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It has been overshadowed by other events of today, but multiple elected officials have noted to me that while he’s still noted on the Governor’s website, they’ve been notified that Jason Dilges, Commissioner of the State’s Bureau of Finance and Management is no longer with State Government.

While such moves are not unusual as a Governor winds down his term in office, this comes at an unusual time when State Government is in the middle of working on the budget in preparation for the coming legislative session – something especially problematic with an economic downturn which is causing reduced revenue estimates, and the passage of IM22, which could cause 12 million dollars to come out of education, or other areas of critical need.

Dilges had been in the position all through out the Rounds administration, and had previously worked for BFM under the Janklow Administration.   Under the Daugaard Administration, Dilges was also a member of the Governor’s Executive Committee where he also had oversight of the Department of Revenue and Bureau of Administration.

Update – From the Argus Leader: 

The state’s longtime chief budget officer is no longer in his position after being placed on administrative leave last week.

Jason Dilges, the commissioner of the state’s Bureau of Finance and Management and the state’s chief financial officer, is also a member of Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s cabinet. Tony Venhuizen, Daugaard’s chief of staff, confirmed Tuesday that Dilges had been placed on “indefinite administrative leave” pending a final decision on his employment status.

Read it here.

With the Noem announcement made that she’s going to be a candidate for Governor of South Dakota in 2018, that leaves an open congressional seat that already has a few people vying for it.  The first and foremost name I’m hearing in the race is the man originally from the western plains of South Dakota. Specifically, the town of Ft. Pierre.

You may know him as Dusty. Dusty Johnson.

Keep your ears peeled. I hear there might be some things happening along those lines.

Representing South Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives has been the honor of a lifetime.

After this historic election, I’m eager to begin working alongside President-elect Trump to tackle some of our country’s biggest challenges, including Obamacare, regulations and tax reform. From the very beginning, however, I’ve wanted to make a difference, not make a career out of Congress. While I am excited about what we can accomplish over the next two years, I will be returning home after that and will not seek re-election to the House in 2018.

I love South Dakota and believe our leaders have done a lot of things right.  But we could use some fresh ideas from someone who has had to hustle to make a dollar and pinch a penny to make it last. This has been my experience for the majority of my life, as a farmer, rancher and small business owner.

That’s why today, I’m asking for your support to serve as South Dakota’s next Governor.

South Dakota’s future depends on our ability to create new opportunities. I want our small businesses to continue to thrive in South Dakota. I want our economy to grow and reach its fullest potential.  I want our young people to be able to find rewarding careers and raise their children surrounded by family and friends in communities that solve problems together.

I know we just got through one campaign season and we all need a break from politics.  So while my campaign won’t kick off officially until next year, you deserve to know that I am “all in.”  As we move forward, I ask for your prayers and your support – and I thank you for the opportunity to once again earn your trust and vote.

With deepest thanks,

Kristi

PO Box 527 – Sioux Falls, SD 57101
Paid for by Kristi for Governor

SDDP on WORDS of Donald Trump as contained on old, off-camera recording:

“We call on all South Dakota Republicans, especially the members of our congressional delegation – Sen. John Thune, Sen. Mike Rounds, and Rep. Krisit Noem – as well as Gov. Dennis Daugaard and members of the State Legislature to repudiate these horrific statements and revoke their endorsements of him for president.

Fast forward and Newly elected Democrat State Senator Reynold Nesiba arrested for unwanted sexual contact…

After asking Nesiba to leave, the victim found him naked in her bedroom. He repeatedly tried to undress her and, at one point picked her up, put her against the wall in a rough manner, carried her to the bedroom, and placed her on the bed. The victim said she felt pain in her ribs.

Nesiba told the victim, “You don’t need those pants,” and began to unbuckle the victim’s pants, court documents say.

At some point, the victim said she and Nesiba were in the kitchen when he reached into her pants and touched her vagina.

SDDP on ACTIONS of Reynold Nesiba:

The South Dakota Democratic Party declined to comment until the case is handled in court.

