City, county seats open up

By: 
Jason Ferguson
With the spring election season just around the corner, now is the time for those interested in running for office to pull petitions for those offices.
There are seats available on virtually every board, town or otherwise in Custer County. That’s true for the City of Custer, where three two-year terms on the city council could be contested, as well as the mayor.
In Ward I, Dixie Whittaker’s seat will expire, as will Kris Blom’s seat in Ward II and Carrie Moore’s in Ward III.
Those interested in running for the council may begin circulating a petition March 1 and must have it filed at city hall no later than 5 p.m. March 31.
At the Custer School District, three seats on the board of education are up for election. The three seats, currently belonging to Bob Morgan, Jr., Jared Carson and Travis Hartshorn, are three-year terms.
Petitions for the seats are available March 1 and must be turned into the business manager’s office at the school administration building no later than 5 p.m. March 31.
Several offices and two commission seats will be contested in Custer County, including the state’s attorney (currently held by Tracy Kelley), county coroner (Jim Sanders) and county treasurer (Dawn McLaughlin). All office terms are for four years.
For the county commission, the seats belonging to Mark Hartman and Jesse Sorenson, also four-year terms, will be up for election this year.
The deadline for filing the nominating petitions is March 31 and petitions may already be circulated and can be obtained at the county auditor office at the Custer County Courthouse.
The Town of Hermosa has two seats on its town board up for election for three-year terms. Those seats are currently filled by Vicki Henrichsen, the town board president, and Terri Schumack.
Petitions for the seat may be pulled March 1 and must not be turned into the Hermosa Town Office later than 5 p.m. on March 31.
Two towns got an early jump on filling their town board vacancies. Fairburn has Larry Livingston’s three-year term open, with petitions first available Jan. 31. They were required to be turned in by Feb. 28.
In Buffalo Gap, Raymond Hussey’s three-year term is up, with petitions also made available Jan. 31 and required to be turned in by Feb. 24. Hussey was appointed when former board member Todd Heck stepped down from the board.
Pat Hollenbeck’s seat on the Elk Mountain School District is up for a three-year term. Petitions are available March 1.
In addition to the local races, all three District 30 seats in the South Dakota Legislature will be up for election. Those seats are currently held by Reps. Tim Goodwin and Julie Frye-Mueller and Sen. Lance Russell. Petitions for these seats must be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State in Pierre.
Statewide, there will be an election for Sen. Mike Rounds’ seat in the U.S. Senate, as well as Rep. Dusty Johnson’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. An election for President of the United States will be contested this year, as well.
The Town of Pringle did not respond to an inquiry regarding vacancies or elections for its board.
 

User login