Just when you thought no one took the Minnehaha GOP seriously under R. Shawn Tornow: Korry Petterson and Marsha Symens say “hold my beer!”
What am I referring to? It looks like the allies of Senator Tom Pischke are all “pischke’d off” at Korry Petterson, the chairman of the Minnehaha County Republican Party, for yesterday’s censure of “Sticky Tom.”
If you recall…
The Senator was chided for his conduct in noting that a Committeewoman “has issues,” and the Minnehaha GOP chair spanked him with a public censure.
Today, Senator Pischke’s allies have struck back in an e-mail they sent out complaining that the chair didn’t have the authority to act in such a manner:
———- Forwarded message ———
From: Marsha Symens <marshasymens@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Apr 10, 2025
Subject: MCR
To: (a big group of people)
Dear Members of the Minnehaha County Republican Central Committee,
We are writing to formally object to the recent censure of Committeeman and Senator Tom Pischke issued unilaterally by Chairman of the Minnehaha County Republicans, Korry Petterson. This action was taken without the knowledge, input, or approval of the Minnehaha County Republican Executive Board, and it is a clear and serious violation of both our Code of Conduct and the foundational values of the Republican Party.
Let us be clear: no individual board member has the authority to issue official statements or disciplinary actions on behalf of this board without the board’s approval. Korry Petterson’s decision to issue a public censure without process, discussion, or vote is not only procedurally invalid—it is unethical, inappropriate, and damaging to the credibility of this committee.
This email is submitted with the full support of the other elected Executive Board members, who agree that this breach of conduct must be addressed immediately and as publicly as the censure itself.
Korry Petterson’s actions violated the following key areas of our Code of Conduct:
- Section 1 – Commitment to Republican Values: Tom Pischke’s First Amendment right to free speech was infringed upon. The Republican Party stands for liberty and the protection of individual rights. Korry Petterson’s censure undermines those principles.
- Sections 2 & 5 – Integrity, Transparency, and Accountability: Korry did not act with honesty or transparency. He bypassed the board entirely, violating Section 5.2, which requires decisions to be made collectively and openly.
- Section 3 – Respect and Professionalism: Korry Petterson showed a lack of professionalism by failing to treat fellow board members with courtesy or respect. He did not attempt to resolve his concerns internally and acted without consultation with or from the Executive Board Members. Given the date of the letter written was March 27, Korry Petterson would have had time to contact all board members of his decision to do so.
- Section 6 – Commitment to the Community: This unilateral action served no benefit to the citizens of Minnehaha County. Instead, it created unnecessary conflict and undermined the unity and purpose of the board.
- Section 5.3 – Accountability: Our Code explicitly states that board members are to be held accountable for their actions. This is a textbook example of why that standard exists.
Therefore, we are jointly requesting the following immediate actions:
- A formal written apology will be written to Tom Pischke from Korry Petterson.
- A formal written apology be emailed by Korry Petterson to the Central Committee members who received the censure email.
- Failure to complete the actions stated in lines 1 and 2, results in one or two outcomes; the resignation of Korry Petterson as Chairman of the Minnehaha County Republican board or he be removed by the elected board members.
If we allow individual members to speak and act for the board without oversight or approval, we jeopardize the credibility, unity, and mission of this organization. We must enforce our standards consistently and without favoritism.
We stand united in our commitment to transparency, integrity, and the rule of process.
Sincerely,
Marsha Symens
Vice Chair
Minnehaha County RepublicansOn behalf of the elected Executive Board Members of the Minnehaha County Republicans
The Minnehaha chair better watch out – they (as I’m guessing Tom’s allies) are telling people that “We stand united.” Or at least, I’m guessing there’s a few who are united.. until they aren’t.
Next up – will someone put them in time-out, since they’re all getting along like a group of kindergartners?
We shall see.
I suspect Pat is absolutely right— they’re not united on anything. Considering that the Chair can appoint as many of his friends to member at large on the exec board as he wants, I find it hard to believe that the board is united against him on anything, much less united against him in favor of Pischke.
