Is too much governmental openness a bad thing?

The Argus Leader has a story this morning featuring the rap sheets of the Sioux Falls City Councilor candidates. Even Councilor Vernon Brown—Mr. Pure As the Freshly Driven Snow—has a “record.”

Never mind Mr. Road Rage Bob Litz and Tokin’ Jabez Brunz and Kenny Anderson, Jr.

• Read: Candidates break laws
  

Excerpt:

Almost every candidate running for Sioux Falls City Council this year has a record with the South Dakota Judicial System.

Only two candidates - Amanda Todd and Ron Sauby, both running in the Northeast District - have clean statewide criminal background records.Some, including Vernon Brown, Theresa Stehly and Dean Karsky, have minor traffic offenses on their records.

Others have more colorful backgrounds.

The Northwest District incumbent, Bob Litz, was charged in 2002 with simple assault in what was billed at the time as a “road rage”incident. The charge later was dismissed, and Litz pleaded guilty to leaving an unattended vehicle and paid a $164 fine…

The comments are largely negative about the story. Many commenters think the Argus went too far, particularly on the traffic infractions like Brown (who is about as polite a fellow as you’ll ever meet) received.

Remember, all this information is public information. All the Argus has done is put it all together in a readable form.

But with the possible exception of Councilor Litz (who strikes me a very nice and personable guy) and the road rage incident, this is all pretty petty ante stuff. Still, it is embarrassing. I’d be embarrassed if it were me. I’m not casting stones at the candidates by saying that. Like most of us, they’re not without sin—or a speeding ticket or two.

None of us, even the best among us, are perfect. And people are capable of change and learning their lessons from the bonehead things we sometimes do. In fact, some of these scrapes actually make some of the candidates seem more “human” or at least more like regular people.

Still, would you want your speeding tickets or lack of insurance publicized? Does this have a chilling effect on people running for office?

To be honest, if it were me, the answer would be yes. On the other hand, if you don’t have a thick skin, don’t get involved in politics. It is not for the meek. Someone somewhere will try and expose every stupid thing you’ve said or done if you run for most offices. That’s the game.

But on the other hand, where do we draw the line on openness in government? Isn’t it better to err on the side of openness?

I come down on the side of openness, but wow, I also feel for the candidates who got “outed” for their minor indiscretions in the pages of the Argus today.

 

Most of the infractions have nothing to do with honesty. That would be a much larger issue for me.

Perhaps some ambitious blogger would like to research the rap sheets of members of the Argus news room? I’m just sayin’.

(Hat tip to South DaCola)

Technorati Tags: Bob Litz, Vernon Brown, Jabez Brunz, Kenny Anderson, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, open government, Daniel Brooks, 2008 election

Where's well-paid Sioux Falls mayoral Chief of Staff Jody Schwan, you ask?

Chillin' her heels on her KELOLAND non-compete.

A source tells me that she'll be soon be hosting a new show on the City's cable channel--after her one-year non-compete clause runs.

At $100,000 plus, she'll likely be the highest paid broadcast talent in the market.  Who knew that governmental TV paid so much better than commercial TV?

Maybe Shawn Cable should try and get a similar gig.

Technorati Tags: Jody Schwan, Mayor Dave Munson, Sioux Falls, TV, cable

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Here’s the real story:

Mayor Dave Munson to Present State of the City Address Sioux Falls Mayor Dave Munson will present his annual State of the City address at a special City Council meeting on Thursday, March 29, 2007,at 1:30 p.m…

Sioux Falls Mayor Dave Munson: “Everything’s great in Sioux Falls!”Here’s a preview of the text that Mayor Munson will present so you don’t have to attend, read about it, or watch it.

Fellow Citizens:

It is my happy duty to tell you that the state of the City of Sioux Falls is great. This is a great community. It is full of great people doing great things. Together, we are great.

We have a great economy. We have a great quality of life. We have great parks. We have great benefactors like the great T. Denny Sanford. Wasn’t his gift great?

We have great public servants doing great things for this great community. It’s great to serve as your mayor in such a great city government full of such great employees doing such great things.  Great people like my great chief of staff, Jodi Schwan.  She’s just great.

As great as we are, we can be greater. How is this possible, you ask?

Because we are all so great.

2006 was a great year. 2007 is a great year. 2008 will be an even greater year because we are such a great community. And you are great.

It’s great to see you all here being so great.

Stay great, Sioux Falls!

technorati tags:Mayor, Munson, Sioux, Falls, government, great, greater, greatest, greatness

Blogged with Flock

Though I haven’t been on the side streets, the main thoroughfares in Sioux Falls have the snow and ice removed down to the pavement.

Considering how much snow we had over so many days, I think the City of Sioux Falls, the Street Department, and the City Employees involved should be commended for a job well done in difficult circumstances.

I can remember five to ten years ago when such efficient snow removal was not the case.

