Here are some grab shots I took at my home precinct, the Harrisburg United Methodist Church.  It was a very busy place just prior to the polls opening.

I've never seen anything like it. 

Before the polls opened at my precinct's polling place in Harrisburg, SD at the United Methodist Church, the large parking lot was full, there were cars parked on the street, and there was a long line stretching out the door.

I'm not sure what it means other than the potential for a very large turnout.  Harrisburg is overwhelming Republican.  Are these motivated Republican voters or have they tired from eight years of Bush and will vote Democrat?  Did the well oiled Republican machine get folks out?  Was it the best GOTV effort that state Democrats have ever run for local candidates?

I don't have a clue.  I think it bodes well for Democrats and Barack Obama, but that's why they play the game.

Regardless, it's a good day for our democracy.

Now, do your part and go vote!

Forget Sarah Palin.

Forget polls, pols, and politics.

I was reminded today what campaigning is really about—people.

I had the honor of canvassing my community of Harrisburg today with District 10 Senate candidate Clara Hart and District 10 House candidate Mary Ann Giebink. We were joined by Clara’s husband Jon, her granddaughter Nadia, and my good friend Barry Foster.

We knocked on a lot of doors, met a lot of dogs, and talked to a lot of people.

Most people we met this afternoon were busy enjoying a Sunday afternoon of NFL football, home remodeling projects, cleaning, relaxing, or watching the kids play touch football in the front yard.

It was a splendid day to be out—cool, crisp, just a hint of breeze. Perfect walking weather.

No one we met really had any questions for the candidates. Mary Ann and Clara basically just introduced themselves and dropped some literature off.
Everyone we met was polite.

It gives you a far different feeling of what’s going on to get out from behind the computer and talk to real people—and make friends with a few dogs.

Want to know what real politics and real campaigning is like—go walk a precinct or a neighborhood with your favorite candidate.

You’ll come away with far less cynicism about the process, have more regard for the candidates, and understand what a great thing our American democracy is.

We just had a nasty thunderstorm roll through Harrisburg. Above is a photo of the size of the hailstones—over half dollar size. I thought they were going to break a window out of our cars.

Donna had the presence of mind to gather them—not for KELOLAND, who I sent them to and they aired them—but for insurance purposes.

In all my years in and around politics, I have to tell you, the results of tonight’s Harrisburg School Board election are about as satisfying as anything I’ve ever experienced.

And that’s including Sen. Barack Obama sewing up the Democratic Presidential nomination a couple weeks ago.

Incumbents Jon Loos and Dan Hensch are out. Challengers Penny Rydberg and Josh Sisson are in. And in REALLY big.

The results:

Sisson: 807 votes
Rydberg: 754 votes
Hensch: 294 votes
Loos: 267 votes

Sisson and Rydberg won by nearly three to one.

That, my friends, is a thumping.  A landslide.  A mandate.

The seeds of his were planted soon after Hensch and Loos were elected three years ago. Their arrogance and self-serving attitudes didn’t endear them to Harrisburg patrons. But the last straw was last June when they ran popular high school principal Keith Huber and well respected superintendent Jim Hargens. The Huber situation was particularly poorly handled, with Loos and Hensch on the one hand saying they couldn’t discuss Huber’s non-renewal because it was a personnel matter then on the other refusing to take testimony from the public at a meeting.

They and their little buddy Ron Albers added insult to injury by telling the throng of us at a meeting after the Huber debacle that we were not representative of the district as a whole in our support of Keith.

I guess not. There were even more people than us who were at the meetings who were honked off about what was going on.  See today’s election results for proof.

A close knit community was torn apart. And it was all so unnecessary. 

 

And it was their fault.

Prior to a few years ago, the Harrisburg School Board handled growth issues quietly and effectively. While there may have been disagreements, all voices were heard and respected. Neighbors listened to neighbors. Then Albers, Loos, and Hensch got on the board, trying to make it more “profesional” and instituted changes without the input or support of the people.

