BROOKINGS — The political season is heating up, and voters will start to get their say in matters with the beginning of absentee voting on April 17 for South Dakota’s primary election on June 2.
While June’s ballot will primarily consist of Republican candidates battling it out to see who advances to the November general election — or outright wins the overall race in June if there’s no other party-affiliated or independent opponent in November — residents need to know that a nonpolitical race for an open seat on the Brookings School Board will also be decided June 2.
Marcie Dierks and Kelsey Bowman are vying for a three-year seat that opened when its current occupant, Wes Tschetter, decided to run unopposed for an open one-year seat on the school board. This election is open to all voters in the Brookings School District.
Beyond that, the local ballot will consist of GOP primaries, including one for the Brookings County sheriff. Shawn Hostler and Dave Biteler will be on the ballot for that race to determine who will represent the Republican Party in the fall.
Also up for grabs will be two state House seats apiece in Districts 7 and 8. The former covers the city of Brookings and a small portion of Brookings County, while the latter covers the rest of the county. The GOP candidates are:
District 7
• Roger DeGroot
• Mellissa Heermann
• Dennis Willert
Two of the three will advance to November to face Democrat Blake Stevens for the two available state House seats. The district’s senator, Republican Tim Reed, is, so far, running unopposed for his seat.
District 8
• Samuel Krueger
• Todd Wilkinson
• Danny Brown
• Jon Nelson
• James Sapp
Two of the five Republican candidates will outright win the open state House seats in the district in the primary election, since no other parties fielded candidates for the November general election. The only way this will change is if an independent candidate files by April 28, which is the last day they can do so.
The district’s state senator, Republican Casey Crabtree, is running unopposed after two other Republicans dropped out — Todd Wilkinson, who withdrew, and Patricia K. Shiery, whose candidacy was challenged and then decertified as of April 7.
Moving on to state- and national-level politics, the June 2 primary will determine which Republicans in the state governor, U.S. House and U.S. Senate races will advance to November.
The governor’s race is particularly rich with GOP choices — four in all, of which only one will survive to take on Democrat Dan Ahlers in November. Those candidates are:
• Larry Rhoden
• Jon Hansen
• Dusty Johnson
• Toby Doeden
Meanwhile, the GOP primary for U.S. House will feature Marty Jackley and James Bialota. The winner there will face Democrat Nicole “Nikki” Gronli in November.
The U.S. Senate primary will involve Republicans Mike Rounds and Justin McNeal. The victor will be pitted against Democrat Julian Beaudion.
Voting details
To repeat, absentee voting begins April 17 in South Dakota. The final day to request an absentee ballot for the primary is June 1, unless there are exceptional circumstances related to a voter being confined due to illness or disability. In those cases, ballots can be requested by an authorized messenger as late as June 2.
In Brookings County, registered voters can request an absentee ballot from the county’s finance office, which oversees elections. The office is found on the first floor of the Brookings City & County Government Center, 520 Third St., and its phone number is 605- 696-8250.
In closing, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on June 2 for voters who decide to make their voices heard in person. Voting centers in the county will be found in:
• Aurora at The Impact Church, 201 E Pine St.
• Brookings, at four locations: Holy Life Tabernacle: 241 Mustang Pass; Brookings Activity Center: 320 Fifth Ave.; Bethel Baptist Church Area 1: 714 17th Ave. S.; and Bethel Baptist Church Area 2, also at 714 17th Ave. S.
• Bruce at the Community Club, 409 Jefferson St.
• Elkton at the Community Center, 109 Elk St.
• Volga at the Community Center, 109 Samara Ave.
• White at McKnight Hall, 228 W. Main St.
— Contact Mondell Keck at [email protected].
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