“These charges should be taken very seriously,” the statement read. “While the legal system does its work in discovering the truth in this matter, it is inappropriate to comment any further.”

Gov. Daugaard To Appoint David Lust To District 34 State House Seat

PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Dennis Daugaard confirmed today that he will appoint Rep. David Lust of Rapid City to fill a vacant seat in the state House representing District 34.

Lust will take the place of the late Rep. Dan Dryden, who passed away in late August. Dryden’s name remained on the November ballot, and he was posthumously reelected to the State House in last week’s general election. Gov. Daugaard had announced prior to the election that, if Dryden was reelected, Daugaard would appoint Lust to serve during the 2017-18 legislative term.

“I again thank David Lust for accepting this appointment,” said Gov. Daugaard. “He was an excellent legislator during his earlier service, and he will continue Dan Dryden’s legacy of service to District 34 and to our state.”

Daugaard had previously appointed Lust to succeed Dryden for the current two-year term, which runs until the end of 2016. The next term begins in 2017 and runs to the end of 2018.

-30-

Good Lord. TMI on the most recent Argus Story on Reynold Nesiba and his arrest for unwanted Sexual Contact:

The 51-year-old victim told an officer that two days prior she had invited Nesiba to her home after meeting him on Facebook and in person a few times.

After sharing a kiss, Nesiba made repeated, unwanted sexual advances and refused to leave the woman’s home, she told police.

After asking Nesiba to leave, the victim found him naked in her bedroom. He repeatedly tried to undress her and, at one point picked her up, put her against the wall in a rough manner, carried her to the bedroom, and placed her on the bed. The victim said she felt pain in her ribs.

Nesiba told the victim,” You don’t need those pants,” and began to unbuckle the victim’s pants, court documents say.

Read it here.

Keep your ears open. I hear from many sources that it’s going to continue to be a hyperactive week in politics.

Fresh off of his election, Reynold Nesiba has been arrested:

A man who was elected to represent District 15 in the South Dakota state Senate is accused of sexual contact.

Reynold Nesiba ran unopposed in the November general election; a warrant for his arrest was filed the day after Election Day.

Read it here as the story develops

Ken Santema was writing over at his blog SDLiberty recently that in the District 3 State Senate Race where Al Novstrup crushed his opponent, liberal Democrat Cory Heidelberger, as he defeated him by 22%, it was because Heidelberger spends too much time as a Social Justice Warrior.

I suppose that’s one way to look at it.  But it’s such a minor factor in Novstrup beating Heidelberger like a rented mule, I’m surprised it came to anyone’s mind.  So, looking at the races, to what do I attribute Novstrup’s definitive victory over that of his challenger?  There were a number of factors, but this was a pretty textbook race. I’d argue that it was Politics 101:

• Al didn’t spend his money stupidly. His opponent did.

Al didn’t start advertising hard until September/October, while his opponent burned cash early.  In fact, Heidelberger exhibited some terrible cash management.  Instead of budgeting backwards from election day, he was blowing money on newspaper inserts in April. Seriously, April?  Wasting money on “vanity advertising” in April was the height of stupidity.

Each newsletter was ½ the cost of a targeted postcard. Do you think 3 or 4 targeted postcards in October when they were seeking information about the elections versus newsletters blasted out to everyone up to 6 months early may have been a wiser expenditure?

Personally, I love tabloids and inserts. I used them to great effect in both the primary and general election for candidates this year. But I’ll let you in on a little secret. (I DON’T DO THEM 6 MONTHS AHEAD OF TIME!)

Speaking of stupid spending…

Now, this went up after the elections. So, Democrats who donated – instead of going towards actually getting him elected, he sat on enough money to do 1 and possibly 2 billboards.

And this is the kind of stupid stuff your donations went to. Like I said, stupid spending.

I trust you get my point.

• Along those lines, where was the mail?

