Nominating petitions for three elections in Garretson and Sherman will open on Friday, January 28, which means local community members are encouraged to consider running for elected office. Elections for these positions will be held on April 12.
The Garretson City Council, the Garretson School District, and the Sherman Town Board all have positions available.
Serving in an elected position allows residents 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 good leadership and relationship-building abilities are helpful, those skills are not required. The only requirements are a signature on a petition form, timeliness (petitions are due on Feb 25), and the willingness to head out and gather signatures from neighbors. Any offices with two or more petitions will go up for election on April 12.
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.
Three two-year terms are up for reelection in Ward I, II, and III. One 1-year term is open in Ward III, and a 2-year term for Mayor is available. To enter the nomination for your ward, pick up a form at City Hall and gather a minimum of 22 signatures (a minimum of 5% of registered voters’ signatures are required). If no one petitions to run for any open position, the Mayor retains the right to appoint a representative. A minor change was made to Ward I and II boundaries along Canyon Ave and 5th Street at the most recent city council meeting. Those who live in the area are encouraged to double check which Ward they occupy.
Sherman will also be holding municipal elections. 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 has two 3-year at-large positions and two 2-year at-large positions open on the School Board. To pick up a petition, contact Business Manager Jacob Schweitzer 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 25 at 5:00 p.m. to the respective clerk. Voter registration forms must be received by the South Dakota Secretary of State by March 28 in order to participate in this election, and can be found on-line at https://sdsos.gov/electionsvoting/voting/register-to-vote/default.aspx, the Garretson Library, or City Hall.
