Chris Frick is from Yankton, South Dakota and has a bachelor’s degree in teaching from the University of Sioux Falls. He worked at a family-owned livestock order buying business before starting his own livestock market in 1994. Frick went on to work in sales for a wholesale propane company. He is now part owner of a HVAC company. A photo of Frick can be found here.
“I would like to thank Governor Noem for having faith in me to do the right things for South Dakota,” said Chris Frick. “It is an honor to serve the hardworking people of this great state on the Transportation Commission” [Office of the Governor, press release, 2023.06.14].
Bryon Noem, Kristi Noem, Kennedy Frick, Tanner Frick, Jodie Frick, and now Transportation Commission member Chris Frick at Kennedy and Tanner’s wedding in Sedona, Arizona, 2022.10.07. Photo from Tanner Frick, FB banner pic, posted 2023.05.12.
But hey, South Dakota is just one big small town. Everybody knows everybody, so there’s no way to avoid interconnections like this, right?
Can you just start a counter on the top of your page counting down the days til Noem has to stop being our Governor?
P. Aitch
Never to cry BEFORE you’re hurt, “Good luck, Mr. Chris Frick”. ~ PS … Isn’t Sedona beautiful?
Bonnie B Fairbank
Holy crapulence – wtf is Kristi wearing? She looks like a tacky lampshade in a tawdry brothel. More mutton dressed as lamb.
e platypus onion
Yer guv looks so emaciated she needs to hold on to her daughter to keep from falling down. That is unhealthy. Turn her sideways and stick out her tongue, she’d look like a zipper..
Loren
I’m sure Chris is a very nice person and he has an interesting bio, but I don’t see an excessive amount of experience in “transportation.” Any more relatives that need a little extra income?
Bob Newland
After seeing the photo, I headed down to say something. I had look twice at Bonnie’s comment to be sure I hadn’t written it.
I found no reference to Frickin’ Tanner in the clip Cory linked. I admit I skipped through it, though. Maybe someone will spare me the torture by giving me a time placement within it?
Algebra
Loren, anybody involved in livestock sales has to know a LOT about transportation.
Anybody who has travelled with a cat knows it’s complicated, just imagine a truck full of animals who need to arrive alive.
Anybody involved in an HVAC company knows a lot about supply chain issues too. Frick has been on the front lines of transportation issues, so deal with it.
Algebra
CAH, not sure Noem had to browbeat her son in law into proposing, more likely she had to encourage him to keep trying. Kennedy’s version of events was that he courted her for years before she said yes.
Dicta
I know Chris. I wouldn’t call him a friend, but I’ve had numerous conversations with him. I’ve found him to be bright, capable, and kind. What’s upsetting is the optics here. Both he and the governor had to know this would raise eyebrows. The governor doesn’t care because, as we’ve seen numerous times before, any media attention is fine by her as it contributes to her national profile. Chris is very qualified for this job and a good man, but he probably still shouldn’t have taken the position. Nevertheless, I wish him success.
Dana P
What does owning an HVAC company have to do with qualifications for the Transportation Commission?
The nepotism runs strong with this governor. Not much of a defense, but ‘we’ have accepted that nepotism in South Dakota. Daugaard, Rounds, et al…..
Until ‘we’ stand up and say enough, then it will continue. My last job, nepotism was a flat out no-no. Period. Why do we tolerate it in our politics?
e platypus onion
Vacs transport dirt from one locale to another, so I guess that qualifies him.
DaveFN
A bachelor’s degree in teaching?
Was this a degree in special education, elementary education, K-12 education? The U of Sioux Falls offers all these and a master’s degree “in teaching” per se, but I find no bachelor’s degree specifically ” in teaching. “
Pat
This BS just never ends! Really? No other more qualified candidates to pick from (?) so she chose the nepotism route to put another family insider on the state payroll. This embarrassment just never ends with her dictatorship.
Jet Johnson
Generally, I’m an outspoken critic of GKN. While this is obviously nepotism, it isn’t particularly bothersome to me. I mean, maybe board members get paid some type of travel expenses and per diem but otherwise, the commissioners make like $75-150 a month depending on if the commission meets once or twice a month it looks like. Unless there’s something I am missing, this isn’t exactly some type of unjust enrichment.
Bonnie B Fairbank
The Frick naifs (apparently) did not have the pride, intelligence, or discernment to prevent the horrifying misalliance with the Noem hyena cackle, but surely, eight months after the God-blessed nuptials of Kennedy and Tanner, Chris should have been so mortified by the connection he’d never accept a position from The Snow Queen. Eeeeew, ick.
grudznick
Ms. Fairbank, is it naif or knave? Asking for a friend who wants to know.
