Those who know Sutton best… supporting Kristi

Pat Powers

From the Rapid City Journal comes an interesting story about who some of the people closest to Billie Sutton are supporting this election – Kristi Noem.

The report filed Monday by the Noem-Rhoden Victory Committee shows that Linda Lillibridge, of Burke, gave $500 to the committee’s Sept. 7 fundraiser featuring President Donald Trump in Sioux Falls. Linda Lillibridge is the grandmother of Sutton’s wife, Kelsea

The Noem campaign said Linda Lillibridge has subsequently given an additional $9,000, for a total of $

And…

Noem’s campaign manager, Justin Brasell, also issued a written statement in response to a request for comment.

“Kristi is grateful for the support she’s received from those who know Billie Sutton best,” the statement said.

Read it all here.

51 thoughts on “Those who know Sutton best… supporting Kristi”

  1. “We love Billie and Kelsea dearly, but we can’t support the Democratic Party,” she said.”

    You have political division in any family with opposite opinions but they still love each other and will still do anything for one another. It’s their vote and money to spend.

  2. I have always wondered about this because both Tom and John were strong Republicans with an unwavering free enterprise, anti-government intrusion perspective. Plus, when I see Sutton’s “accountability” board, I can imagine John saying “Good Gracious Billie. You want to be Governor and you can’t do this yourself. Be a boss.”

    Finally, someone who was close to John said to me (don’t know if he knew how much money this was as I didn’t ask), “I’ll bet John is turning over in his grave watching all this money being spent to promote democratic issues.” Tom and Johns widows might be doing what they can to cancel it out.

    1. We just need a state auditor that audits instead of a board of bureaucrats like Billie wants. The auditor is in name only. Give them the authority to look into grants and departments.

  3. They could of read Dakota Free Press and it scared the hell out so they chose not to support their relatives.

  4. Too many people forego their core principles because a family member is involved; it’s like being against abortion but if you have a relative has one you change to say that it’s okay in certain circumstances.

    Sutton supported Hillary and is no moderate, and we don’t need a Hillary supporter as leader of our state. Sutton’s disingenuous claims to be a fiscal conservative don’t hold any merit, and he should be soundly beaten at the polls.

  5. Wow. This is quite the story and quote from a family member. Could be a little tense around the Thanksgiving table.

    The reality here is many parents and grandparents love their kids and grandkids, but know if and when they are ready to take on a big role like this.

    1. “Could be a little tense around the Thanksgiving table.”

      Especially now that Noem pushed the matter into the public eye.

      Is any brand of gutter politics beneath her?

      1. How is it gutter politics to show that these folks can’t support Sutton because he is part of the Democrat party? It shows how tough these two women are that they are willing to put the good of the State ahead of the aspirations of a family member who is a member of the wrong party. Kudos to them, and if the truth hurts, don’t be such a snowflake.

        1. Yeah, these women are really tough for writing checks, unlike that weak Billie Sutton who just has to endure two years of ruthless public abuse in newspaper articles and blog posts.

      2. This was published by the RCJ. Last I checked, they don’t ask for Kristi’s approval on articles they publish. In other words, not her publicizing this.

    2. “The reality here is many parents and grandparents love their kids and grandkids, but know if and when they are ready to take on a big role like this.”

      P.S. It’s his WIFE’S grandmother and great-aunt, not his. Sleazy garbage.

        1. Billie Sutton violated the cardinal rule of South Dakota politics by agreeing to be married to a woman without first making sure that none of her elderly grandparents or their siblings would ever support one of his opponents in any possible future election. This is a truly unconscionable oversight on Billie’s part, and Noem is just seeing to it that he reaps what he’s sown.

          Seriously, if Noem exacerbates a conflict between Kelsea’s relatives and Billie’s, Liam will reap what Noem has sown.

          I know at least one member of Kristi’s extended family who absolutely despises her, but I’m not sure his grievances belong in a public blog comment, much less in a campaign press release.

          1. Thats an idiotic post Anon 12:14. “Liam will reap what Noem has sown”.. really? That poor kid has been dealing with his absentee parents while they glorify themselves by constsntly seeking the spotlight and using him as their “prop”. And yes, I do know them. And I know more about their family and the crap Kelsea pulls against her own. Every single person in Burke knows Linda doesnt support Billie. So no surprise there. who gives a crap it was put in a paper? The brainwashed fools here supporting him just think its “neat” to know a possibly “governor”. Self appointed royalty Kelsea and Billy have a slighty overinflated ego, and if anyone is making Liam suffer its them.

            1. Even just from a tactically pragmatic standpoint, Noem should want nothing to do with a comment like the one above.

              Subhuman.

            2. You’re trash from the get go- you’re terrible grammar and misspellings make your point even more moot.

              Maybe you should stop judging so harshly and go back to middle school to write-

              1. “you’re terrible grammar”… was that a mistake?
                Does that make your point moot too?

