The Final Day of the Jolene Loetscher campaign. “I look forward to winning. I plan on winning.”

Pat Powers

The Jolene Loetscher campaign decided to roll over and give it’s last gasp this afternoon with a weird impromptu press conference that…  well, let’s face it. It was painful…

To be held at the downtown library, the event comes after a series of negative headlines regarding moves Loetscher has made during the final days of the campaign, in which she faces Paul TenHaken.

and…

Earlier this week the Sioux Falls Fraternal Order of Police called some of Loetscher’s campaign ads in support of precinct-based policing “misleading” while taking a formal position against that policing method. Loetscher had also filed a complaint over alleged hacking, and made public a voicemail her campaign had received from TenHaken.

Read that here.

The Argus had followed some of it on twitter..

I caught the last few minutes where Loetscher was telling the assembled media people/person “I look forward to winning. I plan on winning.”

Yeah.. A press conference 4pm on the Friday of the week before election day.  When the local media just got done utterly destroying your credibility and a few hours after the major newspaper endorsed your opponent is not the time to declare to the same media that you “plan on winning”

This was the Final Day of the Jolene Loetscher campaign as it was.

And unfortunately, it is not ending with dignity.

Update – looks like the Video is up.

Or maybe not…

20 thoughts on “The Final Day of the Jolene Loetscher campaign. “I look forward to winning. I plan on winning.””

      1. Oh, that’s the list you want to go with, okay.

        “The police press release calling her ad misleading, and disagreeing with her claims of police support.”

        The police chief stayed out of it in the article. It wasn’t a police press release, it was a FOB release. And you can’t tell me that there are not some police who support her precinct position. Plus, show me an ad that says “local” law enforcement.

        “The Argus Leader article decrying her utter lack of transparency.”

        Well, KELO already had the transcript so AL’s claims are unfounded.

        “The release of the investigation results by the Sheriff/DCI noting no evidence.”

        Well, no evidence of a successful hack, but they didn’t say there was not an attempt. An unsuccessful hack is still a crime. Plus, the investigation continues.

        “The eventual release of ‘the voice mail,’ which underlined her embellishment of the whole voice mail incident.”

        There was no embellishment. What was the purpose of the call if it was not passive aggressive, plus Paul’s willingness to equate the “Client” scandal with the “tools” in his toolbar only further legitimizes what Paul originally called a “nothing burger,” which were the allegations surrounding the “Client” controversy.

        “The ‘dog poo collection as biotechnology’ embellishment.”

        How? One week this blog site calls it a franchisee of a biotech company, then the next week this blog site puts into question its existence as a biotech company and or franchisee. So what is the final position of this blog site on that issue anyhow?

  3. VSG,

    I like that list.

    Her policing proposal is a legitimate policy upon which to discern her fitness to be mayor.

    Her snowflakiness to consider that voicemail a threat is a legitimate measure of fortitude to do this job.

    Her unwillingness to initially release the voicemail in full is a legitimate issue upon which to judge her commitment to transparency and dedication to the whole truth.

    Her assessment she thinks her business is a biotechnology company Gives us insight when she says she is recruiting bio technology jobs.

    In a few days we will see how many voters agree with you and me.

    I am betting Paul’s vote total from three weeks ago goes up more than Jos. Want to wager?

    1. Troy,

      Last Wednesday’s evening debate, Jo took the Argus head on by educating them that the DCI didn’t want her to release the entire voicemail until the time that she actually did.

      Her call for more police on the beat and a precinct system is the obvious thing to do to reduce crime in this town. The criticism towards her is from a group that is not getting the job done.

      The voicemail was a threat. Else, why go there?

      As far as the “bio technology job” comment, isn’t that what bio tech franchisee do?

      As far as betting, nope. I am not a betting kind of guy. Do I think this past week has ended up helping her? No, I do not, but it is not her fault. The establishment has ganged up on her this past week and I guess we will have to see what happens….

  5. OMG, that qualification between local law enforcement and somebody someplace else is unbelievable. Quit digging Jo. Or are you just pulling the walls of the pit you jumped in down around you?

