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Mrs. Madville Times and I, along with our thus far well-behaved progeny, just returned from an appreciation dinner for former Democratic state legislator Gerry Lange, who served our district for 16 years before his defeat at the hands of the Republican money machine last November. The tribute speeches, offered after a hearty meal at the Hillside Resort on Lake Madison, offered an interesting contrast to some of the statements reported in MDL from the Lake County GOP's Lincoln Day dinner held last Friday in Madison [apologies -- MDL didn't publish the Lincoln Day story online, so you'll have to go to the library to check my information].
While Lt. Gov. Dennis Daugaard came to town last Friday to lament the lack of a 2/3 Republcan majority in the state Senate, Gerry Lange tonight expressed the need for checks and balances in government.
While Daugaard lauded rookie legislator Russ Olson as being good for the Republican Party, Lange and the guests who came to honor him spoke of the duty of a legislator to serve his district, his state, and his country, and to show compassion for all members of society.
While Olson noted (with pride?) the $30,000 his campaign spent to wrest the state House seat from Lange, Lake County Democratic Party secretary Trudi Nelson lauded Lange for the time and shoe leather he spent through nine elections.
The dominant theme in many speeches at tonight's dinner, though, was Lange's commitment to principle. Nearly every speaker (this writer included) noted that Lange has always spoken what is right, not what is popular. He did not test the political winds: he showed genuine political leadership, offering bold, even revolutionary ideas and working to persuade people of the correctness of those ideas, without concern about how many votes those ideas might win or lose him in the next election.
Among the guests gathered to honor Lange were District 8's Democratic legislators Rep. Dave Gassman and Sen. Dan Sutton; state Representatives Paul Dennert, Clarence Kooistra, and Jim Peterson; and representatives from the offices of Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin and Senator Tim Johnson.
Drinking Liberally Update (11/15/2024)
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2 days ago
Lange served many years and I disagree with your assumption that big Republican money forced him out of office. This District and South Dakota in general only allow politicians to serve a certain amount of time (note Andy Wiese, Tom Daschle, Jim Abdnor, Larry Pressler and many more). A combination of Gerry's age and tenure moved him out of office, not anyone's money or connections. That's just South Dakota politics as it has always been. Gerry didn't campaign like he used to this past year and that may have sent a signal to voters that he was ready to be done. I think he went out with dignity and respect of District voters. It was time for a new face, be it Republican or Democrat.
ReplyDeleteHi, anonymous!
ReplyDeletePart of me hopes your contention is true. I would like to believe that local politics is not going to become a giant money race that will price farmers, teachers, and other less-than-wealthy citizens out of even considering a run for the legislature. The results of last week's gym bond issue in Madison also seem to suggest it takes more than money and slick posters to win votes here. Let's hope that's the case.
I believe that Gerry Lange is a truly honest, caring, Christian person and politician. And this is from a voter who is Republican and didn't vote for him because I just didn't like his stands on some issues. However, I do stand by my first sentence as to his character.
ReplyDeleteI wish him well. Other than the fact that defeat is always hard, I think he really wanted to retire even a term earlier but felt he needed to try yet again to get his concerns addressed.
My better half considered running for the legislature a few years ago and we were amazed at how much money it would have taken to do so. We decided it just wasn't for us for a variety of reasons. If you want to decry money politics, think "Stan the Man." And even in his case it doesn't always work for himself or those he promotes.
Having chatted with Gerry quite a bit before and since the last election, both in person and online, I've never gotten the impression that he wanted to get out of politics and was running just because someone else wanted him to. He has that genuine fire in the belly, a true desire to serve the public and do some good.
ReplyDeleteIf Gerry really did want to retire but continued to run and serve for the sake of fighting a little longer to get his concerns addressed, that's all the more reason to commend him for his service to the state. All politicians should follow his example of selfless commitment to service, not selfish quest for power.
Gerry's a nice guy, I have no doubt. My dealings with him came mostly through my dad at the college. And my last run-in was at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Madville Times a few years ago if memory serves me.
ReplyDeleteI tend to think anonymous is on to something. South Dakotans tend to mix things up. I think we're more populist and less Republican than we're given credit for.