Sioux Falls School Board President Kent Alberty is running on the Democratic ticket for the District 12 Senate seat. His opponent, incumbent Senator Mark Johnston, voted for House Bill 1234, Governor Daugaard's really bad education reform law. Kent, take your cues from Mike Knudson and Pam Merchant.
Meanwhile, the Sioux Falls School District blog observes the following disparity between state support for K-12 education and growth in the rest of state government:
The 2012 South Dakota Legislative Session again ended with education funding growing at a rate that significantly lags behind the growth in the rest of State government. The ongoing general fund state aid formula grew 2.3 percent, as did the total amount, including one-time funds, sent to schools on a per student basis. In contrast, the rest of the State general fund budget grew 7.2 percent. While the FY12 per student levels in the ongoing state aid formula remain below the FY08 level, the rest of the State general fund budget is at an all time high, over 3 percent above its previous mark ["Legislative Wrap-up," District Dialogue, 2012.03.12].
Read that again: The state general fund is at an all-time high, while K-12 is being asked to do its job while spending less than it did five years ago. Are you spending less now for groceries, electricity, and insurance than you did five years ago?
Run hard, Kent!
The schools will not be able to say that they do not have someone at the table anymore. A few teachers needed also.
Kent will run hard, will run to win, and I think he will be an excellent legislator. His common sense approach is needed in Pierre.
Quit whining and Cut Cut Cut
Yes, Grudz, cut cut cut: a lovely, simple slogan that absolves you of any critical thinking about the relative value and return on investment from government programs.
Johnston is my Senator and I will be proud to have his sign in my yard. While I had reasonably high expectations because he had been around the process, he exceeded them. While he probably doesn't get high marks from the Black helicopter crowd or wacky left, he has a style, demeanor, and work ethic to actually accomplish things that will improve people's lives.
If I were the Democrats and having the trouble they are getting candidates, I probably would have focused where they have a chance.
Keep that spin coming, Troy. Democrats should fight everywhere!
The "wacky left" has its eye on the vacancies on the federal bench, Mr. Jones; a little reminder to South Dakota's senior senator of that can't hurt.
What a blast it was reading through the earth hater diatribe over at the War Toilet among Hoffman, Nelson, and Jones.
Is Stace Nelson really the Chris Christie of the chemical toilet?
Education is obviously one of the most important issues in South Dakota. Both from a standpoint of funding and our shared need to have an educated workforce for the future.
So why wouldn't we want someone in Pierre who knew first hand the issues, what those budgets mean and who has made a personal investment in the difficult task of matching money to outcomes.
Kent has those attributes.
Don't get me wrong, I like Mark as a person and as a legislator. He isn't afraid of critical thinking (that's your cue Sibby) and reason. While he and I may disagree, at least he is smart enough to think for himself and not be driven by simple minded dogma and party platitudes.
Too bad they are in the same district. The both of them out think and out class the offerings we see in other districts.
It's just too bad that we can't have both of them in our legislature, but my vote would be for Kent and his knowledge of the issues facing our education system.
Too bad that one of them couldn't move and clear out the shallow idealogues in nearby districts.
Troy, your comment on "If I were the Democrats and having the trouble they are getting candidates, I probably would have focused where they have a chance."
Oh please do tell who those sitting representatives of your party reside!
I'm with our host, we should have candidates in every district!
As of now the Dems have Senate candidates in 13 of 35 districts. Republicans have 29 of 35.
In the House, Dems have 27 candidates for 70 seats. GOP has 63.
I think the filing deadline is Monday or Tuesday. You have a ways to go Jana. Good Luck.
If we Dems don't fill at least half of those remaining slots, we will have missed a great opportunity. Troy, I will authorize you to shout "Neener neener neener!" at me all week after Gant posts all certified candidates (usually done by Friday, right?).
Jana, on an educated workforce: while I was walking HB 1234 petitions yesterday, a man told me that we have too many educated people and not enough working people. He then signed my petition.
South Dakota doesn't really have a two party system.
In light of that fact, I would humbly suggest that Dems in the district surrounding the Bison-Lemmon metroplex and other similar areas not field a candidate. Instead, they should send money to Dems who have a chance to gain a seat.