So, some major props to Mayor Dave Munson and the City of Sioux Falls.

technorati tags:snow, plows, dakota, blizzards, dakota

Apparently Sioux Falls Councilor and mayoral candidate must never go out to eat or has never had bad grub from a dirty restaurant.  As quoted in today's Argus Leader editorial http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060302/OPINION01/603020316/105290)
Vernon Brown. Go out to eat much?on the posting of Sioux Falls restaurant and grocery store health scores:

Keep posting restaurant and grocery inspection reports on the city's Web site so they're easily available for everyone to see.

The city started posting the scores in January, and while there's general support for the move, some people aren't so sure.

It might be unfair to post a bad score when a restaurant simply has a "bad day," said council member Vernon Brown.

"Your bad day is my food poisoning," responded council member Kevin Kavanaugh.

Amen, Kevin.  Looks like Vernon is more worried about protecting businesses that don't have the public's health in mind rather than protecting the public from food poisoning.

My good friend Darrin Smith formally declared he is running for mayor of Sioux Falls this morning at the downtown Public Library. 

I am volunteering for Darrin.  We had a packed room of supporters.  Darrin gave a great speech, focusing on making sure the Lewis and Clark Water System gets completed, working for better jobs for all citizens, being accessible and open, and making government more efficient.  He hit it out of the park!
Some Smith supporters listen intently.

His website is located at http://smithformayor.com/index.php

I'll have more later.
Darrin and his family.

KELOLAND-TV announced at 5 p.m. that Sioux Falls Dave Munson decided to not run for reelection to a second term.  The Argus Leader has the story up on their site: http://argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060202/NEWS/60202010/1001.

An excerpt:

Mayor Dave Munson said late today that he will not run for re-election.

He said he didn’t want other candidates to be bogged down in controversy.

“I love the city so much. I want this to be a positive campaign,” he said.

Munson said he reached his decision last night after talking with his wife, Linda.

“It was hard on her,” he said.

Munson then called friends this afternoon to tell them he would not seek re-election.

The dramatic turn of events ahead of the April 11 election comes after several weeks of scrutiny over Munson's campaign finances.

In his conversation with Ray Trankel, a member of his inner-circle, he told him not to try and talk him out of it.

More to come.

Mayor Dave Munson is supposed to help shed light on one of the several mysteries of his administration: 

Fund-raiser details will be released  (Argus Leader) 1/31/2006   Mayor Dave Munson said Monday that the details of a private fund-raiser would be released today, almost four years after the event happened. "We'll have that available at 10 a.m. tomorrow," Munson said late Monday night.

"Hey man, is Dave home?" "No man, Dave's not here. Or Georgia."For those of you fellow babies who grew up in the 1960s and 70s like me and are a guy, you can probably rattle off a couple of old Cheech and Chong routines.  Today on KELOLAND-TV, Sioux Falls Mayor Dave Munson did his best impression of the "Dave's not here" bit, only it was "Georgia Hanson's not here" variation.

As Woody Allen notes, showing up is 80 percent.  That's what KELO's Don Jorgensen and a camera person did--showed up on the City Hall steps and waited for Mayor Dave to emerge so they could ask him about the so-called 2002 "debt retirement" fundraiser.

Believe it or not, miracles do happen in KELOLAND.  Mayor Dave emerged and walked down the front steps to the waiting microphone of Donny J.  (Memo to Munson staff: Next time look out the window and tell the boss to go out the BACK door when pesky media you are trying to avoid are afoot.)

What follows is perhaps the most confusing, disjointed, and odd 1:53 exchange in local TV history between Mayor Dave and Don about why no finance report.  Dave keeps talking about "her" being out of town--presumably Georgia Hanson, who filled out Mayor Dave's campaign finance reports.  It was something like "Is Dave home?  No, Georgia's not home.  She'll be back next week. Oh, and Dave's not here either."  Huh?
Mayor Dave Munson's campaign reports for the 2002 "debt reduction" event aren't home either.

To view the hjinks from KELOLAND, click here: Click Here To Watch Complete Interview With Mayor Munson.  Here's the print story: http://keloland.com/News/NewsDetail5440.cfm?Id=0,45504.

Props to Don and KELOLAND for a nice piece of work.  And Dave, happy early birthday!

 

I have not been able to independently confirm this yet, but it looks like Down Town Sioux Falls is holding a "surprise" birthday party for Mayor Dave Munson.  Below is the email that was forwarded on to me.  Click to open: surprise party for Mayor Munson.pdf 

It reads:

DTSF

Please be advised that there will be an appreciation gathering for Mayor Dave Munson, Jan 31st, 4:30 PM at Shriver Square. This a surprise! Please make this a must-attend event. This mayor has done so much for downtown, his passion for the heart of the city has helped make us what we are today. I have a list of 30 accomplishments that he has succeded in completing for the downtown area. Please show up and let Mayor Munson know that we truly appreciate all he has done for us. This is NOT a fund-raiser.

