Native voters face a simple choice in Rapid City

Brandon Ecoffey, editor of Lakota Country Times, draws attention to the June 2 match-up between Rapid City, South Dakota, mayoral candidates Sam Kooiker and Steve Allender:

Two men are running for mayor. One's platform contains the model way of incorporating minority populations into city government, while the other would have fit in with the Ferguson, Missouri police department.

Mayor Sam Kooiker is the former. He moved to Rapid City from Iowa and has embraced the Native community by taking a strong stance against racial discrimination, as well as discrimination against those suffering from physical and mental handicaps. During his time in office he has made a number of political gestures toward the Native community that have resulted in real public policy changes. These changes include the establishment of a polling place smack dab in the middle of the most densely populated Native American neighborhood in the city and the creation of a civil rights commission that has the legal authority to enforce the city’s antidiscrimination laws. Kooiker has also consistently tapped Native people to fill empty seats on city boards.

http://www.indianz.com/News/2015/017664.asp