Nepotism is a feature and not a bug in Republican South Dakota politics. Recall Tony Venhuizen’s mother in law Linda Daugaard was instrumental in moving Native kids into white foster homes!
Brian Rounds is the son of former Gov. Mike Rounds.
The junior Rounds’ plan accepted by the South Dakota’s Public Utilities Commission, where he is an analyst, forcing NorthWestern Energy to buy power from a local wind farm, where the elder Rounds sits on the board, did not immediately feel like a conflict of interest to Argus Leader reporter, David Montgomery in response to a question submitted at today’s 100 Eyes webcast.
Steve Rounds enjoys an unusual 30-year lease on land managed by a state agency.
Jamie Rounds was appointed to lead economic development by his brother, former governor Mike Rounds, one of many moves that the Sioux Falls Argus Leader called, “ethically confused.”
I attended SDSU with Mike Rounds’ brother-in-law, Randy Brich, in fact: we have shared bongs on more occasions than can be recalled.
Lar demonstrates how small the world is with his examples. Although I do not find the lease which one of the various Brothers Rounds is alleged to hold in the deep state archives, or the Conservatives with Common Sense Computer System which has been unaffected by the nasty boys trying to crash the world. The CCSCS is bullet proof, I am told.
Arlo Blundt
I have no doubt that Mr. Frick is as qualified as many others who have served on the Transportation Board. That is not the cloying issue with this important appointment. Did the Governor conduct an extensive state wide search and then select Mr. Frick? Who were other South Dakotans considered? Is the problem that she just does not know many South Dakotans? Nepotism among South Dakota Republicans has been around a long, long time. Why did the Governor choose to continue this shameless Republican tradition? Does she believe there is no difference between the people of South Dakota and the interests of the Noem family???
grudznick
Do you believe the Governor herownself actually picks these fellows to be placed on the board? That seems like she’s really into the details of day to day management of the government. And still having time to do the big picture things like go talk about how the BLM is a bunch of left-wing-radical environmentalists who are out to wreck our way of life.
A cynical observer might suspect Cory created grud to drive traffic to his blog just like Mr. Powers does.
Arlo Blundt
Grudz-While packing her bag for another extended state plane trip to pick up a hefty honorarium in Maryland, the Governor turned to her Chief of Staff and said,”Kennedy’s Father in Law is interested in serving either on the Transportation or Livestock Board. See what you can do…that would make me feel good.” Took 10 seconds.
Donald Pay
Kennedy Frick, Noem’s daughter, has taken a job with TRI Industries. It’s a small woman-owned business that doesn’t seem to make anything, but seems to distribute various products like pipes and traffic signs that are needed along highways. One of their owners used to work with Vulcan, Inc., an Alabama-based company. I suspect TRI Industries is a marketing route that Vulcan can use to sell traffic signs and similar products through a woman-owned business, thus taking advantage of minority contracting.
At any rate, it seems that having a Dad-In-Law on the Transportation Commission might give Ms. Frick a leg up on selling, bidding, etc.
Bonnie B Fairbank
grudz: get a dictionary.
grudznick
As usual, Ms. Fairbank, you missed the nuance. You may go back to dancing with the local gents at Frankie’s Place for beers, there’s nothing for you to see here.
leslie
My Bad Actors Report Revisit, this week:
…in addn to Kristi the nepotist, as Cory reports;
1. John Thune has cooled his jets, likely since the extraordinarily negative, fascist cast the GOP is being painted with for its idiotic and greedy leadership (Trump, McConnell, McCarthy, “Freedom” Caucus) in the national news (“Fox ain’t news” (c) 6.17.23–me.)
This week all Thune can spout in hate and defiance of Democratic leadership is:
Jun 14
Republicans will continue to use the Congressional Review Act to push back against overreaching, burdensome regulations from the Biden administration.
Last week there were a dozen vicious allegations against the Dems from Thune twitter.
2. Rounds however is still an idiot* this week too:
“lock away public lands for lease by environmental extremists”
Others are begging him to clean it up too:
“Even Jordan and Greene have turned their attention to lying about Biden, instead of attacking our institutions. Please fight for sanity. The bar is in the dirt, so every inch it raises matters.”@ SOUTH DAKOTANS FOR POLITICAL *INTEGRITY* (that might be too big a word for insurance grifter Mike, though!)
See my BARR (c) report again next week. Maybe Dusty will step in it again too.