The political war against Heidelberger was waged primarily in mailboxes in postcards that were targeted to voters friendly (R’s and I’s) to messages about taxes, supporting police, and other things they touched on.  Postcards are almost always targeted. The GOP has the lists of who they want to hit, and Democrats nationally have been ahead of Republicans in this area.

Not that you would have ever known it in this race.

There’s a reason you target your message. It ends up being more cost effective in the long run, and you know you’ve pushed a message to someone who has a strong propensity to vote (for you, hopefully).

• One candidate had a party behind him. The other had a party way, way behind them.

Al Novstrup had the support of the South Dakota Republican Party in his race, and they weren’t afraid to flex their muscles. While the GOP spent money, Cory Heidelberger’s party most likely sent him a fundraising appeal asking for money to help their faltering organization.

Which is ironic, because Cory has been a big proponent of the Democrats devoting their efforts towards ballot measures instead of party building over the past 3-4 cycles.

South Dakota Dems have failed to run even nominally competent elections for a few cycles now. They have lots of staff, but what did they do this year. When 2 Republicans win on the reservation (Liz May and Steve Livermont) it wasn’t GOTV (Get out the Vote).

After tasting the bitter tears of defeat sowed from the Democrats focus on things other than being a political party, Heidelberger now he knows firsthand the negative impact that has on candidates.

• What were the Democrats selling this year?

The interesting thing in this race is that not having a job, Heidelberger had tremendous time to go door to door in his district. Normally, that’s a tough advantage to beat.

But compare that to other door to door machines on the GOP Side, such as Youngberg and Pischke. House candidate Pischke kicked butt, and was the top vote getter in his district. Senate Candidate Youngberg was also a door to door animal. He turned out an incumbent in a district with a slim advantage.

While Novstrup was limited in his door to door time by having a job, and running 2 businesses, one in Sioux Falls, Heidelberger had all the time in the world and went door to door but failed by 22%.  Literally, you would have expected this race to be closer. But it wasn’t. Not by a mile.

Sometimes it’s what you’re selling.  Cory spent his time pushing the ballot measures, and instead of highlighting himself, highlighted those. And I’ll underline it for you –  voters don’t make the association between ballot measures and candidates.

Candidates who don’t realize this (Democrats) are going to continue to be doomed to failure.

• NAME ID is king.

Al Novstrup has represented that District in the House or the Senate for 14 years running at this point. Crossing that river alone is a huge challenge for a campaign that’s hitting on all cylinders, much less one which spends money foolishly.

Reminder – That margin of victory was 22%

• As Novstrup and the GOP defined, Heidelberger underlined.

Probably one of the most hilarious things I heard during the campaign was Heidelberger in response to the postcards the GOP sent out. As soon as they pointed out that he was for an income tax, Cory went to great lengths to underline why he was for it.  It’s as if he was unable to read the mood in his neighborhood, much less the entire country.

Republicans smartly designated the playing field, and geared up for full contact politics. Heidelberger misjudged and figuratively showed up on that same field in tennis shorts.  For a guy who is suppose to be so smart, he doesn’t know much about politics.

The Social Justice Warrior portion that Santema may have played into part of what Heidelberger was trying to sell this year as he went door to door, but as noted, I think it’s more politics 101:

• Plan your advertising by moving backwards from Election Day.
• Target your message.
• Use the resources available to you.
• Know your audience. And listen to them.
• Build name ID
• Set the agenda

You could look on a website on “How to run a campaign” and pick most all of this up it’s so bonehead basic. But it shows how little the Democrat party works with their candidates. (Or how much they don’t pay attention).

Looking forward to 2018, I think its worthwhile noting that Cory must not plan to run again, as he continues to ignore basic rules as he moves forward. On election night, when his defeat was clear, Cory didn’t bother to call his opponent and congratulate him. In fact, in his first postscript on the election, as opposed to congratulating Novstrup, he stooped so low as to engage in name-calling.  It was the ultimate in being a sore loser.

Again, more politics 101 –

• Be gracious in defeat.

Even Hillary Clinton managed to pull herself together to do that. You never know what the future may bring.