation.

Take a moment to fill out a bracket now and share your thoughts on who has the more dangerous policy ideas.

Will Hillary’s $735+ billion in new spending win the bracket? Or, will Bernie’s $19.6 trillion in new taxes be the Cinderella story this year?

Fill out my Bankruptcy Bracket today and let’s end the liberal tax and spend madness!

– Kristi