South Dakota Democrats nominate Boys & Girls Club director for PUC
Forrest Wilson enters three way general election race
A former state employee will be the Democratic candidate in the 2024 election for South Dakota Public Utilities Commissioner.
Forrest Wilson has been nominated to represent the South Dakota Democratic Party in November’s general election, earning the support of party delegates during the Democratic state convention held Saturday in Oacoma.
“My goal is to be an advocate for every day ratepayer of South Dakota,” the 31-year-old told The Dakota Scout after securing the nomination. “Cost of living has become a burden on so many working-class households, so we need to pull every lever we can to support the people of this great state.”
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Wilson, unopposed within the party for the nomination, hails from Lawrence County and is active in the county’s Democratic Party. According to state records, the Lead resident is a former employee of the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation and now serves as a director at the Boys and Girls Club of Lead-Deadwood. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Northwest College in Wyoming.
“I also believe bringing a rural, small-town perspective would benefit so many communities across South Dakota,” he said.
Wilson will challenge Public Utilities Commissioner Kristie Fiegen, a Republican currently serving her second term in office and last week earned the South Dakota Republican Party’s nomination to the November ballot. Libertarian candidate Gideon Oakes is also running for a spot on the commission’s three member board.
South Dakota Democrats also reelected Deb Knecht for a third term as national committee woman for South Dakota at the Democratic National Convention later this summer, while Dennis Olson was reelected to a second term as national committeeman, edging out former Secretary of State candidate Tom Cool for the spot.
"Dennis and I are honored to continue representing the South Dakota Democratic Party sharing our Midwest values at the national level," Knecht said.
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