Gov. Kristi Noem fills legislative vacancy; creates new vacancy

Sitting lawmaker to switch districts, occupy new home

Johnny Sundby Photography, Inc.

Gov. Kristi Noem filled one of two legislative openings Tuesday, but in so doing created another vacancy.

That’s because she named sitting state Rep. Becky Drury to fill the District 34 opening made by former Rep. Jess Olson, who resigned last year, citing health problems. But that will leave an opening in District 32 after Drury resigned that seat in order to be appointed to the District 34 seat.

The move comes after Drury recently bought a house in District 34. The change in districts allows her to move into District 34 while keeping her seat in the Legislature.

“We had been looking for quite a while,” she said of her Rapid City house hunt.

Drury is a second-term lawmaker who also served on the Rapid City Common Council and the Wall School Board. During her time in the Legislature she has prioritized victims of child abuse, teachers, workforce shortages and transparency.

“I am proud to appoint Becky to this role,” Noem said in a release announcing the appointment. “We have worked together in the past to create real solutions for the people of South Dakota – and I look forward to continuing to work with her in the future.”

Drury currently chairs the House Local Government Committee and she also sits on State Affairs and Military & Veterans Affairs.

“I’m thankful to Gov. Noem for appointing me to fill the vacancy in the House of Representatives in District 34,” Drury said in a release. “It is my honor to continue serving Rapid City. Much like my service on the City Council, where my goal was for the betterment of all of Rapid City, this move will carry on my goal to serve Rapid City and our great state.”

Noem will consider potential candidates to fill the District 32 seat. Interested parties can submit resumes and cover letters to Ben.Koisti@state.sd.us by Tuesday, Jan. 23.

Noem had said she would not fill any vacancies in the Legislature until the South Dakota Supreme Court issues an advisory opinion providing clarity on what types of financial interactions between the state and lawmakers rise to constitutional violations. However, the governor’s spokesman, Ian Fury, said Tuesday that because Drury was already serving in the Legislature, her appointment does not come with qualification questions looming over other potential appointees.