Did you catch this item from KELOland yesterday?
The Jamie Smith for Sioux Falls Mayor campaign announced a press conference scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Old Courthouse Museum featuring Joe Batcheller and Greg Jamison.
Smith finished second in a five-way race for Sioux Falls Mayor. Jamison and Batcheller finished third and fourth, respectively.
Greg Jamison crossing party lines surprises me greatly. In case you’ve forgotten..
There’s Greg Jamison as part of a group including some of the furthest right people in the legislature, such as Former Gubernatorial wannabe Jon Hansen and Lt. Governor wannabe Karla Lems, House Majority Leader Scott Odenbach, Brandei Shefbauer, and Bethany “lock up the librarians” Soye.
Yet now, he’s supposedly going to be standing alongside Jamie Smith, the last democrat who ran for Governor, who is out looking for a new job again.
Here’s Jamie Smith exchanging policy ideas with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz at last years’ McGovern Dinner in Sioux Falls. And I’m sure Jamie is going to be standing with Joe Biden soaking in new ideas for his vision of Sioux Falls at the Democrats’ Dinner tomorrow night.
Jamie is the standard bearer for Democrat politics and policies in the state, and that’s who Republican Majority Whip Greg Jamison is going to be standing next to today at a podium endorsing? That’s a pretty far fall from being a member of Republican legislative leadership. If a special session is called before January, is Greg going to join his new friends on the north side of the House chamber? Because it seems that’s where his loyalties have shifted.
Of course, it could mean something different, given what the visuals have represented the entire election. As I’ve said before, the Mayor’s race in Sioux Falls seems to be a bunch of middle aged-men ganging up to try to keep a woman in her place. I’m sure that image won’t rear it’s ugly head at all today.
If you’re a Republican in South Dakota – Don’t stand with Democrats Jamie Smith, Tim Walz, and their new buddy Greg Jamison – go get on Christine Erickson’s website to donate and/or volunteer to help her bring this race home on June 23rd!
UPDATE: For everyone going “but, but, the race is non-partisan..”
Sure it is. You just go on thinking that.
I’ve been elected as a non-partisan Mayor. I’ve been elected as a REPUBLICAN legislator and Assistant Majority leader in the SD House. The required skill sets are different. Republican or Drmocratic philosophies have very little to do with running a city. It takes good management skills. It takes learning from others on issues ranging from fixing pot holes to keeping sewer lines working to planning developments and more.
I am NOT endorsing any Mayor candidate at this time. But to dismiss a candidate for Mayor because they are a democrat is narrow minded. And to assume supporting a democrat reveals a distrust of women as leaders is gender baiting and un-useful.
From policing to budgeting you’re just very wrong.
Approach to business and development, the priorities are very different.
You’re very wrong.
My, what a nuanced takedown you’ve provided here. Not show how anyone wouldnt be persuaded.
Tell me how a pothole is partisan? Since we are talking Sioux Falls, how is redevelopment of Smithfield partisan? Ten Haken has been a GREAT mayor because he leaves (for the most part) partisan politics at the door and worries about governorning the city.
I heard someone ran a poll to see what his approval rating was leaving office, but I imagine that up until the data center stuff it was probably in the 70-80% range. It seems like so much of the office is focus on business or people interests. Ten Haken did a lot of “Democrat” things in office with some of the halfway houses and stuff, but it’s really just common-sense things. One is bought by Denny and the other is funded by unions and small individual donors.
Respect to Greg and Joe. This is a non-partisan race and they’ve worked with both candidates, and apparently they think Smith can do a better job than Erickson. I agree.
Jamison may be a little turned off by a group of wealthy guys giving her a $100,000 donation for this kind of race. It sure got my attention.
I am not saying that all of these individuals are bad. They aren’t. It just gives the appearance that they are buying the office.
That’s something I don’t think a lot of people are seeing. Republicans that are further right like Jamison have been agreeing with a lot of Democrats quite a bit on issues like money in politics, data centers, and government surveillance. It’s harmful to think of things so simply as one party or another. There’s a lot of overlap on priorities, especially for a city. Props to Jamison for standing on what he believes and not bowing to a party, especially in a NON-PARTISAN election.
The problem is, these far right people are the ones that scream RINO the loudest when someone is seen talking to a democrat. But if it’s stopping data centers or pipelines or economic development in general, then it’s cool to side with them. You couldn’t tell the quotes apart from (former) SD freedom caucus members and AOC or Bernie Sanders on these issues. I’m not saying it isn’t ok to agree with democrats on issues. Most things are actually nonpartisan. I’m just pointing out the hypocrisy of these people who have done great damage to the party and civility as a whole.
I mean… can you show me an example of Joe or Greg calling someone a RINO? Not saying they haven’t, but I’m currently unaware of such an instance.
Good for Jamie Smith! He would make an excellent mayor for ALL the citizens of the state’s largest city Sioux Falls!
To slam someone for not toeing the party line and actually reaching across the aisle is a … choice. Seems like the whole country could use more of this.
Says a democrat
Lol
This is strange. I have read and re-read the comment. Where in it did this person say they were a Democrat? Are you telepathic? Using spy technology? I’m genuinely intrigued how you know they are a Democrat??
Not hard to understand.
When something benefits your beliefs you always think it’s correct.
Not hard
That’s what Republicans like me have been dealing with for the last 11 years. I’m sure you won’t agree but I think your comment shows a stunning lack of self awareness.
If Jamie Smith wins, he will be stronger for governor in 4 to 8 years.
Proud of Greg. Easy choice between the 2 when it comes to character and brains.
Let’s be real for a minute. Jamison is pretty good at cashing campaign checks, too. I’m not aware of him turning away any donations. Based on Jamison’s past actions in the House leadership election, there will be a position in the administration for Jamison if Smith wins. This is self-serving for Jamison and nothing more.
It is probably not a coincidence that the city planning director is retiring and someone else might want a job, too.
Probably not.
yeah sure.we all know how non-partisan the mayors of places like Boston, Los Angeles, New York and Newark are. Just to name a few.
Have y’all lost yer minds???
I like that South Dakota still TRY (and at times fail) to keep things no partisan in local municipal elections. Are you saying you want more division like in Newark, LA, etc.? No thank you! South Dakota politics used to be all about good people you just happen to agree with. Now, the last decade (and the rise of Trump) it’s become more and more decisive, which is not good for this great state.
Not saying I want more division. Just pointing out that it is ridiculous to believe any elected position is non-partisan.
Every political party knows these supposedly non-partisan positions are the back bench, the talent pool from which they will recruit candidates for higher positions.
When it comes to municipal governments it should be obvious by now that they are all about partisan politics. Anybody who says otherwise is dishonest or delusional. Whether that’s good or bad is irrelevant. It’s where we are.
People get a bit too tied up with these parties like it’s a football team that requires unwavering support. Blindly supporting someone for party affiliation is just being a follower. Consider the issues that the last mayor faced, and party affiliation didn’t have much impact. The welfare given to the big developer donors in town got a clean rubber stamp each time, want more of that, then vote for the same “party” that you had. Want something different? Then consider the alternative. I hope the people of SD can focus on policy direction instead of taking a lazy approach and dismissing everything associated with the only opposition party we have….