Jul 22
Skjonsberg donates to SHS campaign
By Denise Ross
The second-quarter campaign finance reports have a few goodies in them. Here’s one that really shouldn’t wait. Oh, the sweet irony of it all.
Former chief of staff to Republican Gov. Mike Rounds, Rob Skjonsberg, has donated $850 to the campaign of Democratic incumbent Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin.
Click here to see the FEC report. (Names aren’t listed in alphabetical order. Scroll down about a third of the way to find this entry.)
South Dakota’s chattering class will recall the kerfuffle caused when Rounds replaced Skjonsberg with Neal Fulton, who had been known to consort with the Herseth Sandlin campaign - most notably as treasurer. The partisan equivalent of high treason.
Also recall the near open warfare that erupted between Rounds and Skjonsberg when Rounds insisted that the state impose a new (read “higher”) tax framework on higher blend ethanol pumps. Skjonsberg had gone on to the employ of an ethanol giant, and he did not appreciate his former boss’s efforts.
So, does this mean that Skjonsberg is turning Dem? Or does it mean that he’s simply joining the long list of other POET officials who’ve ponied up cash for SHS?
2 Comments so far
Leave a Reply
I think the latter. POET knows where its bread is buttered, and Skjonsberg is there gov’t affairs guy. He needs to be in with both sides - he can’t be a GOP partisan anymore.
Gatsby has in right. Rob needs to make sure he keeps his relationships with all our officials. Plus, I’m not sure it’s hard for him to NOT support Joel. Had it been another Republican, Rob would have likely been in deep.
OK, Anonnnnnnn, I’ve got to ask. Why would Joel Dykstra be candidata non grata to Skjonsberg - or other Republicans? What’s the transgression(s)? -Denise