An unsuccessful primary candidate for District 7 House is back in the news. Former Republican legislative candidate Jeff Struwe is back in the news as he was apparently recommended to serve on the Brookings Human Rights Commission by the Brookings County Commission.
Except people’s memories are longer than Jeff and commissioners might hope, as his reputation has apparently preceded him:
Local Democrats have taken to facebook to oppose the appointment due to the claim that “Jeff has publicly advanced descrimination (sic) and falsehoods about minorities.”
If you recall, Jeff’s prior notoriety comes from his last legislative campaign to remove what he calls “porn books” (such as diary of Anne Frank) from libraries, which made him run for the legislature because the local school didn’t do what he wanted. A mission he continues to harangue local library staff with, despite the fact no one has ever actually asked the local public library for a book to be reviewed/removed.
Local Democrats certainly have their own reasons for not wanting Struwe in the office. But really, do we want to appoint people to office if they believe it’s their mission in life to force government to be the gatekeeper of what people think, what they can read, and how they should parent? Not just no, but Hell, No. We can do just fine without the zealots using government as a weapon, thank you very much. Jeff’s advocacy for more government is about as welcome as the dozen or so flock cameras around town tracking where we drive. As in, not at all.
We need a less intrusive government. Not a nanny state.