SFS-Community Guide 2022-02-01 Draft - Flipbook - Page 8

GOVERNMENT
What to know about local government
One of the first steps in civic engagement is knowing
who’s governing you. Here’s a breakdown of the
different governing bodies making decisions about
what kids are learning to which roads get fixed to
where your tax money goes.
HOW IS S IOU X FA L L S ’ C I T Y G OV E R N M E NT
STR U CT U R ED?
Sioux Falls has a strong mayor form of government.
That means the mayor is essentially the CEO of the
city, with the executive and administrative powers.
The council — of which the mayor is also a part —
has the legislative and policy-making powers.
History sidebar: Sioux Falls has only had the strong
mayor form of government since 1995. Before that, the
city was governed by commissioners (the number of
commissioners varied throughout history, but most
recently there were three commissioners elected
at-large to lead the city.)
Current City Council members include:
Janet Brekke
At-large
Christine Erickson*
At-large
Alex Jensen
At-large
Rick Kiley*
Southeast district
Greg Neitzert
Northwest district
Marshall Selberg
Southwest district
Curt Soehl
Central district
Pat Starr
Northeast district
W H O G OVER NS T H E C I T Y O F S I O UX FA L LS?
Four of those council seats will be open in April.
The mayor is Paul TenHaken, who was elected
Sioux Falls Simplified will have detailed candidate
in 2018. That could change after an April 12
and election guides as we get closer to Election Day.
election. TenHaken’s seat is being challenged by
immigration attorney Taneeza Islam and political
activist David Zokaites.
The City Council is made up of eight people plus the
mayor. Three city councilors are “at-large” members,
and the other five each represent a specific segment
WHO GOV ER NS AT THE CO UNTY L EV EL?
Sioux Falls spans both Minnehaha and Lincoln
counties, each of which are governed by a board of
five elected commissioners.
*Notes councilors who will not be running for reelection
because their term is up.
of town.
SIMPLIFIED COMMUNITY GUIDE
8

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