Local Elections Matter

by Carrie Moritz, Gazette

Nominating petitions for three elections in Garretson and Sherman have opened as of this past Tuesday, which means local community members are encouraged to consider running for elected office.

The Garretson City Council, the Garretson School District, and the Sherman Town Board all have positions available.

Serving in an elected position is a privilege in the United States, allowing each person the chance to represent the voices of those who live and work in the area. While government moves slowly, a person in service can work to improve the lives of those they are representing and ensure the community or school moves in a direction that is positive.

Requirements for local elected office are few in South Dakota. While it does help to have good leadership and relationship-building abilities, those skills are not required. The only requirements are a signature on a petition form, timeliness (petitions are due on Feb 28), and the willingness to head out and gather signatures from neighbors. Any offices with two or more petitions will go up for election, which will be held April 14.

Garretson’s municipal government has three wards with two representatives each. Each ward covers approximately one-third of the population in the area (see map) and any registered voter within a ward with an opening is eligible to run.

Nearly the entire City Council is up for re-election, including the Mayor. Since two city councilors were appointed after last year’s elections, where no one petitioned to run for Wards I and III, there are two one-year City Council positions open. Wards I, II and III all have two-year openings.

If no one petitions to run for any open position, the Mayor retains the right to appoint a representative.

To enter the nomination for your ward, pick up a form at City Hall and gather a maximum of 50 signatures (a minimum of 5% of registered voters’ signatures are required).

In Sherman, one three-year term is available to join the Town Board. To enter for nomination, contact Cheryl Swenson, Town Clerk. As a smaller municipality, only three signatures at a minimum are required.

The Garretson School District also has one 3-year at-large position open on the school board. To pick up a petition, contact the Business Manager at the school. Any person located within the Garretson School District is eligible to run. A minimum of 20 signatures from voters in the district is required.

All petitions are due by February 28 at 5:00 p.m. Election dates will be finalized within the next two weeks, but are likely to be on April 14. Voter registration forms will be due by March 31 to vote.