The latest Madville Times poll finds perfectly predictable results for the Madison City Commission race. I asked "Who should be the next two Madison City Commissioners?" 79 of you dear readers clicked as follows:
- Dick Ericsson: 66%, 52 Votes
- Scott Delzer: 57%, 45 Votes
- Roger Husman: 44%, 35 Votes
Incumbent Dick Ericsson, the longer-standing member of Madison's power elite, draws the most votes. Incumbent Scott Delzer of Madison's nouveau riche comes in second. Roger Husman, who hasn't made any splash I've heard in the local press, comes in third.
Husman has joined Delzer on KJAM's video channel (Ericsson's interview isn't up as of this posting), but alas! it's not really a splash:
Husman shows (and acknowledges) one big advantage of incumbency: when you've served a term on the commission, you're more ready to answer questions. Scott Delzer in his KJAM interview had a little more to say about specific problems and steps he'd take. Husman doesn't sound as ready to answer the policy questions posed.
Husman does at least suggest an option for Madison's electric industry, hooking up to Sioux Valley in hopes of easing rate increases. (Whether that would actually be cheaper or even desirbale for Sioux Valley is an open question.) Snow removal is a gripe that won't go away as long as we keep having hard winters, but plow operators can only go so fast. My question would be what specifically we need to do differently (snow gates?).
On city revenue, Husman loses Governor Daugaard's support but acknowledges the great hypocrisy of South Dakota "self-reliance": when we really want something done, we have to hope for federal handouts. That's painfully true here in Madison, but the local audience probably doesn't want to be reminded of its reliance on big government.
The city election happens same day as the school board vote, April 12. And don't forget: This Monday, March 28, is the voting registration deadline! If you're not registered, get down to the courthouse or City Hall and get 'r done! Then go vote!