By Doug Cole |Belle Fourche| Publisher’s Opinion
This opinion column was written with some reluctance to break a journalistic practice of staying neutral/silent in political campaigns and races.
I recently had a conversation with a friend, an Aberdeen lawyer who had lobbied for Homestake Mining Company during my time active in politics.
We talked of those days we worked together (1978-1993) and how current politics today are so much different in both in Pierre and in D.C. then back then.
The integrity of the process was always paramount in the workings of lawmaking. You worked in a spirit of communication and cooperation and if you had an idea that was good for people it didn’t matter what political party or where the idea came from you worked together to get it accomplished.
Unfortunately, those days are gone. Missing from the halls of our state capitol and seems fractured even further in the current Republican primary race for Governor, and any working together in DC seems almost a lost cause.
My experiences in politics started in 1976 when Ralph Nachtigal, my old mentor at the Platte Enterprise. He ran that weekly newspaper and was also a member of the SD State House of Representatives.
Black Hills State University was hosting a “Future of South Dakota” citizens legislature forum and Ralph was unable to attend and sent me as his “stand in”. My first exposure to the political was a ‘citizens legislature” met in Spearfish to organize and plan for what was needed for the “Future of South Dakota”.
As a married student at the University of South Dakota, who in addition worked full time for an Electrical contractor I was walking in the student and saw a Student Intern notice. You could get 12 credit hours, and they paid you. Said, “that’s for me!” and I was off to Pierre and an internship in then Governor Bill Janklow’s budget office.
Was hired at the end of that session as Executive Director of the state party and worked through the 1980 elections; then returned to the Feedlot cowboy job I had had before college and subsequently was elected to the legislature in 1982 and served 1983-1986 and then was employed as Executive Secretary of the SD Retail Liquor Dealers through 1992.
I don’t mean to boor you with this litany of political life, but just wish to show that I saw, knew, and worked with many legislators who served in Pierre and represented their respective legislative districts.
South Dakota has had one of the most successful forthright representative democracies in American Politics.
Many good, concerned individuals who are working for the people SD and not just a political faction of their liking. Yes, there were those that championed pet causes and had narrow views but usually unsuccessful in getting anything accomplished.
“Special Interests” meant you were working first for what was best for the people of the Legislative District you represented. The friends & neighbors at home who elected you. Fight for their needs and concerns and not yours alone.
This Governor’s race has magnified just how far afield things can get. The voting public has been shown reasons by all four candidates why you should vote against them, and if not, some political action committee will.
Short assessment of the players (not in any order):
- Sitting Governor who as Lt. Governor inherited the job when his boss took a job in DC. Tries to continue to do what he sees fit as best for the state and it’s citizens. With barrage of negative ads has taken the position to fight back. (Word of caution. It is difficult to pick up horse manure without getting some of it on your hands)
- A successful Aberdeen businessman who condemns “special interests” and career politicians. (Does that mean the voters who elect them?) If elected he will show up in Pierre with the same knowledge of state government as any freshman legislator does. If he thinks he has all the answers will soon find out how little he knows.
- A Congressman who after several years in Washington feels he can best direct the state. I am reminded of what Bo, a Dakota Scout anonymous satirical writer said when during the first Government shutdown the Congressman pledged to decline his congressional pay. “Take your pay Dusty just get back to DC and do your job!”
- A very conservative member of the legislature who believes everyone should follow his lead. God Bless the man but can he see beyond his views far enough to know what is in the best interest of the state and it’s citizens to do?
In 1980 a lobbyist from Huron and I were discussing the upcoming election and I asked him why he was voting for a particular candidate. He responded, “Young man whenever you vote in an election, vote for the SOB if elected will do the least amount of damage.” Hmmm?