    1. Troy – Did you listen to the press conference? When she used the McDonald’s example, I thought of you. Well, at least I thought it was you who challenged her Biotech claim using a similar analogy. Well-done;) Talk with your SF friends about the mandate she supports implementing. I have, and your prediction about vote total is something we agree upon.

  7. VSG,

    It might be obvious to you to create precincts for SIOUX Falls but it isnt obvious to anyone in local law enforcement and I would like her to produce the supporter experts she is relying on who would say it will have a positive effect in Sioux Falls.

    Because of the size of our community, our total police department is smaller than precincts in the big cities which have precincts. In short, we have precinct policing. We just need one precinct.

    I know it is tempting to read the summary page of something is tempting to latch onto. But, we expect a mayor to read the detail and realize it doesn’t apply here, be wise enough not to compound a mistake and double down, and not dismiss the local experts with total hubris, especially when you want to be their boss.

    Your loyalty is commendable however she needed a different sort of loyalty a few weeks ago when she embarked on this strategy. None of these matters made sense to start. Going with them belies poor judgment at a really high level.

    1. Troy,

      It’s my understanding that in a way we already have precincts but without storefronts. Because it is my understanding that officers have specific areas or districts; and just as Amazon is thinking of offering a brick and mortar element to their business by buying either Target, JCP, or Sears, I think it is time to do the same with these quasi precincts that we already have, in order to better serve the customers or citizens….

      Craig Steensland. when he was elected City Commissoner in Sioux Falls back in ’92 after he defeated Jay Masur, proposed precincts even then, but the idea I believe got lost in the shuffle due to the new City charter and Steensland’s five year term having been turned into a two year term; which is too bad because we should have gone to actual precincts a long time ago in my opinion….

  8. She is a ethically challenged person. Word is that when she won the “primary” Daschle sent in some ptofesiinal advisers. Her willingness to disparage someone’s character to play the victim card diminishes people who have legitimate claim. She is laying in the bed of her own lies and dissipation and has hurt her for future office. Jo being a KELO news personality her loyalty was a inch deep and a mile wide. Paul through his business, family and charitable giving is a mile wide and a mile deep. Those petty fake attacks and lies don’t stick because people know Paul. And, Jo, your Paul. Not even close.

  9. VSG,

    The very best part of Jo’s campaign is it will kill the discussion of precincts at least for 20 years when Sioux Falls is maybe at a size when it makes sense. There is a reason why we locate the sheriff, police and DCI in the same place- fighting crime begins with patrols on the street (don’t need precincts to increase patrol) and communication (separating people and creating silos is nonsense).

    I still would like to see a any research, study or expert who suggests precincts makes sense. Just one. What is your expertise? Investigating whose dog’s poop is on the sidewalk isn’t law enforcement expertise.

    1. To be clear precincts make sense for a city with our profile: Size, nature and distribution of crime including PD already located where greatest crime happens and patrols are already concentrated, etc.

      P.S. I get the rationale why big cities have precincts- the same reason it makes sense for us to have one precinct.

    2. I think it is ridiculous to have an officer, who might be located out in the SW corner of our town – by Pettigrew elementary for instance – has to end its day by driving all the way back to 4th and Minnesota, when that time could be better utilized policing their current zone or district; and if we have current zones and districts, then why not give them a brick and mortar presence too.

      As far as doggy waste and expertise in this area, does that mean she also does not have the expertise to promote Thune’s image too – through her media company – given her experience in waste?….. Which she actually does, the latter that is…..

      1. This entire race you claimed Thune was all in for TenHaken, turns out you were wrong. Hilarious!

      2. VSG,

        So now the rationale is a waste of time (ridiculous is the word you used) for an officer to use the end of his shift to patrol back to the police station? By the way the silence is deafening to my question of I’d like one reference to an expert who advocates this for a city of our size and profile. Just one.

        Just know, I don’t attribute to your rationales to Jolene. I’m giving her more credit than that. She got out front on an issue that wasn’t well conceived and didn’t have the political experience to walk it back. Your continued reaches on the issue only highlight what actually exposes her most disqualification for office- a lack of wisdom when getting ahead of oneself.

  10. Thank heavens the run off is done this week…quite frankly I am tired of this race

  11. Pingback: Predictions about tonight’s Sioux Falls Mayoral election? – South Dakota War College

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