Stace Nelson (R-Fulton) will win another term as new District 19 Representative for the same reason that Frank Kloucek (D-Scotland) won old-District 19's vote so often and stands a good chance of carpooling with Nelson next January.
No, not kolaches. Nelson will win by placing constituent responsiveness over partisan politicking. Contrary to all that is good and holy to Big-Biz, Big-Ag Republicans, Nelson continues to be a key player in Hanson County residents' fight to stop a 7,000-head dairy from setting up stinky shop in their neighborhood.
See all those folks in blue t-shirts in the photo at left? That's about a hundred irate Hanson County citizens who attended a court hearing Tuesday in Alexandria to demonstrate their opposition to the mega-dairy proposed by Brookings dairy developer Michael Crinion. Judge Tim Bjorkman held the hearing to determine whether he should allow Hanson County to continue to violate its own conditional use permit rules and let Crinion indefinitely delay his project without having to re-apply for his permit. (Judge Bjorkman issued no ruling Tuesday.)
It takes a little organizing to get that many people in a sparse rural county to show up for court. It takes a little more organizing to get most of them into blue t-shirts to send an immediate and strong visual message.
Nelson is a key part of that organizing:
Concerned Citizens leader Rob Bender, of Fulton, and state Rep. Stace Nelson, R-Fulton, sat next to [attornet R. Shawn] Tornow, who is also a Republican state representative, during the hearing. Nelson and Bender, along with nearly everyone in the courtroom, were dressed in blue T-shirts labeling them as a Concerned Citizen. The group has been running advertisements in The Daily Republic offering the T-shirts for sale for $10.
"It was a way to get the community together and show our support," Nelson said. He designed the shirts himself and said more than 300 have been sold [Chris Mueller, "Hanson Dairy Permits Hang in Balance," Mitchell Daily Republic, 2012.08.01].
Careful, Stace: keep this up, and someone's going to call you a community organizer.
Nelson has been helping residents make their case against this mega-dairy since last year, when he helped locals challenge the dairy's water permit before the state Water management board. In the process, he raked Agriculture Secretary Walt Bones over the coals for ignorance and something close to perjury. His justifiably harsh interrogation of Secretary Bones brought down on him heavy retribution from his fellow GOP legislators, but Nelson is enjoying a series of last laughs. In April, the court upheld Nelson's arguments and threw out the dairy's water permit. In June, he came out on top of a four-man primary for District 19 House, beating long-time legislator and GOP good soldier Jim Putnam.
All of the power and money on this issue is on the side of Crinion's dairy. Yet Nelson says nuts to pragmatism and fights for his neighbors:
"I just hope that the citizens of the county can get closure on this matter," Nelson said Tuesday after the hearing. "It's been a matter of concern and worry for the past five years" [Beth Wischmeyer, "Judge Set to Decide on Disputed Dairy," that Sioux Falls paper, 2012.08.01].
With honest service like that, District 19 voters are bound to send Nelson back to Pierre to continue to fight for them on other fronts. The only excitement in District 19 will be watching Alan Fenner trouncing Republican-of-opportunity Kyle Schoenfish.
Go STACE!
No kidding. If Nelson doesn't do goofy stuff, doesn't suck in to the power clic in Pierre, doesn't take himself too seriously and remains a fighter for his constituency and people who need a voice, he could end up being a serious candidate for Governor -- even in the Republican Party where the establishment types hand-pick their candidates. This could get exciting, especially for us Democrats who have given up on ever electing a Democrat as Governor. Go Stace!!!
Good job Stace and residents of Hanson county!!
Thanks Cory for the article on Stace Nelson. A great one to have in Pierre. He is for what is right!! He puts the citizens first! And he is a stand-up kind of man.
The t-shirts are a nice touch. Got pix of one up close, Cory?
@Bill https://twitter.com/RepStaceNelson/status/231128681618231296/photo/1
Thank you Mr. "H" for highlighting the struggle folks have had.
Dougal, why don't you guys recruit Stace to run for Governor as a Democrat?
If you lined up Stace with the Democrats who ran for Governor since the first Janklow go-round, he wouldn't fit in. He's got cajones like Janklow did, except Bill was all about Bill. Stace seems to be outwardly focused in his priorities with a honey badger attitude to slackers who slink around the halls in Pierre.
The War College will surely come down hard on Stace for his siding with the concerns of small business farmers in the face of a big business.
Stace, I hope you wear that shirt and bring the rest of those proud to wear the blue shirts with you to Pierre and drive home the point that attracting big business that hurts locals just isn't worth it.
See Stace, being a community organizer isn't a bad thing...just ask your neighbors.
Democrat-republican, all I want is decency. Our democrat rep. who is a nice man, is just as in for agribiz as any republican. In fact it is the conservatives who are willing to take on the powers that be.
I have no doubt Stace has had many sleepless nights getting through the last two legislatures.
Several years ago I was told by a close friend living in Pierre that I should watch my step around the capitol as they take you down and break you up if you get in the way.
