If you’re a Balloon Juice reader and you run for office, we’ll do a fundraiser for you. It’s the least we can do for you while you’re out their busting your ass to make the world a better place.
Reader Aaron Matson is running for State Treasurer of South Dakota. Here is what he has to say:
I am a 4th-generation South Dakotan, and except for a couple years of seminary, I have lived in South Dakota my whole life. Before joining the South Dakota Democratic Party in my current role as their Communications Director, I was a reporter at the Watertown Public Opinion, and a Lutheran pastor in the Watertown and Brookings area. I received a Ph.D. in Political Science with a focus on Public Administration from the University of South Dakota in December of 2017. Like Harry Truman, I believe government isn’t just about dollars and cents, but rather, “there must be life and hope in government.”
I am running for State Treasurer because I believe that the political establishment has forgotten the key point about public administration and public service – it is first and foremost, about the public. As State Treasurer, I will always remember I answer to the taxpayer first – not banks, not special interests, but the people of South Dakota.
Let’s raise some money for him.
Baud
Can’t wait for my fundraiser. Thanks, Doug.
RedDirtGirl
Go Aaron! In for $25. Asking for a raise next week. Here’s hoping I have more to give soon!
Mary G
Great, now I have “Badlands, whoa whoa whoa whoa, Badlands” on a loop in my brain. Even though there is no baby or dog picture, I threw in $5. Wish I had more to give, but go, Aaron! Do you not have a website?
Patricia Kayden
@Baud: Baud, you are too much!!
Good luck to Aaron. Threw a few coins into the pot.
Cermet
Agreed; we need to support one of our own
Aaron Matson
@Mary G: Thanks to you and everyone else! Here’s my website: http://www.matsonforsd.com
schrodingers_cat
@Aaron Matson: Good luck and don’t forget us when you become famous.
kindness
Good luck in November Aaron. South Dakota needs good people running things.
TenguPhule
No you won’t. Not for me. Not unless you’re completely nuts.
Mary G
If you’re not reading “women’s magazines,” you’re missing a lot of good political writing. Vogue profiles Tammy Duckworth:
The closing paragraph:In the meantime, there’s dinner to think about. It’s one of the ironies people tend to overlook about politicians. They have a staff of dozens helping to implement their policy visions, but at the end of the day, they still have to go home and make dinner. (Her husband could do it, but then, she says, they’d be eating tacos every night.) I watch Duckworth and two of her millennial staffers engage in a passionate discussion of . . . couscous. Does she prefer Israeli or regular? “Whatever tastes good, cooks in five minutes, and costs $3 for two boxes,” she answers. Pragmatic, economical, and hopeful. What more could you want in a politician?
trollhattan
@Mary G:
Isn’t that “Baudlands, whoa, whoa, whoa Baudlands”?
Ruckus
@Mary G:
Tammy is a bad ass for sure. And in her case that’s a good thing.
@Aaron Matson:
I like your style.
When I talk to people I remind them that politicians and civil servants work for us. We aren’t in line to tell them what to do but we do pay their salary. They are employees of all of us, and that includes each of them. You live here you pay taxes, they work for you. You live here and don’t have to pay taxes, they still work for you. You live here and owe back taxes, you ain’t shit. (That one is for people like old man Mercer, who owes 7 BILLION in back taxes. Which I guess actually does make him shit. )
Amir Khalid
@Aaron Matson:
Keep pushing till it’s understood, and these badlands start treating us good!
Amir Khalid, Balloon Juice Malaysian correspondent
gammyjill
Good luck, Aaron. I kicked in $100. Knock ‘Em dead.
H.E.Wolf
@Amir Khalid:
…and guitar-playin’ rockstar jackal.
Go Aaron!
(I too will have Bruuuuce singing “Badlands” in my head all night. Not that there’s any problem with that!)