Candidate Forum to be May 27
By Carleen Wild
Moody County Enterprise
If you’re a Moody County voter, you’ll help decide in just a couple of weeks who helps guide county government in the upcoming primary election.
Three seats on the Moody County Commission are on the ballot this year, along with several other local offices, with candidates making their case on everything from roads and budgets to emergency services, housing, growth and how local government communicates with the people it serves.
County commissioners play a key role in local government, helping oversee budgets, policy decisions and county services that impact residents across Moody County.
The primary election is set for Tuesday, June 2, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Before then, voters have opportunities to meet candidates as they campaign throughout the county, attend regular commission meetings, or hear directly from them during an upcoming casual meet-and-greet and panel discussion in Flandreau.
Tom Stenger, who is running unopposed for the District 2 seat previously held by Commission Chair Carla Bruning and temporarily filled by Kendra Eng, did not return responses in time for this publication.
To learn about where the candidates stand on issues, please see page 7.
District 3
Dave Reker
Dave Reker is seeking re-election to the District 3 Moody County Commission seat, where he is being challenged by Garnet Paulsen.Reker said his interest in county government began shortly after he and his wife moved to an acreage east of Trent in 2019 after living in Sioux Falls.
“I grew up on a farm and really enjoy being back in the country,” he said.
After attending commission meetings to better understand local issues, Reker said he quickly realized just how broad the responsibilities of county government really are.
“I had no idea the county and commissioners were responsible for so many things,” he said.
Reker, an accountant by trade, said he initially wasn’t interested in running for office, but later decided his professional background and life experience could be useful in serving the county.
Looking ahead, Reker said one of the county’s biggest challenges will be balancing rising costs with state-imposed limits on property tax increases.
“Counties are limited by state statute to the amount they can increase property taxes, but costs are increasing more than that,” he said.
He said difficult conversations may eventually be needed around potential cuts in non-mandated departments, with public input helping guide those decisions.
“We will need public input to help us decide where to cut,” he said.
Reker said he believes taxpayer dollars are generally being spent responsibly, though he supports reviewing departments to ensure spending still reflects current needs.
He also pointed to the financial burden counties can face when major criminal cases occur, with expenses tied to jail housing, legal fees, expert witnesses and investigations.
“Everyone needs to contact their legislators to enact legislation to get the state to pay for these expenses, not the counties,” he said.
On economic development, Reker said county government should avoid becoming overly restrictive, believing that the economy grows the best, “when we let the free market decide,” he said.
Still, he said the county may be able to support startup businesses in some capacity.
Reker also supports broader public access to county meetings through recordings, saying official minutes often don’t fully capture detailed discussion.
Garnet Paulsen
Garnet Paulsen is challenging Reker for the District 3 Moody County Commission seat.
Paulsen said she has been a Moody County resident for 49 years and, alongside her husband, owns and operates a farm in northeast Moody County, including a cow-calf operation.
She has long been actively involved in farm work and cattle operations while also serving her local community through public service. Paulsen served 24 years on the Union Township board as a supervisor, helping oversee gravel road maintenance, bridges and culvert replacement.
“I’m very mindful of the importance of the infrastructure in the county,” she said.
Outside of public service and farming, Paulsen said she enjoys flower gardening, mowing lawn, quilting, and sewing memory bears, bags and other projects.
“I’m trustworthy, honest and fair,” she said. “As County Commissioner of District 3, I will do my best to serve all the citizens in Moody County.”
Looking ahead, Paulsen said retaining law enforcement, continuing strong road maintenance, staying within budget and addressing impacts tied to Senate Bill 96 (property tax relief) will all be important.
“I will be very open-minded working with any and all issues challenging the county in the next four years,” she said.
Paulsen said she believes county tax dollars are generally being spent well, but commissioners must remain mindful about where funding is directed.
“I will focus on ensuring that emergency services and public safety are top priority,” she said.
Unlike some candidates who favor a more limited government role, Paulsen said county leadership should remain actively involved in supporting growth.
“I believe county government plays a huge role,” she said. “We need to continue supporting growth of the county, provide affordable housing, and encourage economic development and a better quality of life within Moody County.”
Paulsen also said improving access to government meetings is important and suggested evening meetings may better serve working residents.
“I think scheduling evening meetings would be helpful for the citizens that cannot attend the 9 a.m. meetings,” she said.
