As I page through South Dakota Public Broadcasting's Legislative candidate videos, my usual underdog urge drives me to bring attention to the lesser among us. Specifically, I wondered which candidates are getting the least attention from their free two-minute pitches. Taking view counts as of midnight Sunday, September 30, here are the five Legislative candidates least interesting to the YouTube crowd:
1. John Willman, Democrat, District 34 House (21 views): Running as a "militant moderate," John Willman says he's a member of both the NRA and ACLU.
2. Rep. Marc Feinstein, Democrat, District 14 House (22 views): This incumbent says we need to put back the education cuts Governor Daugaard made in 2011 to prevent more teachers from heading across the border for better pay.
3. Steve Westra*, Republican, District 13 House (24 views): Westra quotes Reagan (grrr).
4. Tom Cool, Democrat, District 11 Senate (28 views): Cool advocates changing from one-party rule to balance in Pierre.
5. Tom Stotz, Republican, District 28 (28 views): This Republican chiropractor may be revealing his Christian Socialist leanings when he says, "...the brotherhood of man transcends the sovereignty of nations."
Stay tuned: I'm compiling a list of SDPB's most appealing Legislative eye candy so far. We'll see whether brains, beauty, or brawn can rise to the top!
Update 18:58 MDT: Since Democrats Susy Blake and Jesse Vavreck both dropped out of the District 13 race in August, Westra and his GOP colleague Mark Mickelson face no challengers on the November ballot. Thus, Cool and Stotz move up to third and fourth places, respectively (yay). Advancing to fifth place is Leslie Heineman, Republican District 8 House candidate!
Thanks Cory I enjoyed this
Cory - those that didn't participate in the SDPB candiates spot offer are actually the ones drawing the least attention :)
I woud like to also see a list of those who are absent from the SDPB site(some by choice, desiring limited exposure BTW). Yes, of course, I have an ulterior motive.
I'm working on that, Richard! But first: Sunday morning bike ride!
SDPB-TV has run a few of the videos already. I saw one from northeast SD..can't remember name, but the GOP candidate spent the whole two minutes praising the flag, supporting strong defense, etc. Nothing in his two minutes related at all to the issues faced by the South Dakota legislature...or any other state legislature for that matter.
I hope more than a few people watched MOYER & CO explain ALEC and the behind the scenes influence and a kind of lobbying that is not reported, but should be, and should also be illegal. The "Are you now, or have you ever been a member of ALEC?" should be a question all Democratic candidates ask of their GOP opponents.