Challengers file for run against Schumacher

By Scott Aust, Journal staff | Tuesday, March 27, 2007

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RAPID CITY — Revelations about Alderman Mike Schumacher being offered money to guide Mayor Jim Shaw’s re-election campaign have sparked controversy that could end up hurting Schumacher’s city council re-election bid.

So far, two people n Brian O’Connor and John Witcraft n have filed nominating petitions to challenge Schumacher. Neither candidate cited Schumacher as a major issue, however.

O’Connor, a 38-year-old education consultant, said last week the revelations about Schumacher taking money to provide consultant services to Mayor Jim Shaw’s campaign, while troubling, were not the main factor in his decision to run for the council.

Witcraft, 41, majored in political science and minored in math at Black Hills State University. He and his wife, Helen, have four daughters between the ages of 7 and 13.

He said Schumacher’s issues are his own and were not a factor in the decision to run.

“I’m looking at what I can do for Ward 1 and the city of Rapid City, and I’m not worrying about him,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to do it. I just felt it was time to try.”

Witcraft, a supervisor with UPS for 18 years, said politics is a passion and he felt now was the right time to seek office. Some of the things he wants to address if elected are council meeting lengths and repairing infrastructure in older parts of the city such as Ward 1.

Schumacher revealed earlier this month that businessman Doug Hamilton offered him an undisclosed amount of money to provide consultant services for Shaw’s campaign. Schumacher has been criticized for taking the money and for the apparent mid-stream switch to support Shaw over fellow council member Sam Kooiker, who is one of four individuals seeking to oust Shaw.

The current status of Schumacher’s deal is uncertain after Shaw said unequivocally Monday that he won’t accept paid help from Schumacher. However, the situation could leave a sour taste in voters’ mouths.

Schumacher is uncertain what impact the controversy will have on his re-election chances but he still intends to run.

“I don’t know. It could have some effect, yeah,” he said.

Schumacher’s deal doesn’t sit well with at least one past supporter. State Sen. Bill Napoli, R-Rapid City, wrote a letter to the editor Sunday that questioned Schumacher’s ethics and urged someone to run against him.

In response, Schumacher said Napoli doesn’t have all the facts.

“That’s what Bill Napoli does. It’s not out of form for Bill to go off without the facts,” Schumacher said. “That’s fine. I won’t blindly support Bill the way I used to. I will openly criticize him when I need to now.”

In other city council races, incumbents Deb Hadcock and Bill Okrepkie are the only candidates so far to turn in petitions in Wards 2 and 3. Incumbents Ron Kroeger and Bob Hurlbut intend to seek re-election but haven’t filed yet in Wards 4 and 5.

Contact Scott Aust at 394-8415, or scott.aust@rapidcityjournal.com