Candidates begin to file nominating petitions as election year kicks off

Nominating petition circulation has begun for local and statewide elected positions, and petitions for local races are already being filed.

Meanwhile, one local official has confirmed his plans to retire.

Who's running?

Codington County Sheriff Brad Howell, R-Watertown, who has been in office since 2008, has filed for re-election, and District 5 state Sen. Lee Schoenbeck, R-Watertown, has also filed.

Howell is one of several county officials up for re-election. Also up are the auditor, register of deeds and three county commissioners. Auditor Cindy Brugman has served since 2002 ,and Register of Deeds Ann Rasmussen was appointed in 2005 and subsequently elected.

Brugman, who first joined the auditor's office in 1977, confirmed Friday she does not plan to run for re-election. With the exception of Brugman, who is a Democrat, all of the county officials up for re-election are Republicans.

Commissioners up for re-election include Lee Gabel, representing District 1; Brenda Hanten, representing District 5; and Myron Johnson, representing District 3. Gabel was first elected in 2014 and Hanten and Johnson were elected in 2010.

All county terms are for four years.

Redistricting means changes in local legislative districts

All legislative seats, which run for two years, are up this year. While the boundaries for District 5, which is predominantly the city of Watertown, remain the same, the boundaries for District 4 have changed.

Schoenbeck is up for re-election in District 5 along with Rep. Hugh Bartels, R-Watertown, and Nancy York, R-Watertown.

District 4 now includes the southeast corner of Roberts County, along with most of Clark County as well as all of Grant, Deuel, rural Codington and Hamlin counties.

Up for election in the district are Sen. John Wiik, R-Big Stone City; Rep. John Mills, R-Volga; and Rep. Fred Deutch, R-Florence.

One of the more noticeable changes is that District 2 is now east of Sioux Falls instead of in northeastern South Dakota. That means current District 2 Rep. Lana Greenfield, R-Doland, now lives in District 22, and District 2 Rep. Kaleb Weis, R-Aberdeen, is now in District 3.

Greenfield, who is term-limited in the House, said she hasn't yet decided on her election plans.

District 2 Sen. Brock Greenfield, R-Clark, announced plans to pursue a new elected position in 2022 — commissioner of school and public lands.

District 22, which includes part of Clark County, also includes all of Spink and Beadle counties. This district previously covered Beadle and Kingsbury Counties. The incumbents are Rep. Roger Chase, R-Huron; Rep. Lynn Schneider, R-Huron; and Sen. David Wheeler, R-Huron.

District 1 encompasses the vast majority of rural Brown County outside of the Aberdeen city boundaries as well as all of Day and Marshall counties. Roberts County is also in District 1, with the exception of the southeast corner

Up for re-election in District 1 are Sen. Michael Rohl, R-Aberdeen; Rep. Tamara St. John, R-Sisseton; and Rep. Jennifer Keitz, D-Eden.

Petition circulation continues through March 29

Petition circulation for statewide candidates not determined at party conventions as well as legislative and county positions began Jan. 1 and continues through March 29. The dates to circulate nominating petitions are different for local races.

Here's a look at other area elections:

• Two three-year seats are up for re-election on the Watertown School Board. These are currently held by Jean Moulton, who is completing her first term, and Stewart Stein, who is finishing his seventh year. This election is June 21 with petition circulation from April 7 to May 13.

• No city election is planned in Watertown. City elections are only during the odd-numbered years.

• The six circuit court judge positions in the 3rd Judicial Circuit. These are eight-year terms.

Two judges in the 3rd Circuit have filed petitions so far. They are Carmen Means of Watertown and Gregory Stoltenberg of Clear Lake, who is presiding judge for the district.

County petitions are issued through and filed with the county auditor's office, city petitions through the city finance office and school board petitions through the school business office. Legislative petitions are filed with the South Dakota Secretary of State's Office.

While some city and school elections are held in conjunction with the June 7 primary, they can also be on April 12 or June 21.

Statewide petitions are available online through the South Dakota secretary of state's website or through the local county auditor's office.

Challengers expected for both congressional seats

The two-year term for U.S. representative held by Republican Dusty Johnson ends this year, as does the six-year term for U.S. Senate currently held by Republican John Thune. Thune recently announced plans to seek re-election, and challengers have announced their intentions in both races.

Johnson is completing his second term in the U.S. House. State Rep. Taffy Howard, R-Rapid City, has announced plans to run, which would set up a GOP primary battle.

Thune wants a fourth term in the Senate. Democrat Brian Bengs of Aberdeen announced plans to challenge Thune.

There are a host of statewide races this year, including for governor, public utilities commissioner, attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer and commissioner of school and public lands.

Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican, is up for her second term. She could potentially face fellow Republican and District 10 state Rep. Steve Haugaard from Sioux Falls in a primary.

Brock Greenfield hopes to replace Republican Ryan Brunner as commissioner of school and public lands. Brunner cannot seek re-election because of term limits.

This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Petition filing has begun for 2022 elections