Minnehaha County to decide on new commissioners

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Of the three candidates for Minnehaha County Commission, two will be elected to serve a four-year term starting in January.

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Republican incumbent, Dean Karsky who has been a part of the commission since January 3, 2017, is running for re-election this year.

Republican candidate, Cole Heisey is running for the county commission seat.

Independent candidate, Anny Libengood, spent almost 18 years working for Minnehaha County Human Services. She also was the county's first-ever Community Services and Housing Navigator and is running for a commission seat.

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In a meeting Hosted by the League of Women Voters all three candidates spoke on their priorities and the reasons they are running.

Karsky stated his priorities are public safety, supporting law enforcement and first responders, fire departments, rural fire departments, rural ambulance providers, are all important and place an emphasis on what they do in the county.

Heisey said his priorities are maintaining and expanding the county's infrastructure, keeping the government small and having more dialogue about lowering taxes.

Libengood said her priorities are turning Minnehaha's commission into a full-time commission, getting the retention rates of county employees up and having a responsible budget to keep property taxes low.