Sioux Falls City Council election: 6 questions with candidates for the At-Large C seat
Sioux Falls voters will have the chance to choose two new city councilors when they head to the polls Tuesday — with three candidates each competing for the At-Large C seat and the Northeast district seat.
For each race, the Argus Leader asked each candidate to answer the same six questions in writing. Responses were only lightly edited for spelling and grammar.
Below are the answers from the three candidates vying for the At-Large C seat:
What has made you want to run for this position?
This is my home. This is where I'm from. I want to see this community thrive in all aspects of civic life. Over the past six years, I've been involved in numerous community initiatives, whether it be civic engagement through a taco feed every week for 20 weeks in front of the Union Gospel Mission or renting out the tools folks need through the Sioux Falls Tool Library. I know how to get into the weeds and get embedded into complex challenges. I also know how to zoom out and examine through a systems thinking lens how our city works. I'm no stranger to a city council meeting and I don't know of a candidate who is running that knows the zoning and ordinances better than I do. I'm running for this position because I'm the best person for the job and I know that I'm uniquely equipped to tackle some of the challenges that are coming our city's way.
I have a passion to serve my community and be part of the team that helps Sioux Falls keep moving in the right direction. As someone who grew up in Sioux Falls, I’ve seen the transformation of the city better and worse, and I’m running to make sure we can address our issues and ensure a brighter future for all.
When deciding which seat to try for, I looked at the last couple races in my district and spoke to a good friend who ran. I recognize as a person of color, Native progressive specifically, and I saw how difficult it could be to run. I also learned about Jennifer (Sigette) and her history; I didn't want to run against another woman when there is currently such a need for female representation as well. I was planning on getting involved more when I relocated here so once my opponents announced and it was not sitting right with me, I felt obligated to.
What do you think is the single largest problem that Sioux Falls is currently facing, and what should we be doing about it?
Jordan Deffenbaugh
Growth, which isn't so much a problem, but a challenge. We’re the fastest growing city in the Midwest. The metro is now at 300,000 people. Our old model of growth through sprawl and development will only get us so far. We must be revising our zoning and ordinances to reflect a more traditional land development model, or we risk bankrupting ourselves under a mountain of infrastructure liabilities. This means adopting more missing middle housing initiatives as well as investing in basic infrastructure such as public transit and public restrooms downtown. We are a city now. We need to start acting like it.
Richard Thomason
It’s a broad challenge, but our priority focus must be challenges that come with fast-paced population growth–crime, traffic, roads, housing shortages, daycare shortages, and workforce shortages. There is no singular solution to any of these, but someone with my experience and ability to collaborate with the community to address them is what the Council needs.
Allison Renville
I know it's hard to come to terms with the roles everyone can play in anything negative that affects our community, whether it's racism or complacency. We can accomplish so much more once we get beyond our own prejudices and biases against folks not like us. Redirecting the lens and seeing things from my perspective we can perhaps end at a more conscious decision. It's hard to imagine any form of government being more compassionate but I believe we as a community of multiple generations of settler families and Native people who aren't going anywhere accept it's going to take all of us to create longer lasting change.
More: 8 people are running for Sioux Falls City Council: What to know
Four years from now, what’s one thing you hope to be able to say you were part of on the council?
Jordan Deffenbaugh
In these divisive political times, collaborative government is more necessary now than ever. In four years, I hope we will have dozens more neighborhood associations and a program that incorporates participatory budgeting where those folks on the ground get to decide how to spend a portion of the budget in their neighborhood. I think the reason we saw races this election cycle go uncontested and why our municipal elections have low turnout is because much of the community feels alienated from the political process at the local level. I want to bring more people to the table and create a culture of civic engagement.
Richard Thomason
At the end of my first term, I hope I will have achieved my goal of setting Sioux Falls up for future success. There is not one singular, tangible act that will meet this criteria, but a series of responsible, well-planned and well-executed decisions. With thorough research and productive dialogue with all stakeholders, I am confident that the City Council and I will be successful.
Allison Renville
I hope to be able to say I had a hand in creating a more inclusive and accepting place within my homelands.
More: Council candidates lay out how they would improve Sioux Falls during Thursday's debate
A mayoral election will be taking place in two years. What do you hope to see happen as a new administration takes over for the first time in eight years?
Jordan Deffenbaugh
I hope we can have genuine conversations about the need for greater transparency in city government, and that we elect someone with the tenacity to make that a reality.
Richard Thomason
Sioux Falls has a strong tradition of good leaders on both the council and in the mayor’s office who love this community. In our next mayor I want to see the same qualities that I would expect in any person seeking elective office–passion for public service, willingness to collaborate, and the ability to provide stability through thoughtful, transparent. and principled leadership.
Allison Renville
I'm hoping my run inspires already existing strong leadership in our city to also make a run. Perhaps there is someone now who believes they can stand up for their community as well, history shows if someone like me succeeds there will be retaliation. I'm going to need those out there who believe in me and believe in progress to help me to move against the current safely.
The Riverline Center is a major project that this council — and likely the next — will be involved in multiple decisions on. It’s early, but what are your thoughts on the project as it has been outlined?
Jordan Deffenbaugh
The rollout of this project has rightfully left a lot of questions in the minds of folks. The City doesn’t know what it will look like, how much it will ultimately cost, doesn’t have all the land necessary secured, and didn’t ask the neighborhood they were planning to drop a massive development project into what their thoughts and concerns on the matter are. It seems to me like another really big idea without a lot of concrete pieces in place to make it a reality. The proposed price tag alone should give us pause, let alone the fact that this will displace people and upend a working-class neighborhood. The other question we should ask - given all of the challenges and priorities facing our community - is this the most necessary use of a large amount of our tax dollars? I’m not convinced it is, and I think a lot of folks share that sentiment.
Richard Thomason
I think the Riverline Center has great potential for Sioux Falls’ economy; the tourism industry believes this project will substantially increase sales tax growth from visitors. However, the city needs to make sure that the people are on board for such a large investment, and I am in favor of a public input vote to secure the citizens' approval.
Allison Renville
I think it's a good thing for the city and for the region. I grew up traveling away from Sioux Falls to attend concerts and live performances. It was always something we asked as kids, why don't we have a team etc. This is our opportunity. I plan to set realistic goals and checkpoints that are inclusive to the cultural visibility of my nation but as well as the cultures that make South Dakota strong.
More: Two new Sioux Falls city councilors won’t be on the ballot in April. Who are they?
Of the candidates running for the seat, what makes you the best person for the job?
Jordan Deffenbaugh
I’m already doing the work. My history of bringing diverse groups of people to the table to solve problems facing their neighborhood is exactly the kind of work our local government should be engaged in. I’m ready to serve on Day One because my sleeves are already rolled up.
Richard Thomason
Sioux Falls is growing fast and the challenges of today need to be addressed with thoughtful and decisive leadership. My experience as a legislator and in the business community makes me uniquely qualified to represent all of Sioux Falls and advocate for what is best for the city. The city is faced with a plethora of decisions and projects each year, and that requires leaders like me who can provide thoughtful, transparent. and principled leadership.
Allison Renville
I think I've made the sacrifices to be here, whether it be the professional opportunities I've let pass me by or the actual loss of my parents and my life prior to moving here. I believe I carry the life experience and knowledge to represent my people and those who know we deserve so much more than what we're going through now. I have the hearts of my supporters and the intentions that come from prayers I've made and prayers that were made with us in mind. My ancestors are buried under the city we call home, those same ancestors live in my spirit and exist in my DNA. This is the result of the last 160 plus years, who else is supposed to be?
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sioux Falls Election: Q&A with At-Large C seat candidates
