When I first read of Steve Kolbeck's decision to leave the Public Utilities Commission to become CenturyLink's South Dakota operations manager, my first thought was "revolving door." Kolbeck stepped away from a series of jobs in the telecom industry to serve on the PUC in 2006. Now, after five years of regulating and networking with industry honchos on the taxpayer dime, he's found a company eager to put his skills and connections back to profitable work.
My second thought was, economically, can we blame Kolbeck? A telecommunications company offers him a good executive position. The job aligns nicely with his private-sector skill set. He'd probably have to spend over $150,000 next year to keep his current job. Landing this job probably didn't cost more than a new suit and maybe a plane ticket to interview at corporate HQ in Louisiana.
Against that calculus, the only thing that might keep Kolbeck in his PUC seat is a real political fire in the belly... and I'm not sure I've ever sensed that from Kolbeck. Even if Kolbeck had such fire, the PUC isn't the greatest place to fan those ambitious flames (why do you think Dusty Johnson turned down our offer to let him spend another six years there?).
That calculation led me to my third thought: politically, there's no good news for Dems here. The only Democrat holding statewide office in South Dakota has Palined out, quitting public service for presumably preferable private profit. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, unelected by a slim plurality last year, could take a lobbying job, argue she was still advocating for South Dakota interests, and keep her political irons hot. John Thune did the same after his defeat in 2002. Kolbeck's mid-term resignation signals he's not interested in running for political office in South Dakota again.
Kolbeck's quitting may open the door for another utility-minded Dem to run in 2012... but with PUC Commissioner and Daugaard-consolation-appointee Chris Nelson to challenge, not to mention a whole Legislature full of nincompoops, we Dems suffer no lack of open doors. Kolbeck's departure actually narrows the door, since Dems now trade holding an incumbent seat for challenging an incumbent appointed by our Republican governor.
And unfortunately, Kolbeck reminds many young Dems that taking the open door to the private sector may be better for their bank account and their blood pressure than campaigning to be a Democratic public servant in Republican-nutty South Dakota.
It's hard to criticize a guy for taking a job that he'll be good at and that will be good for him and his family. But for those of you scoring at home, Kolbeck's resignation puts nothing in the plus column for South Dakota Democrats.
I don't begrudge someone leaving for a better job but I can't help but experience a strange smell of fish when someone that held a government position responsible for regulating an industry suddenly gets offered a primo position with an entity in the same industry even while still holding that elected position. Appearances often trump any reality...
As far as Dems losing their one and only statewide office, considering the sad state of the party here does it really matter at this point?
In a way Kolbeck stepping down was good for the D's because this is a throw back to 2010's cycle. Kolbeck saw the writing on the wall.
Now the D's have no where to go but up from here on out and - his resignation saves them money they'd need to spend defending his seat that they would most likely lose. Most money can now focus on Noem.
But that still spells retreat, Mike. Retreat never leaves me with a sweet taste in my mouth. I'd take an alternative view: a strong incumbent is in a better position to lend strength up and down the ticket than a placeholder acknowledging defeat and ceding focus to a single race.
i suppose.
Would kolbeck really had been an incumbent? His statewide name id would be single digits.
The 150 k is a little high but he would get his butt kicked at any price.
$150K is just what Dusty J. reported on his pre-general finance report. I'm assuming Kolbeck would have had to spend more than that to win, assuming the GOP would have brought the heat in hopes of sweeping up that last statewide office. Now Kolbeck makes that easier.
I agree, his name recognition is lower than Dusty's (all the more reason he'd have ot spend big to win, all the more sign that he wasn't hustling to build a political rep for himself to launch to other offices). Still, Kolbeck would have enjoyed the advantages of incumbency: experience in the office, better-informed answers in interviews and debates, built-in news coverage from PUC actions.
The R's were going to throw most of the money at defeating him.
PUC Kolbeck was a professional and a pleasure to work with. I realize his decision puts folks in a tough spot who used Dusty's dedication to serve South Dakotans in a higher responsability position as a bully pulpit; however, look at the environment of desperation & personal attacks that has evolved. Can we blame PUC Kolbeck for opting for a professional life where he can be simply dedicated to a job and his family? I do not. As a result of his sacrifice, Dusty is one of the main tetonic plates that carries the affairs of the state, PUC Kolbeck chose a private path & sacrifice to a similar higher calling. He goes with my personal thanks for his work for South Dakota, his professionalism in responding to my cumbersome inquiries, and my prayers for him and his family's continued success.
God bless, & God speed. Fair winds & following seas...
Dusty was a rare breed of person. He has a lot of nerdy gimmicks and because he looks so young he can get away with goofy campaign tactics a regular person could not.
Dusty is one of those guys that when you have the oppurtunity to hear him speak on stage can really wow an audience but for the average person who sees him hamming it up and shaking hands with folks at fairs thinks he's a goofy likable guy running for the PUC. Very few outside the party establishment see him as a potential Governor or Congressman (I disagree with them but that is the case). Dusty is electric. Kolbeck is low key and he barely defeated (a terrible candidate - though good guy) John Koskan in 2006 collecting less than 50% of the vote.
The energy companies all liked Kolbeck and would have strongly backed him for reelection. I don't think he'd have had a hard time raising money to run a strong PUC race but it would have been an uphill and stressful battle. Since he doesn't seem to have any further political ambitions I can't blame him for not taking on the stress of being the Dem with the target on his back. Maybe he'll run again for office someday just like we assume dusty will be doing in 2014?
Maybe Kolbeck will run again... but isn't resigning mid-term a kiss of death?
Kiss of Death, or sign he's planning a country-wide book tour.