Well, Stace has run the gauntlet of the press, the speaker, the highway patrol and the gerrymandering of his district.
Thanks Stace, I know it hasn't been easy!
Young Mr. Nelson would make a good majority leader of the next legislature.
Do you have to be a resident of Hanson county to buy a t-shirt?
Good job, Stace. Make mine the same size yours is. I like 'em big. Solidarity.
Bill! I just bought you a shirt in honor of a common friend's birthday. Size M, of course.
http://www.cafepress.com/mf/58161818/i-pooped-today-shirt_tshirt?cmp=knc-pla-561448707&utm_term=561448707&utm_medium=cpc&utm_cp_signal=18&pid=3607873&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=sem_product_feed
It's more than refreshing to see someone maintain their integrity in the political arena. He gets beat up for it. Some of his positions are straight (too straight!) out of the 1950s but he's often right case by case, and that's important.
@Steve I have no such political ambitions. I ran for re-election because the folks I love asked me to go back for them. The day they see fit to retire me, I will not shed a tear for not having to go back to Pierre. It is good to have two strong political parties and I am proud to represent the Right. I may not agree with some of my friends on the Left on all the issues; however, that does not mean I don't respect them. I do have a problem with some of those that have high jacked the Right though. Regardless, I wont be surrendering.
@Dougal There might have been a time when I would have fit in with giants like "Red" Allen and during the time the party was more in line with my life long conservative Democrat & favorite uncle, Big George Herrold from Lake Andes ("Red" Allen's brother-in-law); however, your modern day observation is correct.
@Jana We are not so far apart on some things as these brief online exchanges would make one believe. I am a simple public servant who loves the people I am blessed to serve, nothing more, nothing less.
@Les Sadly, folks were truly done a disservice as most folks know I do need my beauty rest!
The media must have misreported, and my old eyes must have failed me, as I have emails from the governor's office that says the misuse of the SD Highway Patrol never occurred. I guess it could be a serious mess if someone was to have instructed my father's current brethern of the SD Highway Patrol to follow a sitting SD Legislator, & retired federal agent, when no credible reports of even alleged criminal wrongdoing were documented as being reported. It was my honor to be of service again, Les.
Nice, grudz. Just wait 'till you see what it looks like when I get done with it and mail it back to you.
I would vote for Stace if I could.
@Stace...you are right, we both agree on sticking up for others, calling out the abuse of power, especially when that power is absolute...and I will always appreciate your bringing awareness to the tragedy that is rape and sexual harassment in the ranks of our military. Thank you!
Nelson for Governor... on the Dem ticket? I know Stace says no way... but maybe there's a Dem-Mugwump coalition we could forge to upset the apple cart in 2014.
Don't forget, the Dem-gub nominee in 2010 was willing to pick a Republican as his running mate.
Stace could play spoiler if he ran as an independent against Daugaard in '14 or Noem in '14.
I'd like to see Stace run Noem's hyporitical act right out of congress. Stace would be an amazing congressman.
Democrats need to look at what Stacy is doing and realize that most voters don't respect waffling wimps even if they may vote for them with no enthusiasm.
Stacy might want to take a shot at the SD Environmental Agency as a nearly totally meaningless sham because they don't have the tools to measure air pollution from big hog farms and dairies. Other states make at least some attempt to adequately fund their environmental protection agencies.
Bill, if you're suggesting what I think you're suggesting, that would be illegal if the post office is still around and mailing things next week. Unless you put it in a jar or something.
But I'd rather wear it away from the table, probably just as a stinky headband because there's no way I could get your size M over my ginormous head.
You have quite the imagination, grudz. I was sort of counting on that actually.
Damn. I think we can put this together right now. Stace for Governor in 2014.
Right on, Doug. In this regard, Nelson resembles Janklow: make your stand, do your thing, and while you'll torque some people off, you get other people really fired up about backing you.
Dougal, here's the trick: can we forge a coalition ticket, like a Nelson-Kloucek team, to demonstrate that we're above partisan lines and focused solely on busting up the power structure in Pierre?
Tornow is assisting them? Oh boy. I suggest they pursue other legal advice. This clown invented government corruption.
If Stace Nelson runs for governor, I personally will run against him. Then SD would have the two worst possible choices for governor imaginable. LOL
Nelson vs. Fleming: oh, the blogging potential! The entertainment value! People might actually learn something! Do it!
Yes, Cory, they would learn that neither Stace nor I have any qualifications for the job whatsoever.
what are the qualifications for governor ?
In too many cases, you're qualified if you can write your name and have the filing fee.
Please run, Stacey.
Flattered folks, and r-e-a-l tempted with Bill throwing in the chance at a great knock down drag out fight with my old blog buddy; however, I lack the key "qualification" of political aspiration.
Besides, I have no influence and I am ineffective. Pretty sure that was what the Germans also said about the Marines before that fateful June night at Belleau Wood France 1918..
Good call, Mr. Nelson. Walk softly, brother.