Ok… what’s going on here? Second error on SOS candidate listing, and Libertarian candidate gone.

Pat Powers

I was posting earlier about a libertarian candidate running for office. In fact, I had even grabbed a screenshot of it to send to someone..

but as I am finding out tonight… that is has now disappeared from the page.  And there are actually no Libertarians running.

Ok… what’s going on here? This is the second error on Secretary of State’s candidate listing.

28 thoughts on “Ok… what’s going on here? Second error on SOS candidate listing, and Libertarian candidate gone.”

  2. I know it’s tough job. I don’t mean to pile on or attack one specific person, but I’m hearing from various sources that the SDSOS needs better administration – maybe a more technical, procedural, detail-oriented perspective. IMHO, the putative libertarian candidate has little chance to be elected. Nevertheless, fair is fair. Citizens, taxpayers, & voters should have confidence in these filings. The Larry Zikmund D14 screwup was significant & revelatory.

  3. Barnett is in over his head…nobody watched this race with other races in the spotlight

    2. Anon you are totally off base. This SOS previously serving South Dakota as Auditor caught my mistake as a sitting legislator putting down 3.7 miles too many on my mileage to and from Pierre which after punching in the exact mileage from my house to the Capital found myself in error. I paid back all the unearned mileage and learned two good lessons. 1(Don’t trust google GPS mileage charts!) 2(Never question the sincerity of Steve Barnett in his quest to be a watchdog for South Dakota!) He is over qualified and diligent in performing job requirements to the letter of the law.

  4. I’m sure these series of errors will elicit a challenger. This is bad – but still not as bad as Secretary Krebs hot mess tenure as a SOS.

    1. Krebs? Really? She did an amazing job turning things around after the Gant administration. She was very good in that office and now I wish she hadn’t left.

    1. I like Steve. I like his family. He’s a good guy and a good father.

      I don’t regret voting for him. I’d cast my vote again today.

      But some very intelligent, knowledgeable, informed folks think SOS isn’t the ideal fit for his unique skill set. Likely that opinion, not personal animosity, is what you’re seeing expressed here and on social media.

  8. Hi Pat,

    The LPSD is working on getting to the bottom of the issue. My understanding, having not yet spoken directly with the SOS’ office, is that there is some confusion over language in our bylaws which is apparently being interpreted so as to prohibit petitioning by legislative candidates.

    As you know, we are allowed to nominate legislative candidates at convention per SDCL §12-5-25, but certainly, our intent is not to prohibit our candidates from going through the traditional channel.

    I’ll be in touch once I have spoken with the SOS’ office and know more.

    1. Libertarians are losers …never won a legislative race have they?

      Bit they stand on principle…that they are losers

  9. I think the people are the losers. Are you happy with your career politicians you keep reelecting over and over with no results and going deeper in debt? You like the national debt and state government overreach? I don’t think so.

  10. Thank you Gideon.

    Thank is a perfectly reasonable explanation for the confusion.

    When I was in Pierre and Joyce Hazeltine was SOS there was a similar issue (I don’t recall what it was nor how they decided).

    However, I have it in my head (I could be 100% wrong so I say this only to stimulate research) there is precedent of deferral to party rules regarding who can run under a party banner. Thus, if your rules say only people nominated by convention can run as libertarian (a form of quality control to protect the Libertarian brand to me is a reasonable justification), that might be how the SOS will decide.

    1. Thanks for that, Troy. I still haven’t yet spoken with the office staff as it’s the weekend, but if I’m correct in my understanding, I believe a “may” is being interpreted as a “shall”. Like I said, we’ll get it all straightened out. Kea and the elections staff were amazing to work with under Shantel, and they’re just as awesome under Steve.

      Here is our section regarding elections:
      ——————————————————
      Section 3. Political Elections & Endorsement of Political Office Seekers. The party may nominate at convention the offices of U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Governor, any Legislative offices, and any other office listed under South Dakota Codified Law 12-5-21. All other office nominations not listed will be through the primary process. The members are strongly encouraged to endorse Libertarian candidates that have obtained the majority vote from the primary and/or convention election. In the event no primary election was required (only one (1) candidate ran for office on the primary ballot or the candidate decided to seek nomination through convention process), the Chair shall request a secret ballot vote from registered Libertarian voters. Convention election voters shall include any registered Libertarian voters. In the event where there is only one person running for an office seat, the voters have the option to vote for “none of the above”. Primary election voters shall include any registered Libertarian, Independents, and other unaffiliated voters.

      1. I think the confusion might come from the next sentence which has “will be” in it. At minimum the large age has some ambiguity in it.

  11. Secretary Barnett, Deputy Lutz, and Ms. Warne will get this figured out. There has to be some interpretation causing this issue, something relatively recent considering Ms. Warne has been in that position almost 8 years now, and was in that position before Gant took over. That office is in excellent hands.

  12. My understanding is the SOS ruled that the Libertarian candidate for district 20, Alex Martin has to be nominated for state senate at the Libertarian Convention that will be held sometime in June. The Executive Director Gideon Oaks can verify it after he speaks to the SOS.

    1. @Tara – Executive Director, eh? Got myself a new title, I see. Hopefully it comes with a pay raise. 😉

  13. Tara, maybe Stehly can get nominated by the Libertarians at their convention for state legislator after she loses her Council reelection bid.

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