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Rep. Peterson’s Husband and Son Get Lobbying Jobs

Matching hair, matching smiles, matching ties—they're so happy!
Matching hair, matching smiles, matching ties—they’re so happy!

My Sharia-for-Jesus neighbors love Hobby Lobby (and actually, I do, too—did you see their discounts on canvases over the holidays?!). But how do they feel about Hubby Lobby?

Bill Peterson, former legislator, now husband of District 13 Republican Representative Sue Peterson, has landed a job with regional lobbying firm Fredrikson & Byron, which is expanding to South Dakota, surely to take advantage of South Dakota’s new Noem/McCaulley lobbyistocracy. So has their son Robert.

“We are pleased Bill and Robert have joined our team to expand our already strong government relations practice to South Dakota, said Kevin Goodno, chair of the firm’s Government Relations Group. “Their reputation, connections and experience make them strong and effective advocates for their clients in working with policy makers in South Dakota.”

“We are excited to join Fredrikson & Byron’s Government Relations Group,” comments Bill Peterson. “Fredrikson brings a solid reputation of working with business and nonprofit clients throughout the Upper Midwest. As South Dakota continues to grow and diversify its economy, the depth of experience that Fredrikson provides will enhance the government relations consulting work that we will do for our clients” [Fredrikson & Byron, press release, 2019.01.04].

Sometimes I get the feeling that when we talk about “diversifying our economy,” we’re just talking about finding more ways to keep GOP friends and family on the payroll. Carry on.

p.s.: No word yet on which of District 13 Rep. Kelly Sullivan‘s (D-13/Sioux Falls) family or friends are landing lobbyist jobs.

6 Comments

  1. mike from iowa 2019-01-07 13:11

    Is this a back door channel to influence peddling? No Russian red sparrows involved? Where’s the intrigue?

    Wasn’t Tom Daschle’s wife a lobbyist and didn’t wingnuts come unglued about it?

  2. Donald Pay 2019-01-07 16:33

    I’m not a fan of large law firms, based mainly out-of-state, cornering the lobbying market. One can criticize the South Dakota lobbyists and their small time efforts at corruption, but many are independent actors, and even the ones connected to law firms are South Dakota law firms. Yes, the one’s I consider evil are primarily connected to the Republican power structure, but that is somewhat understandable given the political regime. But in Wisconsin we have these large firms and they are much more evil than anything in South Dakota.

    Still, this firm seems to lobby for renewable energy businesses, at least they say that on their website. I hope that’s the direction the Peterson presence in Pierre will be going. I suspect they will be listing what firms or non-profits they are lobbying at the SOS website very soon.

  3. Kal Lis 2019-01-07 18:19

    I really want to comment on the substance here, but I keep getting distracted by the caption to the photo in this post,

    While there are tons of similarities, I have to say that the younger Peterson ties a better knot than his father.

  4. Porter Lansing 2019-01-07 18:52

    Really, Mr. Lis? I find the young Peterson’s full Windsor to be quite proper however it’s only made possible by a small neck. The half Windsor shows maturity and usually necessity, due to more meals under the belt. ツ

  5. grudznick 2019-01-07 18:54

    West River we wear a bolo, or better yet no tie at all.

  6. Porter Lansing 2019-01-07 19:14

    grudznick? No one knows grudznick’s age. It hasn’t yet been announced.
    However, the actor who portrays grudznick on Dakota Free Press and DWC (and writes all grudzie’s material) turns 61, today. Let’s all wish him a Happy Happy and thanks for creating the grudznick character, one of the most memorable and intriquing oddities of recent South Dakota folklore.
    ~ Archie Bunker was really beloved character actor Carroll O’Connor. Tony Soprano was really highly awarded thesbian James Gandolfini.
    Of course, some villians ARE real. The dislikeable Pat Powers really is Pat Powers. The despicable Neal Tapio is really Neal Tapio. But, the character grudznick is not the actor that portrays him. So, here’s to ‘ya, amigo and those unforgettable quotes of your’s. Thanks for the entertaiment.
    [Remember folks ~ Vote No On Everything & The Evil Weed Is Bad. Very bad!]

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