[UPDATE: Cory wants to give credit to Scott Ehrishman for getting this issue rolling.]
Today the Rapid City Journal has a report on what Cory Heidelberger began covering on May 7:
State Sen. Stan Adelstein is calling for an investigation into South Dakota Secretary of State Jason Gant's office over an employee who until last month was operating a business that sells campaign materials.
In a letter written Sunday for Attorney General Marty Jackley, the Rapid City Republican said he wants Gant and staffer Pat Powers investigated for impropriety, conflict of interest and possible illegal activity.
Gant said Monday he recognized that Powers' business could be a distraction and asked him to shut it down in May, which Gant said has been done, though he did not specify when. However, the business apparently closed after Powers did business with a senate candidate whom Gant endorsed.
Powers, who earns $65,000 a year as a state employee according to a state database, operated Dakota Campaign Store before joining Gant's staff. Gant said the company primarily sells political mailers. The website bearing its name was not operating Monday.
Gant said he was aware Powers was running the company while on his staff from January 2011 through May, but it was then he said people began questioning the business, and he told Powers to shutter it.
"I believe it had the potential to be a distraction. That is why I wanted it stopped," he said Monday.
Adelstein said Powers would be the first to see campaign filings, giving him a competitive advantage. He questioned if Gant received money or discounted material from Powers' company and if Powers used state computers for business purposes.
“I am a senator, and I have a right to ask for an investigation," Adelstein said Monday, adding that the only evidence he has is circumstantial.
Gant said he had no involvement in Powers' business and received no benefits from it. He said political filings are posted online, so Powers had only information that was available to the public.
"I have one of the most transparent offices in the state of South Dakota," Gant said. The policy in his office is for all staffers to refer media inquiries to him.
Gant's endorsement of liberal SDGOP Establishment member Val Rausch adds another twist:
In late May, Gant endorsed state Rep. Val Rausch in what turned out to be a losing bid for the state Senate, a move Adelstein said was inappropriate. Adelstein asked the attorney general to investigate whether campaign material used in that primary was purchased from the Dakota Campaign Store.
Rausch confirmed Monday that he bought mailers from Dakota Campaign Store in 2010 and for the June 5, 2012, primary election while Powers worked for Gant.
Rausch said all of his business dealings with Powers took place at Powers' home, not in Gant's office. He said it would be up to the attorney general to decide if there was a problem with Powers' business.
If South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley chooses not to launch an investigation, Adelstein said he would introduce a bill in the upcoming legislative session demanding one.
Perhaps there should be another investigation into the Governor's office use of a disconnected phone number to provide polling data to his SDGOP Establishment legislators during the last primary.
But what is really sad is how the media uses the action of these liberal power hungry Establishment Republicans to tarnish the liberal label:
Before he accepted a job in Gant's office, Powers had a conservative blog called South Dakota War College.
SDWC is a liberal SDGOP Establishment blog. Calling it conservative is the typical deceptive propaganda we hear out of these RINOs. And when true conservative Republicans are mentioned, all too often, we are labeled as "The Tea Party" in an effort to marginalize true conservatives who are standing up to the liberal big government establishments of both political parties. And then when the liberal Republicans use the same big government tactics that liberal Democrats use we get this:
“This is what happens when you have absolute partisans working in an elections office," Nesselhuf said.
Does Nesslhuf mean to say that if he won the race in 2010, the Secretary's office would not be partisan? BS!!
UPDATE: Now from Keloland:
Powers formerly ran a conservative blog.
As I posted earlier, Keloland turned a conservative controversy into a Tea Party controversy. Perhaps they will return the favor and turn this so-called conservative controversy into a "liberal SDGOP big government controversy".
Don't forget to credit Scott Ehrisman for getting the ball rolling: http://www.southdacola.com/blog/2012/05/why-is-pat-powers-still-operating-a-private-political-consulting-business-while-working-for-the-sos/
Posted by: caheidelberger | June 19, 2012 at 12:44 PM
Mr. Sibby, why would the establishment devour both your friends, Ms. Hubble and Mr. Powers, in the same swoop? That, sir, is where the conundrum lies, and the answer is probably in the GOP leadership.
Posted by: grudznick | June 23, 2012 at 08:32 PM