Interesting comments in the Argus Leader Article on Steve Hildebrand this past weekend.
Aside from the face it was a nearly slobbering love letter from the Argus to one of President Obama’s former campaign chiefs, if you got past Stu Whitney, and read what Hildebrand had to say about Democratic Mayor Mike Huether, it’s very clear that there’s always been a “Glorious 10 year plan” and it culminates with Huether running for Governor:
Hildebrand was credited with sharpening the campaign message and delivering a strong turnout on election night as Huether became the first political newcomer in 25 years to win the job, defeating city councilor Kermit Staggers with 57 percent of the vote.
and…
“If Mike were to change his ability to let citizens participate, to let longtime friends participate, to let neighborhood organizations participate, he might gather a lot of support, but he has been very much an individual leader who doesn’t really involve anyone else in his decision-making,” said Hildebrand. “He’ll have a hard time getting support from anybody if that’s the kind of person he continues to be.”
As for Huether’s contention that being mayor of Sioux Falls is his “dream job,” his former campaign manager disputes that characterization and says they had conversations about him running for governor before the mayoral push.
“Mike has wanted to be governor of South Dakota since he was a kid,” says Hildebrand. “It was never about being the mayor of Sioux Falls, it was always about being governor. He came back from San Antonio (where he worked for Citibank) with a big fat file that said, Huether for Governor.”
So, coming back from out of state, Huether was said to have a “big fat file that said, Huether for Governor.” Wow. Although, I’m not shocked at his utter hubris.
Even though he’s the state’s highest elected Democrat, does anyone think Huether could get past a Republican in the general election? Of for that matter, could he survive a primary against a Democrat with more statewide appeal?
PP, it seems like your dislike of Huether has always been a positive for him. You complain that he has a plan. I guess you prefer people who don’t. Yeah, that makes total sense to me now.
On the other hand, Hildebrand brings legitimate, earned credibility to the table when he is for or against anything.
It would be fun to see Huether working a Republican legislature. I doubt he could win unless he moved from Sioux Falls. Too many people around South Dakota just hate Sioux Falls.
I just can’t get over seeing Huether’s mug on those billboards-one of which I have to go by everyday on the way home from work. What kind of politician puts his face on a billboard? I see it as pure ego and a desire to get his face out there.
I think it is telling that Hildebrand gently characterizes Huether’s leadership style as dictatorial. We currently have a president who rules the same way-my way or the highway! Do we as South Dakotans really want someone who thinks they know it all and the citizenry better just like it?
as a rule, democrats are energized when they can determine who among them is officially the ‘smartest’ and let them dictate us toward a bright new future. actual democracy when it works should just rubber stamp the smartest one.
I thought everyone knew this?! I was in a college class that Huether attended in SD as a guest speaker. During this presentation, he spoke about his past and gave us his life story. He told us about his gubernatorial ambitions since a young age. I think I faintly recall him owning the rights to website domain names such as HuetherforGovernor.com, among other names.
He’s running, been running, and will be running in 2018. I don’t see how he would not with a head of his size.
http://dakotawarcollege.com/sioux-falls-mayor-mike-huether-has-been-planning-to-run-for-governor-since-2007/
it’s one thing to become mayor in a non-partisan race in the midst of one of the higher concentrations of democrat districts in the state. if he wants to be governor he has to find a way to weld two legs on the bottom of that big “D” and make it an “R” when voters see it.
the way the minimum wage initiative went, it’s clear a lot of republicans have forgotten how to prepare and execute an effective campaign against populist crap. you always have to fight the fight people.
Some great observations there. I don’t think Huether could win out of Sioux Falls even if he was running as a Republican, although that would garner a lot more easy votes for him than having a D behind his name on the ballot.
I wonder, though, about the “populist crap” you talk about and have a side observation. Could it be that a certain portion of South Dakota Republican voters, when not given the guidance of the “R” behind an issue, actually consider the issue on the merits from the basis of their own personal philosophy? That should at least be part of the consideration, shouldn’t it? I mean, you hear so many people complaining about the percentage of Republican legislators who they think are really Democrats that it must have some – if only the tiniest – possibility.
And I wonder in the friendliest of ways if you think the failed Initiative 11 on the 2008 ballot was more populist crap or less populist crap than the successful Initiated Measure 18 on the 2014 ballot?
i don’t think you’re wondering about any of that. just an observation.
the reasons for why one failed and why one passed are quite unrelated. if you could actually make a majority party out of minimum wage workers who encourage abortion, you’d be running the legislature, obviously. why aren’t you?
I can appreciate where you’re coming from.
But can’t you accept that there might be a small smidgeon of Republican voters who, when they don’t have an “R” to guide them, vote according to their individual philosophies? That’s an honest question and believe you can answer it in good will.
I am still very interested to get your opinion on the “populist crap” level of each initiative. We already know you think the successful minimum wage initiative was “populist crap.” How about the other initiated measure? Was it “populist crap” too?
If you don’t feel comfortable answering these questions, I understand and won’t badger you about it. It’s just a great opportunity to clarify and expand your positions.
Isn’t that what Rick Weiland is trying to do … eliminate the “R” and the “D” from South Dakota elections?
I know lots of democrats who are against abortion , just like a lot of republicans are against labor and the minimum wage to. Lets repeal them stop abortion increase the minimum wage, and page our teachers.