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Had a report that a not unknown name in South Dakota politics has a temporary residence for the moment.

The Meade County Sheriff’s Office is noting on their website tonight that Shad Alexander Olson is a guest at the moment as an inmate at the Meade County Jail, as a result of his arrest for Aggravated Assault Domestic:

If I’m not mistaken, this is the same Shad Alexander Olson who managed Gordon Howie’s gubernatorial campaign a few years back, was a campaign staffer for Neal Tapio‘s ill-fated Congressional race, and has been a conservative commentator since he got booted from TV in Rapid City, hosting his own Shad Olson show.

I’m sure we’re going to hear more about this in short order, as court documents come out. If someone has a mugshot, feel free to e-mail me a copy. I also hope whomever was involved as the victim of domestic abuse/assault is ok.

And remember kids, defendants – even in cases of Domestic Abuse/Ag Assault involving serious bodily injury – are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty. 

Update:

I see Twitter is starting to get on it…

From the Argus Leader comes an article on the proposed statewide public defender’s office for those who can’t afford a lawyer, but House members stress they want to see term limits:

The House of Representatives voted 60-4 on Thursday to create the office and the accompanying commission.

Added into the bill was a stipulation for term limits. Rep. Chris Karr, R-Sioux Falls, requested that the nine members of the Commission on Indigent Legal Services not serve more than 12 years on the commission.

“I think it is responsible to have a term limit on appointed and elected positions,” Karr said. “If you believe that an elected politician should have a term limit, then in most cases you would want a term limit on individuals that that person has appointed and may have influence upon going forward.”

Read it here.

Sorry, but why are they insisting on demanding term limits here “on appointed and elected positions”.. when a bill was killed earlier this session in the House to put term limits on Public Utility Commission members?

Just asking.

(And no I don’t buy the line on it being a “specialty office” of a higher degree than I would someone serving on the Commission on Indigent Legal Services. )

State Senator Tom Pischke on Senate Bill 215, his nutty bill demanding the National Guard and Sheriffs combat attempts at weather control :

“This is not new to the state. It’s not some tinfoil hat idea. I just wanted to put that out there first. ” – Senator Tom Pischke. 

I’m sure it’s not. I’m sure it’s not..

So, if Tom gets sent back to Pierre, will he also go after dowsing rods as witchery?

I had missed this quote regarding the Rick Weiland and the abortion legalization measure his Dakotans for Health group is promoting… from someone who used to be related to him:

Chapman, of the ACLU, said the ballot measure was initiated by “women who are not of reproductive age” and said “Dakotans for Health is ultimately run by three white men. None of these people are directly affected by this.”

and..

The three men Chapman referred to are Weiland, his son Adam, and attorney Jim Leach.

Chapman was formerly married to one of Weiland’s other children. She said that has not influenced her views, and the ACLU had analyzed and formed its stance on the potential ballot measure before she was hired in December 2022.

Read the entire story here.

Damn.

JAKE SCHOENBECK ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR SOUTH DAKOTA STATE HOUSE

South Dakota – Today, Jake Schoenbeck is excited to announce his candidacy for the State House of Representatives, serving District 2 and the people of Brandon, East Sioux Falls, and Valley Springs. As a solutions-based conservative focused on achieving results, Jake is committed to ensuring South Dakota remains the best place to live, work, and raise a family.

From a young age, Jake was raised to appreciate that South Dakota’s success and the preservation of our freedoms requires strong leaders in Pierre and in our communities. Witnessing that commitment to service in his father, Senator Lee Schoenebeck, Jake and his siblings were instilled with a profound sense of duty and a commitment to give back.

“For our state to continue to be a place that cherishes American values while creating new opportunities for our young people, we need strong leadership in Pierre,” said Schoenbeck. “I want to serve in the legislature to get things done and make a difference for the people of District 2.”

This starts with the education of our children and in the infrastructure that enables us to create community growth. If elected, I plan to do everything I can to provide a bright future for our state.”

As a conservative Republican, Jake’s campaign will focus on improving our state’s infrastructure, enhancing educational opportunities, and ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent in a fiscally conservative manner. Jake understands how to build consensus and believes that by working together, we can overcome the challenges of today and build a brighter future for generations to come.

The Primary Election will be held on June 4th. For more information on Jake Schoenbeck’s campaign for the South Dakota State House in District 2, please visit SchoenbeckforSD.com.

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Rep. Stevens Seeks Reelection

YANKTON—Republican Rep. Mike Stevens will seek re-election to the State House of Representatives in the 2024 election. His petitions were approved by the Secretary of State in January.

“Representing the Yankton region has been an honor,” said Stevens. “I’ve enjoyed representing our region, especially when it comes to providing resources for our students and veterans.”

A graduate of the University of South Dakota Law School, Stevens has practiced law in Yankton since 1978. He was first elected to the State House in 2012 where he served six years. In 2020, Stevens returned to the legislature where he now serves as the Speaker Pro Tempore, Chair of the Education Committee and Vice-Chair of the Judiciary Committee. Respected by his colleagues for his legal knowledge and principled leadership, Stevens has amassed a track record of success for South Dakota.

