Minnehaha County Commission welcomes fresh eyes as 2 long-time figures leave
Two of Minnehaha County Commission's long-time figures are not seeking re-election next week, which means the board will be making room for potentially three new commissioners in January 2023.
Republican Cindy Heiberger, who served on the commission for 12 years, and Democrat Jeff Barth, who served on the commission for 16 years, are leaving two spots up for grabs next week. The third spot is Republican incumbent Gerald Beninga's seat, who has 12 years on the board and is running for re-election.
Heiberger and Barth both agreed the county is growing and still has some challenges to face in the future, including budget financing and continuing growth in the local agricultural community.
"I still worry about my employees, because they are the people that I work for here and they worry about my county," Heiberger told the Argus Leader. "I hope things continue to go well for them, but I think there's good candidates out there that will fill the seats."
Here are the list of candidates for three county commissioners at-large on Nov. 8:
Gerald Beninga filed a petition with the Republican Party.
Joe Kippley filed a petition with the Republican Party.
Jen Bleyenberg filed a petition with the Republican Party.
Nichole Cauwels filed a petition with the Democratic Party.
Tom Holmes filed a petition with the Democratic Party.
More: Here's a look at what races are happening in Minnehaha, Lincoln counties in June
The Argus Leader asked current county commissioners what changes they expect with the potential of two-to-three new commissioners leading the county once the election is over. Here's what they had to say.
'Cindy and Jeff leave a void in institutional knowledge'
If voters decide not to re-elect Beninga, commissioner Dean Karsky said the board will be facing a 60% turnover and "significant brain drain."
Karsky, with five years on the commission and a background in insurance, said he's hopeful Beninga will be re-elected so the commission can keep the background and knowledge he has working in the nonprofit world. The new commissioners will have to find their niche, said Karsky, similar to Heiberger, with juvenile justice, and Barth, with planning and zoning.
"They're definitely leaving a void with that knowledge and experience, it's going to be missed," said Karsky. "I think they're leaving Minnehaha County better off than before."
Some of the candidates who have sat in on commission meetings are coming in with their eyes wide open, said Karsky. He does not have concerns about those who could be elected to the commission soon.
Bender: New commissioners will bring in different strengths to the table
Jean Bender, who has eight years of experience on the commission and a background in law, said she is optimistic about the change that's coming to Minnehaha County Commission. The start of next year will be the first time in her tenure that she will be working with different county commissioners.
Bender noted there will be a learning curve for the newly elected commissioners. She said bringing in new people is a healthy opportunity to focus on issues the commission may have not seen or had time to focus on before.
"It's a pretty complicated set of diverse responsibilities to learn," said Bender. "It takes a little bit of time, but I'm confident we'll move forward."
She said the commission has been proactive in preparing the onboarding training for the new commissioners. The board is currently invested in reviewing the juvenile justice process and revamping the juvenile detention center in the south side of Sioux Falls.
Her biggest message to voters it to vote, and to think more about running for public office.
What's next for Heiberger, Barth?
Heiberger told the Argus Leader she plans to continue serving on committees she has been involved in that are looking to implement juvenile detention alternatives and address gaps in the local juvenile justice system. She said the county will face financial troubles just like any other county, but she's confident the county is doing its part in addressing those issues.
Barth, on the other hand, is still planning to take a more public-facing role. He announced his run in July for head of the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission, against Republican incumbent Chris Nelson. Nelson has held his position for more than a decade.
"I think this county is going to be close to a million people by the end of this century, and we can't plan for meeting today's needs," Barth said of the future of Minnehaha County. "We have to plan for meeting a community that's three times the size."
More information on voting can be found in the Argus Leader's voting guide here.
Election Day is Tuesday. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Minnehaha commission welcomes fresh eyes as 2 long-time figures leave
