The Associated Press filed a story this morning, several days after I’d written about it, talking about the upcoming caucus elections. They did mention a few who are running, with commentary, so it’s worth revisiting it again:
Republican political observers have said bids for the leadership posts could come from one of the caucus’ three majority whips or from a rank-and-file member. If a whip were elected to a higher post, an additional vote to fill the spot would be necessary, and if Brown succeeds Rave, a new president pro tempore would need to be chosen.
The three majority whips are Sens. Ried Holien, Ernie Otten and Deb Soholt.
Holien was unavailable for comment. Otten and Sen. Brock Greenfield said they intend to run for assistant leader. Soholt said she is “taking a strong look” at a run for assistant leader or president pro tempore.
“I’m at 98.9 percent that I’m going to be running,” Otten said. “I think I could bring a position from the harder right and be a person that could bring also the middle and hopefully bring everybody together.”
Greenfield, who doesn’t occupy a leadership position, said if elected, he wouldn’t simply succumb to the executive branch. He said he would be the “strongest voice for the Legislature that I know how to be, and ultimately for my caucus.”
Senators should not elect a liberal pro-abortion candidate such as Soholt to anything.
Brock Greenfield would be a great choice for Asst. or Pres Pro Tem.
If I were to compare Otten & Greenfield’s comments and make a judgment on who would be better as a leader solely on the comments above, I strongly prefer Greenfield’s vs. Otten’s.
Rationale: Legislative Leadership has two components that in a way are in conflict if one thinks in the context of “I” but not in conflict if one thinks in the context of “we:” One’s personal vision from which one LEADS the caucus AND the capacity to subordinate one’s personal vision to that of the caucus as a whole.
Otten fails on the first because it indicates a willingness to leave troops behind and fails on the second because there is no subordination. While in the military or the private world the guy at the top can rule by fiat, the legislature is made up of individuals who come along because they are convinced and not ordered.
Greenfield succeeds on both fronts. First, he addresses the second in that he grasps the Constitutional role of the Legislature and the value of pulling together. Because he leads with something which unifies, he will have the gravitas and respect of his troops to lead with his personal vision.
I have to think a third or 4th option will come along. Otten and Greenfield will be splitting the votes of the wingnuts.
If Holien wants president he should get it. Soholt would be the stronger leader for assistant. There might be others who run that were not interviewed.
Greenfield would be a good option in theory great guy but he would also have to build consensus on issues instead of just voting no most of the time.
Ernie Otten is a weak option. His article 5 testimony put that on display big time.
He splits the conservative vote.
Soholt gets the position because of that fracture among conservatives. Most persuadable votes will go with soholt or Greenfield. My guess is more go with soholt because of her natural leadership skills.
Starting off there are more moderate votes than conservative in session. Greenfield and Otten should have drawn straws to have had a better chance.
There’s moderate and there’s liberal. Soholt is a liberal. It would be a black eye to the caucus to put her as assistant or pro tempore.
Whatever.
Brock the vote!
Caucus elections are based on trust and respect blended into likability meaning that somewhat of a popularity contest will occur.
Winning means extra work, more time spent hashing out differences between House and Senate goals and less time personally working on consituents problems. For every plus there is a minus.