Sioux Falls-area elections mark final April votes in South Dakota

Results from communities like Dell Rapids, Harrisburg, Canton & Tea are in as state law phases out spring contests

Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

The final round of April municipal elections for dozens of South Dakota communities took place Tuesday.

In the Sioux Falls area, contests were held in cities like Canton, Dell Rapids, Brandon, Tea, Harrisburg, and others, determining the makeup of city councils, mayoral offices, and the outcome of a couple of ballot measures.

However, due to a new law passed by the South Dakota Legislature earlier this year, April municipal elections will soon be a thing of the past. Beginning July 1, cities and school districts will be required to hold their elections alongside statewide primary elections in June or general elections in November.

Here's look at how some of the Sioux Falls-area contests turned out. Results are unofficial until canvassed by local election boards.

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Brandon

Aspen Park Road & Parking Lot Improvements or East Ironwood Street Referendum

• Yes (create Ironwood): 572 votes (77.4%)

• No (proceed with Aspen Road & Parking): 167 votes (22.8%)

Reclassification of a Portion of Aspen Park Land

• Yes (authorize sale): 559 votes (78.7%)

• No (prohibit sale): 151 votes (21.2%)

Canton

City Commissioner

• Sarah Carlson: 204 votes (43.2%)

• Todd Baldwin: 203 votes (43%)

• Pam Gillespie: 65 votes (13.7%)

Colton

Ward 3 City Council

• Larry Vande Voort: 24 votes (52.1%)

• Ryan Pilker: 22 votes (47.8%)

Crooks

Mayor

• Butch Oseby: 134 votes (81.2%) *incumbent

• Carl Fredricksen: 31 votes (18.7%)

Dell Rapids

Ward 2 (2-year term)

• Fran Ruesink: 73 votes (61.3%)

• Robert Lack: 46 votes (38.6%)

Ward 2 (3-year term)

• Wendy Nelson: 64 votes (51.6%) *incumbent

• Megan Penning: 60 votes (48.3%)

Ward 3 (3-year term)

• Charles Jones: 71 votes (59.6%) *incumbent

• Marcy Stykel: 48 votes (40.3%)

Ward 4 (3-year term)

• Amanda Hein: 62 votes (76.5%)

• Robert Mier: 19 votes (23.4%) *incumbent

Garretson

Ward 2 City Council

• Matthew "Jake" Jacobson: 28 votes (82.3%)

• Tony Plahn: 6 votes (17.6%)

Harrisburg

Referendum on Ordinance No. 2024-09 to rezone Tract 2 of the Paul Alan Addition from single-family residential (R-1) to natural resource (NR), low-density residential (R-2), and multi-family residential (R-3) designations

• No: 456 votes (57.6%)

• Yes: 335 votes (42.3%)

Ward 1 Alderman

• Kevin Maxwell: 213 votes (52.4%) *incumbent

• Mark Fiechtner: 193 votes (47.5%)

Ward 2 Alderman

• Kevin Larson: 183 votes (41.2%)

• Matt Westerman: 157 votes (35.3%) *incumbent

• Gabby Stewart: 69 votes (15.5%)

• Nate Blom: 35 votes (7.8%)

Lennox

Ward 3 Alderman

• Laura Thiese: 37 votes (53.6%)

• Nicholas Cable: 32 votes (46.3%)

Uncontested Races

• Mayor: Danny Fergen

• Ward 2 Alderman: Chad Swier

• Ward 3 Alderman: Lauren VanDriel

Tea

Ward 1 City Council (3-year term)

• Josh Chapman: 80 votes (60.6%)

• Michael LeVan: 28 votes (21.2%)

• Joe Weis: 24 votes (18.1%)