Libertarians nominate Public Utilities Commission candidate

A Sioux Falls resident votes at the downtown library during the primary election on June 4, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

The Libertarian Party of South Dakota has nominated Gideon Oakes, of Keystone, as its candidate for the Public Utilities Commission in the Nov. 5 general election.

Oakes will face incumbent Republican Kristie Fiegen and Democrat Forrest Wilson. Fiegen has served on the Public Utilities Commission for over a decade, after being appointed to the position by Gov. Dennis Daugaard and being reelected twice.

The commission of three is responsible for regulating the rates of natural gas, electric and telephone service companies in the state. The commission also considers permits, such as for the controversial Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline that’s proposed to run through eastern South Dakota.

Oakes is a business owner and volunteer EMT. He said in a news release that his candidacy offers voters a better choice for the PUC office and a “fresh perspective.”

“The question voters get to decide is whether they want a commissioner that represents the utility industry, one that represents big government, or one that represents the people,” Oakes said.

The party also nominated three statehouse candidates Saturday at its state convention in Pierre: Josh Dennert and Tamara Lesnar for House seats in District 1 (Brown, Day, Marshall and Roberts counties) and Greg Zimmerman for District 8 House (Brookings, Kingsbury, Lake and Miner counties).

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