Gassman, Olson Organize Committees

With the next legislative election a mere 16 months away --

-- whoa, horse! Does anyone else find it disgusting that so much of the news is already consumed with chatter about who's running in 2008? Sure, the increasing role -- or is that rule? -- of money in American politics pressures candidates to get their names and messages out early and often. Unfortunately, that means that 16 months before the general election and 6 months before the first primary or caucus, we have the media opining that John McCain is finished or that Dennis Kucinich doesn't stand a chance. If the Madville Times had its way, primaries and caucuses* would all happen the first week of June (like South Dakota's!), conventions would happen in August, and campaigns would start Labor Day.

Alas, the world is not so simple. So...

-- legislative candidates are making preparations for the 2008 election. Incumbent Representative David Gassman is the first District 8 candidate to file his "Statement of Organization," one of the new requirements of the Legislature's 2007 overhaul of South Dakota's campaign finance reporting laws. (See SDCL 12-27 for the nuts and bolts or sincerely smiling Secretary of State Chris Nelson for a complete explanation of the changes he helped promulgate.) Political committees of any sort are required to file the statement of organization within fifteen days of "receiving contributions or paying expenses in excess of five hundred dollars or otherwise meeting candidate qualifications" (Sec. Nelson, "Campaign Finance Disclosure Reporting Schedule"). Gassman's statement of organization, bearing his and treasurer Kay Hageman's signatures, reached the secretary's desk on June 22.

Gassman's fellow Representative Russell Olson is also laying the groundwork to throw his $31,770.88 hat in the ring again. Olson's statement of organization, signed by chair Darin Namken and treasurer Scott Delzer, received Secretary Nelson's official stamp just three days ago, on July 12. Speculation around town (and beyond) has been that the Republicans want Olson to run for the Senate; however, his statement of organization declares the full name of his committee to be "Olson for SD State House." This document may not commit a candidate to one office or another, but for now, it appears both of our incumbents are inclined to seek the same job next year.

If no one else jumps in, the candidates can save some money. But if any challengers join the fray (and they have until March 25, 2008, to file primary nominating petitions and June 3, Primary Day, to file as independent candidates -- see the ever-helpful Secretary Nelson's 2008 Election Calendar), we'll see how much money the Olson-Namken machine can generate and how well the Gassman-Hageman machine can compete.

*Grammar Note: As much fun as the Madville Times would have saying cauci as the plural of caucus, the proper plural is caucuses. No dictionary attests cauci as acceptable. Only words of Latin origin properly pluralize by changing -us to -i (e.g., radius > radii, genius > genii). Caucus is of uncertain origin: it might be from the Latin caucus for drinking vessel, but that form derives from the Greek kaûkos. Alternatively, our word may come from an Algonquin word or even a variation on caulker's.