Campaigning in Brookings

Photos by John Kubal, Ken Curley/Register

The Brookings County Republican Party Headquarters came to life Thursday afternoon, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Main Avenue in downtown Brookings. Taking part in the ceremony, attended by local party faithful, were, from left: Ryan Krogman, candidate for Brookings County Commission; Larry Tidemann, incumbent District 7 state senator running for re-election; Alan Gregg, incumbent Brookings County commissioner running for re-election; U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem; and Jim Gilkerson, candidate for District 4, state House of Representatives.

Second photo: District 4 state legislator Steve Street (right) makes a point while talking with fellow candidates Matt Varilek (left) and Spence Hawley, while a local woman listens in. The scene took place at the annual Democratic picnic Thursday at the First United Methodist Church Community Life Center. Varilek is running for the U.S. House, while Hawley, of Brooking, is running for the South Dakota House and and Street, Milbank, is a current member of the South Dakota House and is running for the South Dakota Senate. There was a healthy turnout for the annual meet-the-candidates get-together.