*note: (“I receive classified briefings multiple times per week. It is unacceptable that sensitive information, which could undermine our national strategy and security, has been treated so carelessly by current and former members of the executive branch. At the same time, I am concerned about the Department of Justice’s decision to pursue this case against the former president… unprecedented action of indicting in federal court a former president, who is also a current candidate for president…. https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-statement-on-indictment-of-former-president-in-federal-court-2)
Sen Rounds is an idiot if he does not realize EVERYTHING Trump did was “unprecedented” and he is evading criminal (and civil) accountability as “a current candidate for president”.
Come on, man!
e platypus onion
OT useless trivia… former Wheel of Fortune host, Sajak, is a long time board member of Hillsdale Collkege.
Can you just start a counter on the top of your page counting down the days til Noem has to stop being our Governor?
Never to cry BEFORE you’re hurt, “Good luck, Mr. Chris Frick”. ~ PS … Isn’t Sedona beautiful?
Holy crapulence – wtf is Kristi wearing? She looks like a tacky lampshade in a tawdry brothel. More mutton dressed as lamb.
Yer guv looks so emaciated she needs to hold on to her daughter to keep from falling down. That is unhealthy. Turn her sideways and stick out her tongue, she’d look like a zipper..
I’m sure Chris is a very nice person and he has an interesting bio, but I don’t see an excessive amount of experience in “transportation.” Any more relatives that need a little extra income?
After seeing the photo, I headed down to say something. I had look twice at Bonnie’s comment to be sure I hadn’t written it.
I found no reference to Frickin’ Tanner in the clip Cory linked. I admit I skipped through it, though. Maybe someone will spare me the torture by giving me a time placement within it?
Loren, anybody involved in livestock sales has to know a LOT about transportation.
Anybody who has travelled with a cat knows it’s complicated, just imagine a truck full of animals who need to arrive alive.
Anybody involved in an HVAC company knows a lot about supply chain issues too. Frick has been on the front lines of transportation issues, so deal with it.
CAH, not sure Noem had to browbeat her son in law into proposing, more likely she had to encourage him to keep trying. Kennedy’s version of events was that he courted her for years before she said yes.
I know Chris. I wouldn’t call him a friend, but I’ve had numerous conversations with him. I’ve found him to be bright, capable, and kind. What’s upsetting is the optics here. Both he and the governor had to know this would raise eyebrows. The governor doesn’t care because, as we’ve seen numerous times before, any media attention is fine by her as it contributes to her national profile. Chris is very qualified for this job and a good man, but he probably still shouldn’t have taken the position. Nevertheless, I wish him success.
What does owning an HVAC company have to do with qualifications for the Transportation Commission?
The nepotism runs strong with this governor. Not much of a defense, but ‘we’ have accepted that nepotism in South Dakota. Daugaard, Rounds, et al…..
Until ‘we’ stand up and say enough, then it will continue. My last job, nepotism was a flat out no-no. Period. Why do we tolerate it in our politics?
Vacs transport dirt from one locale to another, so I guess that qualifies him.
A bachelor’s degree in teaching?
Was this a degree in special education, elementary education, K-12 education? The U of Sioux Falls offers all these and a master’s degree “in teaching” per se, but I find no bachelor’s degree specifically ” in teaching. “
This BS just never ends! Really? No other more qualified candidates to pick from (?) so she chose the nepotism route to put another family insider on the state payroll. This embarrassment just never ends with her dictatorship.
Generally, I’m an outspoken critic of GKN. While this is obviously nepotism, it isn’t particularly bothersome to me. I mean, maybe board members get paid some type of travel expenses and per diem but otherwise, the commissioners make like $75-150 a month depending on if the commission meets once or twice a month it looks like. Unless there’s something I am missing, this isn’t exactly some type of unjust enrichment.
The Frick naifs (apparently) did not have the pride, intelligence, or discernment to prevent the horrifying misalliance with the Noem hyena cackle, but surely, eight months after the God-blessed nuptials of Kennedy and Tanner, Chris should have been so mortified by the connection he’d never accept a position from The Snow Queen. Eeeeew, ick.
Ms. Fairbank, is it naif or knave? Asking for a friend who wants to know.
Nepotism is a feature and not a bug in Republican South Dakota politics. Recall Tony Venhuizen’s mother in law Linda Daugaard was instrumental in moving Native kids into white foster homes!
Brian Rounds is the son of former Gov. Mike Rounds.
The junior Rounds’ plan accepted by the South Dakota’s Public Utilities Commission, where he is an analyst, forcing NorthWestern Energy to buy power from a local wind farm, where the elder Rounds sits on the board, did not immediately feel like a conflict of interest to Argus Leader reporter, David Montgomery in response to a question submitted at today’s 100 Eyes webcast.
