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I’ve been picking through Democrats’ Campaign finance reports, and noticed a trend among the statewide losing candidates that might be worth noting. Awful fundraising, and bad campaign finance reporting marks the undercard performers who filled the few Constitutional officer seats the Democrats bothered to attempt to fill.

Which might be a big tipoff as to some of the reasons they fared so dismally. No one had a clue what they were doing, and even fewer wanted to waste money on them:

Denny Pierson, Treasurer:. No year end campaign finance report on file yet. In the pre-general report, claiming $8241.50 Raised, $6845 Spent.

That could fund a legislative race. Maybe.

Denny Pierson Pre-General Report

Angelia Schultz, Secretary of State:  Claiming zero carried over (my error) , zero raised, zero spent in her year end report, despite reporting supplemental donations, and $1315.47 carried over in her previous report, which you can read below.  In her pre-general, where *I think* she claims $4598.81 raised, $3283.34 spent, and $1315.47 left over.

I say “I think” because the Dem’s candidate for SOS failed to fill the pre-general report out properly.  And, there’s no reporting of the supplemental donations.

In short, we knew they couldn’t raise money, but apparently Democrats also put up someone for SOS who couldn’t manage to fill out the campaign finance forms correctly.

Schultz Pre General

David Allen for PUC. Year End Report showing $494 Raised and nothing Spent. Although, Records do show him raising $750.   His Pre-general report which isn’t loading on the SOS site may have $300 or so in expenditures.

I’m not sure that funds a School Board race.

David Allen for PUC Year End Report by Pat Powers

Not a good reflection on the Democrats.   Luckily for Republicans, it sets the stage for continued GOP Dominance of the Statehouse for many years to come.

Why? Because we’re not seeing a challenge from these jokers any time soon.

Avenue Q was awesome but Annette Bosworth and Chad Haber bringing their three young kids and leaving at intermission was priceless.

— DJ Smith (@dennisUSD) January 26, 2015

I couldn’t help but laugh at this. That wasn’t Sesame Street they went to see.

I’m assuming it finally dawned on them that it was strictly an adults only show when the puppets started singing “the Internet is for Porn.”

So, I’m looking at Ann Tornberg’s late campaign finance report.

In the year end report – from 2 weeks before the election through January 1, she is claiming she received two – as in 2 – itemized donations totaling $800.

BUT… She claims she received $15,348.11 In unitemized donations during the same period?

Er, yeah. Sorry, but I’m going to call Bull$h|t on that one. I’m pretty sure that defies the laws of fundraising. She claims to have received over 150 donations around $100 in the last two weeks… At the same time she shuffles 15k off to the Democratic Party?

Sorry, but that doesn’t happen. At all.

If we are going to bother to enforce campaign finance reporting laws at all, it’s worthy of an investigation and a spot audit by the Secretary of State.

Otherwise, why do we bother to report, versus eliminating the reporting requirement.

A couple of legislators were on the floor of the house this morning haranguing me because I wasn’t posting enough today for them to fully get their SDWC fix.

But this morning wasn’t about me – It was for my wife, who over the noon hour, was recognized as South Dakota’s Special Education Administrator of the year, along with several other remarkable school administrators from across South Dakota.

Representative Jacqueline Sly addressed the group, along with others including Secretary of Education Melody Schopp. After they were feted at the Luncheon, the administrators also went up to the Capitol where they were recognized by the Governor and both chambers of the Legislature.

(Yes, that’s Mrs PP with the Governor)

Several others were recognized as exemplary administrators, at the principal, business manager, curriculum director and superintendent levels.

We all want good teachers for our children. And administrators play a significant role in that process. Congrats to all who were recognized today.

Rounds Cosponsors Balanced Budget Amendment Legislation

Washington—Today, Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) joined every Republican Senator in introducing a Balanced Budget Amendment, requiring the federal government to balance its books.

“Washington spends too much money, plain and simple.” said Rounds. “In South Dakota, we understand the importance of spending taxpayer dollars wisely and we don’t spend what we don’t have. Washington ought to do the same.”

“Taking significant steps to rein in spending, as the Balanced Budget Amendment would do, would send a strong signal to job creators that we are serious about growing our economy for the long haul. It would give them the confidence to invest and hire again.”

Sen. Rounds’ weekly column on our debt and Balanced Budget Amendment is available HERE.

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We haven’t heard much about a certain US Senate candidate who faces a felony prosecution for petition issues.

No, not Annette Bosworth. From her we’ve heard far too much.

I’m talking about Clayton Walker:

A former South Dakota U.S. Senate Candidate was ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation, as he battles and indictments charging him with nine felonies for election law violations and threatening state employees.

Clayton Walker, who tried to run for U.S. Senate as an independent in the 2014 mid-term election, had successfully fought to keep his third lawyer in the case, Timothy Rensch, when Circuit Judge John Brown ordered the evaluation.

Rensch had filed a motion to withdraw as council Jan. 29. Brown said he “simply can’t just keep appointing attorneys”, for Walker when he denied the motion and ordered Rensch to keep Walker as a client.

And..

Walker’s trial date was not been set, Brown said, because he want to wait for the results of Walker’s evaluation and hold a competency hearing.

Go read it here.