Mike lives in Yankton with his wife, Linda, a retired public-school teacher of 42 years in Vermillion and 32 years at Beadle Elementary School in Yankton. Mike’s involvement in the Yankton community is extensive including 22 years on the Yankton School Board. He has also volunteered his time to the Yankton Senior Citizens Board, Yankton Thrive, Yankton Area Foundation Board, Yankton Community Arts Association, and the Yankton Historical Society. As a legislator, he has been involved in numerous issue-based study groups including domestic violence, opioid addiction, juvenile justice, and teacher compensation.

“South Dakota is moving in the right direction, and that’s thanks to dedicated public servants willing to have serious conversations on important policy issues,” said Stevens. “I’m asking the voters to once again elect me to advocate for them in Pierre and keep making a difference for Yankton and South Dakota.”

The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. District 18 represents Yankton County and the Irene area of Clay County.

Remember the chatter over Thomas Werner throwing his name in the ring to run as a Democrat in the District 15 State Senate race?

In fact, he has a website about the whole deal.

Introduction:

WOW. For a group that has failed to get something past South Dakotans 2-3 times now, it appears that they’re calling in the out-of-state calvary this year and are putting their money where their mouths are. And the emphasis is on money.

Open Primaries 2023 Year End Report by Pat Powers on Scribd

(Nice scan job by the SOS, wouldn’t you agree?)

With $817,848.35 in donations, the breakdown of who gave what is eye popping, with $451,150, or 55% coming from the United America PAC (Actually the Unite America PAC) out of Colorado.

Also donating big bucks, $25k from John Fiksdal of Sioux Falls, $50k from Tom Heinz of Sioux Falls, $50k from Dan Kirby, $30K from Jennifer Kirby, $50k from measure backer Joe Kirby, $70k from Dave Knusdon, $12.5K from measure backer De Knudson, $5k from Mark Knudson, $50k from Al Samuelson of Sioux Falls and other not so small amounts from others.

Of course, if there’s a ballot measure, there are consultants who managed to peel off $657,466.98 of the cash, representing 80 cents of every dollar.

In case you’re wondering where the Colorado cash came from, here’s the latest FEC report of the group.

Unite America PAC by Pat Powers on Scribd

I would keep a close eye on this federal political action committee, as they seem to be the ones driving this, especially in terms of the cash they’re dumping into South Dakota to try to change our state over to a Jungle primary system.

The other group in this coming year’s ballot measure fight, Dakotans for Health, has their report in to the Secretary of State in case you are interested in perusing that file as well.

Dakotans 4 Health 2023 YE Report by Pat Powers on Scribd

(Sorry about the sideways thing.. I’m working on it)

It’s a good thing they started they year with $96,231.30 in the bank, because this group spent the money.  Raising $185,002.52 against $248,899 in expenses, the big ticket items on the group’s expenditures was $167,394.98 in consulting fees, and $44,006.95 in salaries.  Given that they’re collecting signatures, I can understand the salaries, but again – the consultants win. And they won bigger than they did on the other side of the battle as just like their pro-life counterparts, most of the cash went to them – but FAR WORSE, as consultants pocketed .90 cents of every dollar raised in 2023.

About those donors? No current legislators, but a couple of former ones.  Former State Rep. Larry Lucas was in for $100. Former Legislator Caitlin Collier was good for $120. Former Legislator Tom Katus, another $100. Former Sioux Falls Councilwoman Loila Hunking was in for $600 and Former US Senator Tom Daschle for $850.

Biggest donors for the measure in 2023 were Elizabeth Zieglmeier of Rapid City and Former legislator Stan Adelstein who both sent the pro-choice movement $5,000 each.

Again, catch anything interesting? You know where the comment section is.

The Life Defense Fund Ballot Committee’s filing for what they raised and spent in 2023 is finally posted.. almost 10 days after it was filed with the Secretary of State’s office. A bit of lag time, to be sure.

So, what did we learn about the committee from their filing?  From the looks of it, when a ballot measure is being contested it looks like the true winners are the consultants, reaping nearly .57 cents of every dollar the group took in.

Life Defense Fund 2023 YE Report by Pat Powers on Scribd

Against income of $210,930.11 were expenditures of $209.294.36. And within those expenditures, the two biggest ticket items were advertising of $61,095.72 and eye-popping consulting costs of $119,741.94. YOW!

A few Legislators on the list of donors. Only two donated money out of their campaign; Sen. Al Novstrup and Rep. Carl Perry, who both donated $100 each from their campaign accounts. (Although I have to wonder if Carl may have donated because Al told him to?) State Sen. Jack Kolbeck donated $500 out of personal funds, State Rep. Fred Deutsch $500, Sen. Jim Mehlhaff $300, State Rep. John Mills was in for $200, and State Rep. Bethany Soye was the largest legislative donor as she was in for $2400, comprised of 8 donations of $300 each.

Adam Broin of the Patriot Ripple Effect donated over $5k. Marj Anderson of White, SD was another $5k donor, and it looks like Steve Perkins is down twice for $2500 each, totaling $5k.

A few Republican Women groups donated varying amounts from $500 on down. Some are listed under In-State PACs, and Codington County Republican Women and Cenkota both donated and were listed as an “entity.”

Go ahead and read it for yourself.

(In case anyone else picks up anything interesting, go ahead and post it under the comment section.)