Last updated on 2011.04.13
...and the kiss of death: a Madville Times endorsement!
The Displaced Plainsman draws my attention to the school board race in Yankton. They have four people duking it out for one seat—brave souls! I thought maybe they'd have to have a run-off, but South Dakota's 35% rule applies only to Governor, U.S. House, and U.S. Senate primaries. Mere plurality decides every other race.
I note with interest that, while Yankton's election is April 12, same day as Madison's, the Yankton Press & Dakotan has already published all four candidates' questionnaires: Jay Williams, Matthew Pietz, Rick Althoff, and Tim Kenney. Madison's paper has published just two candidate questionnaire profiles so far (and only in print, not online), and as of this weekend, KJAM has only posted three of the five candidates' video interviews. Perhaps Madison voters just don't need as much time as Yankton voters to get informed?
I also note that Yankton has at least three public fora for its school board candidates. here in Madison we do just one (don't forget, Tuesday night! Come ask questions!). Especially with five candidates, I would think Madison could use at least one more night of public conversation among the candidates and the voters.
Web kudos to fellow online campaigner Matthew Pietz, who joins me in setting up a website to inform his constituents. His website gets good Google juice: search "Yankton School Board" and his campaign website comes up fifth, after three YP&D articles and a KELO report. His Facebook campaign page comes up seventh; the Yankton School District doesn't get a link until #10. And where I just use good old Blogger for my campaign website, Pietz shows off, buys a domain, and runs Joomla.
Ah, but points off for part of Pietz's pitch. As one of three main reasons for wanting to serve on the board, Pietz says, "I want to be a young leader in our community." Don't say you want to be a leader: just be a leader. Lead the conversation, put ideas on the table, and people will naturally recognize your leadership.
The Madville Times endorsement goes to Jay Williams, for telling it like it is. While the other three candidates use the "Final thoughts?" portion of the YP&D quiz to make campaign pitches, Williams addresses the biggest problem K-12 education faces: greedy bastards!
We in South Dakota are hurting from the big money machine that has worked hard to use the government for its own benefit. This latest spending cut fiasco, that will cost South Dakota dearly, is evidence of how successful they have been. These cuts are unnecessary and hurtful. The cuts will hurt us all. The selfish attitude that seems to control the State legislature must change [Jay Williams, response to press questionnaire, Yankton Press & Dakotan, 2011.03.31].
Well said, Jay! Williams appears to understand the major local problems the school board can address, but he also recognizes the ability to use the bully pulpit to get people talking (and, we hope, working to solve in 2012!) the bigger political problem sandbagging the public education system in Yankton and across South Dakota.
Update 2011.04.13: No jinx here: Jay Williams wins the Yankton school board election!
Jay Williams has my vote even though I can't vote in his school district. His comments hit the real issue head on.
I enjoyed your article. I was checking out my web reports where some of my traffic was coming from and noticed it was your site. Although we have to agree to disagree on your endorsement I appreciate the Kudos you give me for using on-line media. I wonder why others do not take advantage of the cheap social media options available to them.
Thanks, Matt! I'm always glad to see candidates putting the Web to good use! I was hoping I could endorse two, but you guys only have the one seat available. Nonetheless, enjoy campaigning and talking to the voters!