Steve Rounds enjoys an unusual 30-year lease on land managed by a state agency.
Jamie Rounds was appointed to lead economic development by his brother, former governor Mike Rounds, one of many moves that the Sioux Falls Argus Leader called, “ethically confused.”
I attended SDSU with Mike Rounds’ brother-in-law, Randy Brich, in fact: we have shared bongs on more occasions than can be recalled.
Above post is from 2016.
Lar demonstrates how small the world is with his examples. Although I do not find the lease which one of the various Brothers Rounds is alleged to hold in the deep state archives, or the Conservatives with Common Sense Computer System which has been unaffected by the nasty boys trying to crash the world. The CCSCS is bullet proof, I am told.
I have no doubt that Mr. Frick is as qualified as many others who have served on the Transportation Board. That is not the cloying issue with this important appointment. Did the Governor conduct an extensive state wide search and then select Mr. Frick? Who were other South Dakotans considered? Is the problem that she just does not know many South Dakotans? Nepotism among South Dakota Republicans has been around a long, long time. Why did the Governor choose to continue this shameless Republican tradition? Does she believe there is no difference between the people of South Dakota and the interests of the Noem family???
Do you believe the Governor herownself actually picks these fellows to be placed on the board? That seems like she’s really into the details of day to day management of the government. And still having time to do the big picture things like go talk about how the BLM is a bunch of left-wing-radical environmentalists who are out to wreck our way of life.
Republican is simply another word for Earth hater.
A cynical observer might suspect Cory created grud to drive traffic to his blog just like Mr. Powers does.
Grudz-While packing her bag for another extended state plane trip to pick up a hefty honorarium in Maryland, the Governor turned to her Chief of Staff and said,”Kennedy’s Father in Law is interested in serving either on the Transportation or Livestock Board. See what you can do…that would make me feel good.” Took 10 seconds.
Kennedy Frick, Noem’s daughter, has taken a job with TRI Industries. It’s a small woman-owned business that doesn’t seem to make anything, but seems to distribute various products like pipes and traffic signs that are needed along highways. One of their owners used to work with Vulcan, Inc., an Alabama-based company. I suspect TRI Industries is a marketing route that Vulcan can use to sell traffic signs and similar products through a woman-owned business, thus taking advantage of minority contracting.
At any rate, it seems that having a Dad-In-Law on the Transportation Commission might give Ms. Frick a leg up on selling, bidding, etc.
grudz: get a dictionary.
As usual, Ms. Fairbank, you missed the nuance. You may go back to dancing with the local gents at Frankie’s Place for beers, there’s nothing for you to see here.
My Bad Actors Report Revisit, this week:
…in addn to Kristi the nepotist, as Cory reports;
1. John Thune has cooled his jets, likely since the extraordinarily negative, fascist cast the GOP is being painted with for its idiotic and greedy leadership (Trump, McConnell, McCarthy, “Freedom” Caucus) in the national news (“Fox ain’t news” (c) 6.17.23–me.)
This week all Thune can spout in hate and defiance of Democratic leadership is:
Jun 14
Republicans will continue to use the Congressional Review Act to push back against overreaching, burdensome regulations from the Biden administration.
Last week there were a dozen vicious allegations against the Dems from Thune twitter.
2. Rounds however is still an idiot* this week too:
“lock away public lands for lease by environmental extremists”
Others are begging him to clean it up too:
“Even Jordan and Greene have turned their attention to lying about Biden, instead of attacking our institutions. Please fight for sanity. The bar is in the dirt, so every inch it raises matters.”@ SOUTH DAKOTANS FOR POLITICAL *INTEGRITY* (that might be too big a word for insurance grifter Mike, though!)
See my BARR (c) report again next week. Maybe Dusty will step in it again too.
*note: (“I receive classified briefings multiple times per week. It is unacceptable that sensitive information, which could undermine our national strategy and security, has been treated so carelessly by current and former members of the executive branch. At the same time, I am concerned about the Department of Justice’s decision to pursue this case against the former president… unprecedented action of indicting in federal court a former president, who is also a current candidate for president…. https://www.rounds.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rounds-statement-on-indictment-of-former-president-in-federal-court-2)
Sen Rounds is an idiot if he does not realize EVERYTHING Trump did was “unprecedented” and he is evading criminal (and civil) accountability as “a current candidate for president”.
Come on, man!
OT useless trivia… former Wheel of Fortune host, Sajak, is a long time board member of Hillsdale Collkege.