Elf defaces picture of mayor hanging over downtown Sioux Falls
TenHaken lends image, humor to First Dakota National Bank holiday campaign
A banner of Mayor Paul TenHaken atop a downtown Sioux Falls building that appears to be graffitied by an oversized Elf on the Shelf is part of a holiday promotion.
First Dakota National Bank’s location at Ninth Street and Main Avenue on Wednesday greeted customers, commuters and pedestrians with a scene of a marker-holding elf next to an image of the mayor with a black eye, facial hair, blackened teeth and “Merry Mayor!” adorned on it.
“At First Dakota, we’re really good at two things: exceptional banking service and having a little fun,” said Dan Statema, chief marketing officer for the South Dakota-based bank that had the mayor’s blessing to use his image.
Along with the scene of the elf pulling one over on the mayor, TenHaken also appears in a video published on First Dakota’s social media page in which he catches the elf getting “a bit creative” with his picture.
“Life’s too short to be so serious,” TenHaken told The Dakota Scout.
First Dakota’s downtown Sioux Falls location is next door to City Hall.
Statema said each day leading up to Christmas Eve, the bank will spotlight the elf’s “different hijinks that are happening around town” as part of its holiday promotion.
I don't understand the humor but appreciate the mayor's willingness to play along. As humans age, we seem to lose our ability or interest in play and that's unfortunate and maybe unhealthy (too stressful). Most of us need to lighten up at least a bit, especially on ourselves. So, smiles to him.
Love this!