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Pressure builds, but Gant won't go
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| Contributor | Hikikomori Blitzkrieg! |
| Last Edited | Hikikomori Blitzkrieg! Jul 11, 2012 03:48pm |
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| Category | News |
| Author | staff |
| Media | Newspaper - Sioux Falls Argus-Leader |
| News Date | Tuesday, July 10, 2012 06:50:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | A state senator is calling for the resignation or impeachment of Secretary of State Jason Gant, who has faced a steady drumbeat of criticism for being too politically involved.
Sen. Stan Adelstein, R-Rapid City, has filed an official complaint about Gant with Attorney General Marty Jackley, who is reviewing the issue and expects to produce a report within the next few weeks.
Adelstein hopes this investigation will produce pressure on Gant to resign, or possibly provide grounds to impeach him when the Legislature reconvenes in January.
“Gant has to leave,” Adelstein said. “My problem now becomes this: If it’s only going to be impeachment, it’ll be a terrible distraction to the legislative process. I’ve really got to see what I can do to make it more compelling for Gant to resign. I’m not sure how I’m going to do that.”
Gant dismissed Adelstein's charges and said he has no intent of going anywhere.
“The senator’s allegations are false and untrue. It’s unfortunate, but that’s what he’s chosen to do,” Gant said.
For the past several months, as the secretary of state’s office has been running the primary, processing campaign finance reports and preparing for the general election, Gant has been facing a steady chorus of questions about other issues.
The tech-savvy deputy who helped roll out his office’s new online tools, Pat Powers, was discovered to be operating a side business selling campaign merchandise to candidates. Gant called the business a distraction and asked Powers to close it. Last Friday, two months after he shut down the website, Powers resigned.
Democrats cried foul when Gant disqualified several of their candidates on technicalities, but allowed Republicans they considered to have had equal or greater offenses to stay on the ballot.
Gant insisted he has followed the law and treated all sides fairly. While Democrats ended up taking Gant to court to get put on the ballot, Gant said the court fight |
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