Omg. These people all take themselves too seriously. Huge reason I stopped being involved. They’d rather pretend to be government rather than elect good candidates to run.
This is so lame.
I’m enjoying every moment of this. They are all nuts.
The Minnehaha County GOP has one job — raise money. Has anyone on this board actually talked to a donor lately? Or come up with a legitimate fundraising plan to support candidates? Because from where I’m sitting, this is just more of the same drama we saw from the last two boards.
With same people!
Instead of focusing on their core responsibility, they’re busy alienating anyone with financial backing and spinning their wheels with “Pizza Ranch” fundraisers. Honestly, those kinds of events are better suited for schools and youth groups — not a county party trying to win elections.
This censure mess just shows how far off-mission the party leadership has drifted.
But what would I know…
Don’t get in the pig pen unless you plan to get dirty!
Get me some popcorn 🍿!
King Kong Tom is going to thump his chest and growl at folks that don’t fall in line.
SDGOP is a joke.🙄
The code of conduct was needed clearly. I don’t understand why these ‘elected board members’ are ok with an executive board member publicly making derogatory comments or poking fun towards a committeewoman. Maybe my issue is logical thinking?
We know who the disloyal members of the Minnehaha Republican Party are, and they prance around talking bad about anyone that disagrees with them.
Marsha is way off base and is grasping for reasons to defend her friend.
First, Tom’s First Amendment rights protect him from the GOVERNMENT restricting his speech. It provides no protection from private citizens or organizations admonishing him for something he said or wrote. Under her theory, their Code of Coduct’s rule to “avoid personal attacks or inflammatory rhetoric” could never be enforced. Does Marsha believe in that part of the code that she apparently voted for? I hope she does, because we need more civility from our leaders and less inflammatory rhetoric.
Second, Korry’s letter clearly said that the censure was from him as chairman, not from the county party executive board or central committee. He did not say he was acting on behalf of anyone else. If he had, then she’d have cause.
Third, the executive board has no power to remove him.
Korry should be commended for sticking to the actual code of conduct and enforcing it publicly. He is sending a strong signal that all county party leaders need to treat others with respect and avoid even minor infractions. If you want to heal the party, that’s a good place to start. The full county executive board and/or central committee should vote to ratify his action at their next meeting.
Yeah… I don’t see how Marsha can remove Korry. I hope Korry calls her bluff.
I wish the Minnehaha GOP would focus on the Sioux Falls School Board election coming up. It sure would be nice if a Republican won.
If they can’t run their own party operation, what business do they have teling others how to run the largest school district in the state?
To paraphrase –
Rebuke a wise person and they will be grateful for the instruction
Correct a jerk and the jerk’s friends will write in and demand you apologize immediately
It’s a soap opera full of preening kids.
Whatever happens… I win. Either I got to write about Pischke’s censure, or I get to write about the ugly battle over them trying to oust their chairman over the censure.
The question to be answered is how much longer they’re going to drag this out.
Marsha cannot be trusted. She pretended to be seeking re-election, so that nobody would file for the state Senate against her, then she jumped out of the way so Pischke, who had been covertly circulating his own petitions, could jump in.
This is now how they do things in the Insaner District numbered 25. Gross did the same thing to open the door for Heinemann, much to the annoyance of 2 other people who would have filed had they known he wasn’t planning on seeking re-election.
We don’t know who is actually going to be on our primary ballot until five minutes after the filing deadline. Then our phones light up with outrage.
That we have to put up with the charade, of them coming to county meetings and fundraisers, circulating petitions for offices they don’t actually plan to run for, misrepresenting their intentions to the people who haul water for the elephant, while their pals slink around collecting signatures after dark from voters who never show up for anything, is infuriating.
A tale
Told by an idiot
Full of sound and fury
Signifying noting
I would like to see a list of everyone who voted for Marsha’s email. My guess is: Marsha, Tom, and Bridgett. I seriously doubt any of the other board members voted for this. Yet Marsha acts like they were unanimous. I just don’t see it.