John Dale - March 24, 2025

Like so many things, change for our country begins at home. If you want to make a change in our nation you need to start with your family and then the local government and work your way up to the federal level. Local Municipal elections are being held on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 for Belle Fourche, Spearfish, Sturgis, Deadwood and Lead. Polling locations will be open from 7am to 7pm. The local municipalities are having elections for mayors, city council members, and school board members. All of the local mayors and council members serve 3 year terms and if elected will take office in May. If you are not registered, voter registration deadline is March 24th. Early Voting also begins on March 24, 2025.

Belle Fourche https://www.bellefourche.org/elections is having elections for council members for wards 1, 2, 3 and 4. A precinct map of the wards of Belle Fourche can be found on the city's website. There are three ladies running for Monte Talkington's ward 1 seat - Karen Davis, Kristal Steeves, and Ivy Zimmerschied. Incumbent Clark Sowers is running against Lee Capp for ward 2. Dean Brunner is running unopposed for ward 3 Larry Schmaltz's seat. In ward 4 Robert Somervold is the incumbent and running unopposed. The Belle Fourche Chamber of Commerce is organizing a "Meet the Candidates" event on Thursday March 27, 6-7:30pm at Venue 519. On election day voting will take place at Belle Fourche Community Hall 512 6th Ave.

Spearfish will be voting on their mayor and city councilors. For ward 1 the incumbent Marty Clark is running against Raeann Mettler and Dean Myers. Incumbent Larry Klarenbeek and Victoria Greenlee are running for ward 2's council seat. Ana Rath is the incumbent for ward 3 and running against Michaela Madrid. The City of Spearfish Voting Wards map can be found here. Mayor John Senden is campaigning for his second term against challenger Micah Peters. Early voting will be held at the Finance window on the first floor of City Hall. On election day voting will take place at the Senior Citizen’s Center, located at 1306 North 10th Street.

Deadwood is voting for school board members and their mayor. Two of Deadwood's four commissioners, Blake Joseph and Charlie Struble-Mook, are running to be Mayor Ruth's replacement. Those living in the Lead-Deadwood School District will be voting for two school board members. Tim Madsen, Robin Lucero, Amber A. Vogt are running for those two positions. Deadwood will also have early voting available at the Finance Office in their City Hall from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. On April 8th voting will be at the City Hall Commission meeting room.

Lead and the outlying areas will also be voting for the Lead-Deadwood School Board members just like Deadwood. Those in the city of Lead will also have a mayoral election. The candidates running for Mayor Everett's position are Eddie Muñoz and Dustin Heupel. Heupel is currently a city commissioner for Lead. Voting will take place at Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center.

Sturgis is also having councilman and mayoral elections. Mayor Kevin Forrester is running unopposed since being recently elected after resignation of the previous mayor and other council members. Alex Usera for ward 1 and Tony Dargatz for ward 2 are also both running without challengers. Incumbent Mark Chaplin for ward 3 is challenged by candidate David Murtha. Two candidates, Terry Jensen and Steve Shuck, are running for Mayor Forrester's vacant ward 4 seat. A ward map for Sturgis can be found here. Polls will be open at the Sturgis Community Center, 1401 Lazelle Street with early voting at City Finance Office.