Council race
March 3rd, 2008 by 
Alica
On April 8, voters will choose between Ward I residents Blaine Jones and John Saarloos and Ward III residents Steve Rubin and Roger Brooks for four-year terms on the Brandon city council.
If you’re not already registered to vote, you have until March 24 to do so.
Will Roger Brooks’ time in the state legislature help him get votes for a council seat? Should voters give John Saarloos a chance for a full term? Will Blaine Jones benefit from having lived in Brandon nearly his whole life? Does Steve Rubin have a built-in advantage because he’s the incumbent?
What are the pros and cons for each candidate?
Posted in Uncategorized | 
March 4th, 2008 at 8:01 am
Four individuals, all concerned citezens, great. Ward III- Rubin, has done a good job, taken a lot of sh–, not deserved as council is the most thankless job there is with minimum pay. Brooks– stepping down, I’ve been told thats not good for cities that when someone has been in the state senate and then wants to run a city, wants to much control. Might be qualified BUT?
Ward I, Saarloos– New at it , done a good job, no private agenda’s. Jones– Don’t know very well other than former police officer, could have bones in the closet.
If I could vote in both wards,it would be Rubin in ward III and Saarlos in ward I.
March 4th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
I’ll agree they’re all concerned citizens. Ward III, Rubin has done some good things. May get negative votes for being a GOB, recent issues like the MedStar issue, the Sneaker’s vote. All can be viewed as positive, but a lot of people vote against more than for… Brooks might bring some more respect back to the council. He could give the GOB a run for the money, or he may agree with them. Not everything they do is wrong, it’s just the attitude.
Ward I, Saarloos was picked by the GOB as someone they could work with. Passed the deciding sneaker’s vote with no real discussion. No way to know how Ford would have voted - it probably doesn’t matter. Jones, ex police officer. Probably knows what bones are in the closest. May represent the ‘common man’. Too early to tell.
Right now I would vote for Brooks and Jones. More as a vote against the GOB. I really wish Rubin wasn’t up for reelection this year, but I think the GOB need to be broken up.
March 4th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
I am a resident in Ward II, so I will not be voting this time around. I would hope though that the rest of the city would bring in some new people. At last night’s city council meeting Mr. Rubin excused himself from the vote on the “rock concert”, citing he has held similar events at his race track. Sure is funny that I remember him cleary saying that there was no conflict of interest on the ambulance issue, but on the rock concert issue there is? Smells really bad to me, how about to the voters in his ward? Please think about this when you vote for council. The type of politics that Mr. Rubin has brought to the city council is not needed in this community, so please think about that when you vote.
March 8th, 2008 at 8:37 am
I will definetely be voting in the upcoming race and it won’t be for an incumbant. Roger Brooks is a atraight forward guy that works for the people. The same can be said for Braine Jones. Neither are business people in Brandon and come with no hidden agendas.
March 8th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
I for sure am voting in my ward, I am pretty sure I am voting for John Saarloos. He has done a good job to date and I believe he will continue.Even though you people keep talking about the GOB selecting him I know he will do what’s best for the community.I would advise everyone to know what your candidates stands for, before choosing. Blaine is an excellent speaker and can tell us what we want to here but I am not sure he is right for the job.
March 8th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Do you think the incumbents have a better or worse chance with only one opponent? I would have thought multiple opponents improves the incumbent’s chances - more people to split the negative votes amongst. Will the races be close? There seems to be lots of innuendo in these blogs, but a scarcity of facts or reasons to vote either way.
March 8th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Why all of a sudden does Mr Ruben take himself out of a vote regarding the band at McHardy park? Why did he vote for the ambulance when he employes Jay at his tracks and his nephew also works for Jay?? I have heard also that Mr Ruben has a drinking problem…getting a DUI and haveing to take classes?
March 8th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
It would be the best for our town if people looked at the facts versus hearsay. Unfortunately, there is an abundance of hearsay on these blogs. Anyone can say anything, truth or fiction.
March 9th, 2008 at 7:48 am
#8 what above is hearsay?….you just added to it by not “outing” what you thisnk is or isn’t hearsay.
Rubin’s voting record is public. So that’s not hearsay. So are driving records. There are other counties besides Minnehaha.
March 9th, 2008 at 8:17 am
I wasn’t necessarily referring to post #8. I was referring to all posts: any blog, any topic. Much of the informtation “shared” is nonsense.
As far as factual personal information goes, I am guessing ALL of us have done things we are not so proud of. It is unfortunate when people (many times strangers) focus on the negative vs. positive.
Yes, city council members are public representitives of our city. Let’s focus on their stance on the issues which affect us, not their personal lives.
March 11th, 2008 at 11:50 am
Has anybody looked at the city website lately? We got some new council pictures.
I especially liked the one of Alderman Karber.
Must still be seeing stars from the brawl he was in last year at the fireman’s dance…
March 12th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Nice, he must be a true politician.
March 12th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
I LIKE JONES FOR WARD 1 SEEMS MORE HONEST ABOUT THING THAT NEED TO HAPPEN IN THIS TOWN.
March 12th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
I think that picture shows exactly what Mr. Karber thinks of himself. It’s really pretty comical. Wow, he sure thinks he’s a big time politician. Icky.
March 17th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
And now he’s running for county commission. Wow.
March 21st, 2008 at 7:18 pm
He would fit right in on the county commission, spend, spend, spend….Uh oh, now we are broke what are we gonna do? We will just raise taxes again……