Simplified: Sioux Falls' city government is going to look a lot different in the coming months with a new mayor and as many as four new City Council members. Sioux Falls Simplified sat down with nearly all of the candidates to talk through a lot of very important policy issues – and one kinda silly one.
You know we wanna start with the silly one
Oh 100%. But first, there's a little bit of a method to the madness.
- Sioux Falls has a very, very strong restaurant culture. Keloland just last year reported that there's one restaurant for every 246 people who live in this city. And there are like 220,000 people in this city.
So, knowing that, and knowing that a little lightheartedness helps counterbalance tough questions (as Mary Poppins put it, "a spoonful of sugar...etc."), Sioux Falls Simplified started every candidate interview with the following question:
"If you could eat at just one Sioux Falls restaurant for the rest of the year, which restaurant are you choosing?"
Here's how the mayoral candidates answered:
Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by last name.
Joe Batcheller: Parker's Bistro
"I do like the ability to walk to a restaurant, so just geographically speaking, it's going to be one downtown," Batcheller said. "And I would say, if money was no object, I mean, gosh, Parker's Bistro's got to be up there."
Christine Erickson: Gateway Lounge
"I like to keep it casual," Erickson said, adding that Gateway has the best chislic in town. "I like a good vibe, and I like to be close to home."
Greg Jamison: Original Pancake House
"I love the breakfast," Jamison said. "I go there, even at lunch, and I get breakfast."
Jamie Smith: M.B. Haskett
"One?" Smith said. "That is a tough question. If I had to pick just one – that's a terrible question to ask. I'm gonna go see my friend Michael Haskett at M.B. Haskett's because the variety that he can come up with and the ingredients he uses and how it comes out – so, we're gonna go to Haskett's."
David Zokaites: Lam's Vietnamese Cuisine
"It's good and close," Zokaites said. "So when people want to meet me for dinner that's where I'll go."
Here's how the At-Large City Council candidates answered
At-Large A
Vince Danh: Bibisol
"(Owner) Marcela (Salas) is a great friend of mine, like a sister, and seeing her business grow, and they're always trying new things," Danh said. "Any time I pop in she or her husband Chris or her mom, they're just like, 'try this.' It's always a pleasure."
James Oppenheimer: Pizza Cheeks
"There are so many good restaurants," Oppenheimer said. "My daughter works at Pizza Cheeks. I love going there. They treat her really well, and the service is fantastic."
Juliann Perrigo: Has not yet been interviewed by Sioux Falls Simplified
At-Large B
Rich Merkouris: Jacky's
"Oh boy, I'm probably going to Jacky's," Merkouris said. "There's a plethora of options."
Samantha Scarlata: Texas Roadhouse
"I mean, if I had to pick quick," Scarlata said.
Here's how the Central District City Council candidates answered
Zach DeBoer: Phnom Penh
"We had our pre-wedding dinner at Phnom Penh," DeBoer said. "We love it there so much."
Tommy Kunz: Has not yet been interviewed by Sioux Falls Simplified
Zak Okuwe: Giliberto's
"Oh geez, oh geez. I don't know," Okuwe said. "Oh that's a tough one. Honestly, probably, and this may sound silly, but Giliberto's."
Matthew McKinley: Did not respond to multiple calls and requests for comment
Bob Trzynka: Myrtles/Parker's and Pho Quynh
"I should also probably throw on Perch because it's also very close and absolutely spectacular," Trzynka said after joking about giving a very "politican" answer by waffling.
Here's how the Southeast City Council candidates answered
Michael A. Crane: Italian food
"It's hard to narrow down," Crane said. "It's not an easy decision, but I can do it by category at least."
Brady Kerkman: Morrie's Steakhouse
"I'm kind of a prime rib guy," Kerkman said. "Of course, you know, I can't afford to do it every day, but I certainly do like Morrie's."
Sara Pankonin: Morrie's Steakhouse
"Because I haven't been to Ironwood yet," Pankonin said, noting honorable mentions of Sushi Masa and Grille 26.