I hope current—for now—superintendent Jim Holbeck pays close attention to the election results. He has allied himself with the Albers-Loos-Hensch Axis. Two of those axis members will be gone in less than a month.

Holbeck’s “my way or the highway” approach with patrons, staff, and students might have been supported when the Axis were in place. But not anymore. And my insiders tell me that Holbeck isn’t likely to get the message and offer olive branches to Rydberg and Sisson. I hope he does. But I give Holbeck a year—tops—in Harrisburg.  And then he’ll likely be moving along too.

These victories by Josh and Penny were well earned. They campaigned hard and on the issues facing the district. But the citizens also said that open government is important, that a little humility isn’t a bad thing in our leaders, and that the Harrisburg School District—TigerNation—is a democracy after all.

Technorati Tags: Harrisburg, South Dakota, Harrisburg Tigers, Jon Loos, Dan Hensch, Josh Sisson, Penny Rydberg, Ron Albers, Jim Holbeck

The Argus Leader’s Jim Cheeseman reports in his “Southern Command” blog that all three of the remaining Harrisburg city council members endorse incumbent Mayor Reed Ramstad.

If I were fellow councilor and mayoral candidate Jon Klemme, I’d be going “ouch” right now.  And not just about the endorsements.

• Read: 3 councilors endorse Ramstad
  

An excerpt: 

It’s the other side (of the campaign flyer) that caught my attention. Three city council members - Justin Pfieffer, Steve Becker and James Seeley - signed a letter endorsing Ramstad in the race against the other councilman, Jon Klemme.

The letter hailed Ramstad’s experience, his work to address the water shortage and his plan to improve the wastewater treatment situation. It also cited Ramstad’s record of fiscal responsibility.

Klemme’s name was never mentioned in the letter but this has to be considered a blow to his campaign. When all three of your fellow councilmen line up for the other guy, you’re in trouble.

Cheeseman also said he hasn’t hardly found anyone else in Harrisburg who will admit supporting Klemme.  Double ouch.

Cheeseman puts the likely vote at 55% to 45% Ramstad, which is in line with the unscientific Epp Poll.  (Vote!)  As of the time of the writing of this posting, the Epp Poll (below) was 56% to 44% for Ramstad.

Harrisburg Mayor Poll

Who Do You Support for Mayor of Harrisburg, SD on April 8? Jon Klemme Reed Ramstad view results

 

I too predict a Ramstad victory.  And Reed gets my endorsement as well.  More on that later.

Technorati Tags: Jon Klemme, Jim Cheeseman, Reed Ramstad, Harrisburg, South Dakota, 2008 Election

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My hometown of Harrisburg has a hotly contested mayor’s race set for April 8th.

To get a pulse of the people, here’s a poll you can take. It is not scientific.



Technorati Tags: Harrisburg, South Dakota, mayor, Reed Ramstad, Jon Klemme

Here is my most recent column in the Tea-Harrisburg Champion:

Shaping Harrisburg will take commitment

What kind of community would you like Harrisburg to be?

Technorati Tags: Harrisburg, South Dakota, development, planning, community, Sioux Falls

Here is my latest column in this week’s Tea-Harrisburg Champion concerning President Bush’s defunding of the Lewis and Clark Rural Water System.

• Bush budget shows no regard for South Dakota

Technorati Tags: George W. Bush, President, Senator, John Thune, Tim Johnson, Representative, Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, water projects, South Dakota, Tea, Harrisburg, Championland, Lewis and Clark Regional Water System

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Here’s an idea.

When you’re reporting on people in your community who might suddenly need to buy flood insurance, IT MIGHT BE NICE TO KNOW WHAT PART OF TOWN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS TALKING ABOUT!

While I appreciate the Tea-Harrisburg Champion’s lengthy story that some people in my hometown could now be required to buy flood insurance, I wondered, “Hmm. I wonder if I have to buy flood insurance?” Then I wondered, “Gee, what part of town is this?”

Sure, the Nine Mile Creek area. Like what streets does this bound? How many blocks? What’s considered a “tributary” if the area has been developed?