District 5
Doug Entringer
Doug Entringer is seeking election to continue serving in the District 5 Moody County Commission seat after being appointed earlier this year following the unexpected resignation of longtime commissioner Dan Miles.
With little advance notice the seat would be opening, the commission was tasked with quickly filling the vacancy, and Entringer agreed to step in on an interim basis. Voters will now decide who they would like to see continue in the role moving forward.
A lifelong Moody County resident, Entringer said his background in farming and township government shaped his decision to serve.
“I have farmed and lived in Moody County and in Jefferson Township my whole life,” he said. “I was on the Jefferson township board for 15 years.”
Entringer said he graduated from Colman School, and all of his children also graduated from Colman-Egan.
“I am a very good listener and I don’t push my personal agenda on anyone,” he said.
Looking ahead, Entringer said one of the county’s biggest challenges will be maintaining infrastructure while keeping taxes in check.
“We have excellent roads in the county,” he said. “I think maintaining these roads and keeping them in good shape without raising taxes will be challenging.”
Entringer said he believes the county has generally done a strong job managing taxpayer dollars responsibly.
“I think the county has been doing a good job of spending their taxpayers dollars wisely,” he said.
One area he believes deserves attention is retaining law enforcement officers in a competitive job market.
“I think keeping good Moody County policemen and not losing them to the private sector will be something to be addressed,” he said.
On growth and development, Entringer said he supports continuing successful local efforts without unnecessary interference.
“In my district the Colman development board and the Colman city council have done an excellent job of growing the town and I wouldn’t want to hinder any of that,” he said.
Entringer said accessibility and direct communication with constituents would be priorities if elected to continue serving.
“One thing I want to do is get my phone number out to all Moody County residents so they can call me about any issue,” he said. “I may not always be able to answer but leave a message and I will get back to them.”
Lora Zwart
Lora Zwart is challenging Entringer for the District 5 Moody County Commission seat.
Zwart said while she did not grow up in South Dakota, the state has become home.
Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she is married to fourth-generation South Dakota farmer Charley Zwart, a Colman High School graduate. The couple have been married nearly 21 years and have two sons — Jackson, 19, who attends Lake Area Technical College for production agriculture, and Caden, 17, a junior at Colman-Egan.
Zwart said she previously worked in information technology in Sioux Falls before leaving that career in 2016 to help full-time on the family farm, where she learned to drive semi and haul grain locally.
Her political involvement, she said, began during opposition to the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline.
“That is what piqued my interest and got me involved as an active citizen,” she said.
Zwart said she has attended countless county commission meetings, serves on the First District Association of Governments board through a county appointment, and is treasurer for Sioux River Republican Women.
“I would like to bring a fresh perspective and when necessary, challenge ‘the way it has always been done,’” she said.
Looking ahead, Zwart said housing remains one of the county’s biggest concerns, both affordability and availability.
“As a landlord, I have seen firsthand the implications of high property taxes to my renters,” she said.
She said property taxes would be a high priority and that maintaining strong relationships with legislators in Pierre will be important in helping ensure “conservative legislation” and responsible use of taxpayer dollars.
Zwart said the county has generally done a strong job managing taxpayer money, particularly with road maintenance, but believes public access to meetings could be improved.
“I would like to see some investment in technology, for the purpose of live streaming the commission meetings, that way our residents can stay informed without trying to attend a bi-monthly Tuesday 9 a.m. meeting,” she said.
On the county’s role in growth and economic development, Zwart favors a more limited government approach.
“Very little,” she said. “I believe the Government should play a supportive role for the People. A County Commissioner should prioritize the health and safety of the citizens, and be a good steward of the Earth.”
Transparency, she said, would remain a priority if elected.
“I feel that is the only way to provide full transparency,” she said, referring to her efforts recording public meetings.
She said she would continue encouraging public participation and remaining accessible to residents.
“I will always ask questions and hear your concerns,” she said.
Voters who would like to hear directly from the candidates will have an opportunity to do so Wednesday, May 27, during a casual meet-and-greet and brief panel discussion beginning at 7 p.m. at The Merc, 111 E. Second Ave., Flandreau.
In the interest of transparency, The Merc is a local business owned by the editor of this newspaper. The event is being organized not as a political endorsement, but as a community effort to provide local voters with an informal opportunity to meet the candidates seeking public office ahead of the June 2 election.
For anyone wanting an advance look at what will appear on their ballot, all 20 local ballots are posted just inside the rotunda at the Moody County Courthouse.
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