Head of one of South Dakota’s top nonprofits wants spot on Sioux Falls City Council
Jennifer Sigette enters race with high-powered support
A local nonprofit leader wants a spot on the Sioux Falls City Council.
Jennifer Sigette has announced her candidacy in the election for the Northwest District spot on the Council, opening up next spring when Councilor Greg Neitzert terms out of office.
“I am very excited to announce my candidacy to represent my Northwest District neighbors on the Sioux Falls City Council,” said Sigette, who is executive director of the South Dakota Lions Foundation, which facilitates statewide children’s vision screenings and other vision and hearing assistance programs.
A resident of Sioux Falls since 1998, Sigette, 51, said in her campaign announcement that, if elected, she’ll prioritize collaboration with city and industry leaders to bolster public safety, address traffic congestion and invest in quality-of-life initiatives and childcare affordability and availability.
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“For the past 25 years, I’ve seen northwest Sioux Falls grow and prosper while providing my family with an incredible quality of life,” she said. “I want to use my passion and experience to help ensure Sioux Falls continues to tackle the needs facing working families and retirees looking to stay close to home.”
The lone candidate thus far in the Northwest District election, Sigette enters the race with some high powered support behind her.
Co-chairing her campaign are Mike Begeman and Matt Paulson, both Northwest District residents and notable names in the Sioux Falls business and philanthropy scenes. Begeman is a retired vice president of community relations for Sanford Health and Paulson is the founder and CEO of MarketBeat.
“Jennifer has a long history of service to the city of Sioux Falls and she will add a great perspective to the council as they tackle challenges related to the city’s growth in the years ahead,” Paulson said.
Sigette becomes the sixth to declare a candidacy in the spring municipal election — to be held April 9 — when half of the City Council will turn over.
Like Neitzert, Northeast District Councilor Pat Starr and Southwest District Councilor Marshell Selberg are unable to seek reelection due to term limits. And at-large Councilor Alex Jensen announced this fall he will not seek a second term at Carnegie Town Hall.
Hoping to replace Starr are Tarek Maalouf, a Sioux Falls attorney, and marketing professional Miranda Basye, while former lawmaker Richard Thomason and community organizer and activist Jordan Deffenbaugh are both running for Jensen’s at-large spot. Ryan Spellerberg, a Sioux Falls mortgage lender, is the only candidate thus far to declare a candidacy in the Southwest District contest.
