So many rumors afoot about convention. Candidates, crazy rumors, and 3 weeks to go!

After the crazy SDGOP primary the rumor mill is on fire with who is going to end up running for what.  Just so everyone is on the same page, here’s what we know, what are hearing, and other speculation… Which might end up as speculative fiction, or so crazy it might be real.  I wouldn’t go to any of the on-line betting parlors with it. But, it shows what the chatter is out there on these races.

Attorney General:

Lance Russell (R) – Announced, Fall River/Oglala Lakota County State’s Attorney
Austin Hoffman (R) – Announced, McPherson County State’s Attorney
John Fitzgerald (R) – Announced, former State’s Attorney, former Circuit Court Judge

My notes:  I have actually heard rumors of another candidate jumping in. Which if it happens, should not come as a shocker given the crazy environment we’re existing in. The good thing in this race as it stands is that we have 3 people who are/have been county prosecutors. Anyone running for the office needs the experience of being a prosecutor, whether at the federal or state level. 

 

Secretary of State:

Monae Johnson (R) – Incumbent 
Heather Baxter (R) – Announced. Just lost her race for State House.

My notes: The latest rumor I heard is that 4th place gubernatorial candidate Jon Hansen’s name has been floated for this office, which tells you the hard-right faction of the SDGOP has ZERO faith in Heather Baxter at the moment.  I’ve also heard Hansen for Doeden’s Lt. Gov, so we’ll see.

 

Auditor:

Catherine Barranco (R) – Announced, Economist

My notes: There was another party looking at the race momentarily, but is taking a pass.  But this race could become less sleepy at a moment’s notice. If you recall, Republican activist & economist Catherine Barranco stepped into the race as her husband Dave stepped out due to a serious cancer diagnosis. It’s not a flashy or showy job, but an important one in the function of state government, because whoever gets it could make life miserable for the Governor by questioning every expense. We’ll see if anyone else decides to jump in in the remaining 3 weeks until convention.

 

Treasurer:

Melissa Hull (R) – Announced, office employee
Heath Shields (R) – Announced, businessman

My notes: Just like auditor, it’s one of those jobs that only a limited group wants. For a while, Former Senator Jeff Monroe had wanted it, but then he didn’t. But right now, this race has become one of the spicier contests for convention.  For a number of weeks into the run up for convention, Heath Shields had been dropping criticism, mainly via facebook on how the office of Treasurer is/was being operated by the current staff including incumbent Treasurer Josh Haeder.  Then on May 7th, a major bombshell was dropped on Shields via the Dakota Scout, with the headline “Bankruptcies, criminal past follow Custer man to South Dakota treasurer’s race” and opponent Melissa Hull quipping

“I can say that all new hires at the State Treasurer’s Office are required to pass a background check,” Hull said in a text message sent to The Dakota Scout on Thursday. “If what you have said is true, it does not sound like he would be hired to work there.”

Watch for this to be one of the more heated battles at the convention in Rapid City in a few weeks. 

 

School & Public Lands:

Brock Greenfield (R- Incumbent)

My notes: Here’s the unusual office where there is no drama. Today. Tomorrow or at convention – who knows. But today there is no drama. 

 

Public Utilities Commission: 

Don Haggar (R) – Has Announced, filed committee paperwork 
Peri Pourier (R) – Has a website up.
Jess Bahmuller (R) – Announced interest at Lincoln Day Dinner, but in taxiing mode at the moment
And others..

My notes: PUC is another race that could get really, really busy, very quickly.  Duane Bachman announced, but has been invisible since the Bon Homme Lincoln Day Dinner. Word is that a couple of other names keep popping up. I’ve heard State Senator and anti-pipeline activist Joy Hohn’s name come up on multiple occasions. In the latest line of lunacy, I heard SDGOP Chair Jim Eschenbaum‘s name come up with the rumor being that he might resign his position and run from the convention floor. Well, if he did that, then we’d have 2 former Democrats in the race with his 32 years in the Democrat Party, since Peri Pourier also just swapped parties in the last year or so. I don’t think that either Democrat dog would hunt, but as I said in the intro; it could be speculative fiction, or so crazy it’s real.  Word is that there are other more mainline candidates contemplating the job. So, look for this one to be fast and furious right up to the floor nominations.

That’s the latest on what we have to look forward to for convention in Rapid City. And it will change.

Stay tuned.