There was a graphic with the online version of the story (above) but it isn’t exactly very helpful. I WANT TO SEE THE MAP THAT’S REFERENCED IN THE STORY!

When this came up earlier this fall in Sioux Falls, there were like actual maps  (see below) to show people that the media also carried to show homeowners that they might be in the new and expanded floodplain.

In Harrisburg, I don’t know if a failure to provide this information is FEMA’s, the City of Harrisburg’s, or The Champion’s fault.

All I know is I don’t feel very well informed about something that could cost me money, impact the value of my home, or, if it rains enough, flood it.

Read: Map changes to hit Harrisburg

An excerpt:

HARRISBURG – Some homeowners in Harrisburg will need to purchase flood insurance by April, thanks to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s new flood plain maps.

In response to the map changes, which will effect homes around Nine Mile Creek and its tributaries, Harrisburg will send letters about insurance options to those specific homeowners in January.

“We want to make absolutely sure that those people who are affected will know,” said Tanya Miller, a Harrisburg city engineer.

The letters will be sent to around 50 homes, although Miller said not all the homes will necessarily be affected. To determine which homes could be on the flood plain, FEMA’s new maps were laid over current aerial maps of the city.

Miller and associates at Howard R. Green, with the help of South Dakota Flood plain Manager Michelle Saxman, began work on the letter this fall. The Harrisburg City Council decided on Dec. 3 to wait until after the holiday season to notify homeowners… .

Technorati Tags: Harrsiburg, South Dakota, flood plains, flood insurance, reporting, FEMA

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Move over Gannett-owned Tea-Harrisburg Champion.  Harrisburg Today is joining you on local news racks. The newspaper debuted Friday, December 7th.  It is owned by New Century Press, Inc., which publishes other Sioux Empire-area weeklies such as The Sioux County Index-Reporter.

According to a front page story in their first issue, the new weekly has been contemplated for some time.”We have looked at Harrisburg with interest nor nearly two years as the community has continued its incredible growth,” said NCP, Inc. COO Jim Hensley.

The paper is edited by Jamie Gibson.  The office is located at 105 Railroad Ave in Harrisburg.  Email is htoday@ncppub.com.  The paper costs one dollar but is being distributed free to local residents for one year.  The paper publishes on Fridays.

Today is not the first foray into the Harrisburg market.  Mark Haugen, now an aide to Sen. John Thune, started The Champion about nine years ago then sold it three or so years ago to Gannett.  I was a columnist for Mark.  He concentrated on local news and events and his own, shall we say, unique conservative editorial bent.  The Champion was well designed and successful.

The Champion today under Argus Leader control has been tarted up a bit with full color but lacks Mark’s passion for the community and independent voice. 

The first round of columnists in Today seem to be playing it safe politically, writing more slice of life columns than taking on local issues.  But this is only their first issue so time will tell if they decide actually throw themselves into the fray in things like the Harrisburg School Board or Harrisburg water problems.  I hope so.

Mark had no such reluctance, which made him a great publisher and made his paper a player in local issues.  You read The Champion to find out what was REALLY going on, not just the local leaders’ pablum about what was going on.

Harrisburg doesn’t need another yea-rah-everything-is-great cheerleader.  Like the old Champion, the community needs a voice that will report on actual issues and take actual stands on those issues.  In other words, act like a real newspaper.  Otherwise, frankly, it will be nothing more than another shopper that gets tossed in the recycle bin.

(Cross-posted to the Home Edition of SD Watch and SDW @ KELOLAND.com.)Sphere: Related Content

 

Technorati Tags: Harrisburg Today, The Champion, Tea-Harrisburg Champion, Argus Leader, Gannett, Inc., newspapers, local news, Harrisburg, South Dakota

[where: 57032]

[where: Harrisburg, SD] 

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Stupid, stupid, stupid.

How much more stupidity can we tolerate from the imbeciles who run our Harrisburg School District?