Downtown Sioux Falls Visionary Partners:

Electric Pulp	First National Bank	First Dakota National Bank
Holiday Inn City Centre	Meierhenry Law	US Bank
	Wells Fargo

To unsubscribe from future Downtown Sioux Falls mailings, please click here.

-----

If true, this sounds a lot like an endorsement to me. If anyone has any other information, please let me know.

 

With apologies to Warren Zevon, Mayor Dave Munson must be thinking he needs to send lawyers, guns, and money, because it has hit the fan.

Today's Argus Leader continues to give Dave's failure to report a 2002 post election fundraiser legs, thus necessitating the above commodities.  The story is at: http://argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060125/NEWS/601250328/1001

The lawyer will be the City Attorney, Gary Colwill.  The money is well, the money Dave raised at his "second chance" party in 2002.  The guns?  Well, that's all the well-heeled people who want to keep him ensconced where he is for their beneift.

Dave, just fill out the forms and this will go away.  No, better yet, DON'T fill out the forms and keep this alive for the mayoral election in April.

Dave, don't be a hollaback guy! SHOW US THE MONEY!Bad Mayor.  Bad, bad Mayor Dave, the Sioux Falls City Council told Mayor Dave Munson last night, according to today's Argus Leader:

Councilors want money public Argus Leader, Jan. 24, 2006.  Seven of eight City Council members said Monday that Mayor Dave Munson should disclose how much money he raised during a private fund-raiser after the 2002 election. The amount of money and those who donated it is a mystery. The event occurred after Munson took office, but long before he was a declared candidate for the 2006 election.

Dave.  Do the right thing and report the 2002 "debt retirement"/second chance to get on Dave's good side event.  It's just one little amended form.  And then we'll know.  Simple.

With apologies to Abba, "Money, money, money, it's a rich mayoral candidate's world."Today's Argus Leader has a story about a fund raiser Mayor Dave Munson had after his 2002 victory--and didn't report.

The story: http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060122/NEWS/601220342/1001

The Munsonites proclaim they didn't have to report the contributions from the event, which was essentially a "second chance" for those who supported Dick Brown to get on Dave's good side with a little cash. 

So much for open government and open campaigns in Sioux Falls.

"Slime in the Ice Machine!" comes to Sioux Falls--sort of.For those of you who have never seen KTRK-TV (ABC)'s consumer reporter Marvin Zindler in Houston, you have missed one of TV news' greatest delights. Dressed in a white suite, white tie, dark sunglasses, and with a marvelous shock of white hair, Marvin (also of Best Little Whorehouse in Texas fame) does a weekly "Rat and Roach" report on Houston area restaurants.
The man, the myth, the legend, "Marvin Zindler, EYEWITNESS NEWS!"

He spares no details. You find out about spoiled food, dirty floors, and cockroaches. But the coup de grace IS his pronouncement of which restaurant had "Slime in the Ice Machine!", accompanied by school kids shouting the phrase and catchy music. When I attended the University of Houston for a year, I lived for his 6 p.m. Friday reports because while they were complete and utter camp, they still conveyed useful information.

While not quite screaming "Slime in the Ice Machine!," the Sioux Falls City Health Department is now posting the latest health inspection scores for local eateries, as well as detailed information about the report. It is a good step in providing useful information to consumers and citizens.  Here is the link: http://www.siouxfalls.org/health/scores.aspx

The 10 best restaurants?

Name	Street	Last Score
AMERICINN MOTEL	3508 S GATEWAY	100
BLACK DIAMOND CASINO	5113 W 41ST	100
BUMBLE BEANS COFFEE STOP	201 S KIWANIS	100
CARNAVAL BRAZILIAN GRILL	2401 S CAROLYN	100
CAROUSEL SKATE	2901 W 3RD	100
CASEY'S GENERAL STORE #2334	701 S SYCAMORE	100
CATFISH BAY	5500 N SHOW	100
CHEF JENI & COMPANY	4300 S BEDFORD	100
COFFEE SHOP	415 N DAKOTA	100
COLD STONE CREAMERY	5416 E ARROWHEAD	100

And good news. There were many more eateries with scores of 100.

The 10 worst restaurants?

Name	Street	Last Score
HIBACHI JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE	2520 S LOUISE	63
COUNTRY INN & SUITES	200 E 8TH	70
EL PARAISO	2401 E 10TH	70
LONG SHOTS SPORTS BAR & GRILL	330 N MAIN	72
SHALOM ETHIOPIAN COFFEE HOUSE	1701 E 10TH	72
GRAIN BIN RESTAURANT, INC	5015 N CLIFF	75
ROYAL PALACE INC .	3801 W 34TH	75
COMFORT INN NORTH	5100 N CLIFF	77
PERKINS	3400 S GATEWAY	78
COUNTRY MARKET RESTAURANT & BUFFET	5201 N GRANITE	79

For details, click here: http://opengovernment.squarespace.com/cogse-home/2006/1/6/score-one-for-openness-argus-obtains-zip-tower-environmental-results.html