When Dusty Johnson announced he was giving up six more years on the Public Utilities Commission to be Dennis Daugaard's chief of staf, initial reports said Johnson would take his oath at the inauguration, then step down so his new boss could appoint his replacement. I was mildly bothered by the prospect of a good public servant standing before the Capitol crowd and swearing an oath that everyone knew he would not fulfill.
It turns out Johnson also wanted to avoid such a minor spectacle. Johnson kept Saturday's inauguration classy by declining beforehand to take the PUC oath. Johnson told repoter Bob Mercer that Daugaard's initial statement that Johnson would take the oath and then step down was a miscommunication.
Chris Nelson was thus able to stand with his fellows Saturday and take the oath for the PUC seat Johnson vacated. Nelson will stand for election in 2012. No word on whether Nelson's mustache will join the campaign (although Daugaard's lieutenant governor makes clear that, in the Daugaard Administration, 'stache is where it's at!).
Update: Doh! Nelson's official picture on the PUC website shows no mustache! Rats!