Back in June, the three idiots—Hensch, Albers, and Loos—decided, for God only knows what reason, that beloved long-time high school principal Keith Huber wasn’t fit to keep his job.

Never mind that the faculty, staff, students, and community all thought he was wonderful.

Now, according to KSFY, we are stuck with the middle school principal doing double duty to fill in for the job because no one is stupid enough to apply for a job in a district run by morons.

Here’s an excerpt:

The Harrisburg school board voted not to renew the contract of high school principal Keith Huber amid public protest in June. At the time board members assured they could find plenty of candidates, but so far that hasn’t happened.

“We opened it up for a high school principal position and as it turned out I think the timing wasn’t the best,” says Harrisburg superintendent Jim Holbeck.

Holbeck says the candidate pool for high school principal has been small primarily because it’s so late in the summer and now the district has opted for a temporary solution. School administrators say they are confident that middle school principal Kristine Alcon can handle double duty as the interim high school principal. And they plan to hire an assistant principal to give her a hand.

“She certainly is going to have to do a little traveling back and forth between the two buildings,” Holbeck says. “But we expect that that person is going to be able to relieve a lot of her concerns.” …

Boy, Loos, this is really going to bring those test scores up real quick!

We are the fastest growing school district in the state and we don’t have a full time leader for our high school.

Just when you thought the three Einsteins who apparently have set out to destroy what once was a respected school districts that did a good job with teaching its kids and achieved success in and out of the classroom couldn’t get any worse, it does. 

We are now the laughingstock of school districts in South Dakota and we have no one to blame but ourselves and the Three Stooges.

Above: The Harrisburg Three Stooges: Mo Loos, Curly Hensch, and Larry Albers. 

>

Our friends in Brandon, SD have also been facing major growth in their school district like Harrisburg.  In fact, they have been dealing with growth longer than Harrisburg has.

The Brandon Valley School District is set to begin a major expansion.

But guess what?  No major complaints that it was done in secret or that there are personal agendas involved.

The Argus Leader editorializes on that process today.

They conclude with this laudatory language about the Brandon Valley School Board, language that no one has said about the Harrisburg School District during the past two years:

Brandon Valley School District leaders seem committed to mixing public involvement and open communication into the planning process.

That’s a tribute to the leadership in the district as well as the community’s dedication to providing quality educational opportunities.

Meanwhile, a few miles south and west of Brandon, the opposite has happened.  Maybe Harrisburg could take some lessons from our friends east of Sioux Falls. 

Loos, Hensch, and Albers, do you get the idea? 

In Sunday’s Argus Leader (A town divided cannot stand - long), executive editor Randell Beck writes a mostly sympathetic column about our abysmal Harrisburg School Board and their penchant for secrecy.

But he also notes:

In Harrisburg, the joke so far has been on school patrons. Despite an occasional invective hurled toward the renegade school board, people seem disinclined to directly challenge board members who have run roughshod, for more than a year now, over the public will.

So, fellow Harrisburgers, how much longer are we going to allow Loos, Albers, and Hensch inflict their undemocratic and secretive will upon us and our school children?

While I think we need to get past the royal rogering of HHS principal Keith Huber, I don’t think accomodation with the enemies of democracy, open government, and the best interests of our students and patrons is the way to go. As Britain’s Neville Chamberlain learned too late, you can’t accomodate tyrants. Compromise only works when there is goodwill on both sides.

There is no goodwill in the Albers/Loos/Hensch Axis. At the last meeting Monday, Albers even admitted he didn’t really think the people at the meeting were a “majority” and frankly, he didn’t care. He was going to do what he thought was best and screw the rest of us.

We can be typically “nice” Upper Midwesterners who hate conflict and continue to let the school yard bullies on the school board keep pushing us around and taking our lunch money. Or we can continue to keep the pressure on these autocrats and let them know that they are not going to get away with their private agendas and boneheaded decisions.

The choice is ours, Harrisburg. Fight or keep letting Loos, Albers, and Hensch give us twirly-whirlies in the boys bathroom. Me? I’m tired of being upside down with my head stuck in the toilet.