                Yes, I’m laughing at you.

      2. That maybe true, but if you knew Kommunist Kelsea, you would know shes running the show in this governors race.

          1. Bahahaha!! Do you know her Anon 4:18?? I do!! Name is 100% fitting buddy. You better do some research on these people before you make a comment like that. Lol

            1. Communism would go completely against the family banking business and the financial services it provides. Loans for farmers and ranchers, small businesses to start up and expand ,investments to grow investments. It makes zero $en$e.

  6. Reading the article closer, shows another unforced error.

    Sutton’s spokesman tried to dismiss it as just a couple of long-standing Republicans going to see the President.

    First, they gave $19,500 total when they could have gotten the total treatment with the President for $10,000. Thus this is more than just going to see the President.

    Second, Aunt Cindy made it clear. They can’t support the Democratic Party and see helping Sutton as doing that.

  7. Yeah, no matter how the campaign gal spins it, that says a lot when your relatives won’t support you.

          1. Tara Valesky, who do you even comment on this page? You shine with ignorance and never have a clue what your talking about.

  9. Anonymous 2:08 & 2:11:

    First, Noem didn’t push it in the public eye. Federal Election Law pressed it into the public eye.

    Second, do you really not think Billie would point out close-members of the Noem family supporting him? Of course, especially when he is using favorable quotes* from people supporting Kristi.

    *People in politics have friends in the other party of whom they have worked with in the past. Trying to infer or imply these people support your candidacy is at best taking the quote and relationship out of context and at worst intentional deception.

    1. “First, Noem didn’t push it in the public eye. Federal Election Law pressed it into the public eye.”

      Noem pushed it into the public eye, Troy. Your allegiance to the truth rivals Bill Clinton’s.

      “Second, do you really not think Billie would point out close-members of the Noem family supporting him?”

      “Close”? You mean like one of Bryon’s elderly great-aunts? If Sutton did something like this, I’m very sure I’d call him out too.

      1. Noem didnt push it Anon 12:49. Everyone already knows the Lillibridge family doesnt support Billid or Kelsea. Linda has even referenced her grand daugter as being a socialist. And you know why its actually funny this article is in the paper? Cause Kelseas Grandma and Aunt are Millionaires. And make sure their support for Republicans is known.

  10. Maybe you should publish Kristi’s family members who are teachers that have donated to Billy? Noem is continuing down the sleazy road again.

    2. Who cares about the teachers supporting Billie? They have all been told they are victims now in this State. You know.. paid so little… and on and on and on. Thats how Democrats get votes you know. Make victims of the system to get votes. Hes doing the same thing to the tribes. When what they really need is to be cut off from government assistance.

      1. Yeah! As Representative Lana Greenfield stated you are a teacher because you love to teach and not for the pay. So according to her the teachers need to rethink their priorities and quit being victims and crying about pay.

        1. Well they are not underpaid thats for sure! Such a joke.. im sick of hearing about the poor teachers. Theres actually a lot of crap teachers out there that need to go, but the system is so messed up, we keep them around. Theres no evaluation, seems over half are liberal loons thinking common core rocks. And now they all cry for a raise.. based on what? Their performance? Why dont teachers get evaluated so we can filter the awful ones out?

          1. Lana and Governor Noem could push a bill thru to reduce teacher pay and evaluate teachers and terminate the bad ones including those pushing the liberal loon indoctrination program right?

            1. You have no clue what’s going on in some classrooms.

              If time worked and time off is figured in, teachers are paid very well. And, when they’re having a stressful week, they put on some videos so they don’t have to deal with students’ needs.

              A Democrat, running for a House seat, said the tax increase didn’t actually go to teacher pay. The lies Dems tell, only to get votes, is disgusting.

              1. Would you like to see Governor Noem and the 2019 legislative session push thru a loyalty pledge for our public teachers so they only teach Conservative focused curriculum including Biblical studies which could be tied to compensation and a condition of their employment status?

                1. No. They should be teaching facts, leaving their opinions about gay love and gender pay to themselves.

                2. Actually teaching the bible in SD schools is allowed since it is History and all. But the biggest thing is getting common core out. And Noem is for that while Billy is not.

                    1. Didnt say anything about religion. I said the bible is recognized as a historical book you idiot. Thats why its approved to teach in school.

          2. I’d complain to your school board if your district isn’t evaluating your teachers. The principals at the majority of schools do evaluate the staff. That way they could remove underperforming educators.

  11. Yeah, pretty pathetic, Billie. You need to come up with better spin than that. C’mon, with all the dishonest folks working for the Dems-certainly at the national level-you should be able to come up with some way to weasel out of this.

  12. Hey Billie!
    Since you like bragging about all these conservative values, why don’t you tell the voters why you are running as a Democrat?
    I think both sides would be interested in that answer!

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