Meet the people who want to represent you on the Sioux Falls City Council

Editor's note: This is the first in a multi-part series on the 2024 city and school board election. Stay tuned for more on the candidates views on various issues – oh, and make sure you're registered to vote by March 25 or, like, what is this all for?

Simplified: Four of the eight Sioux Falls City Council seats will have new faces after the April 9 election. Two of those spots are already filled by uncontested races, while six more candidates are vying for one of the remaining two. Here's what you need to know.

Why it matters

• The Sioux Falls City Council sets policy for the entire city, as well as adopting the annual budget – which, for context, was about $800 million this year.
• A good chunk of that money comes from taxes collected on any purchases you make or property you own. These regular elections are your way to have a say in how your money is spent.
• City election turnout is also historically quite low – like, as low as 4% in some parts of town. The last city election had the lowest turnout since the mid-90s. That means a very small subset of the population is making decisions that affect everyone who lives in town.

Ok, ok, so voting is important. Make it easy.

That's my whole m.o., baby.

Sioux Falls Simplified sat down with every candidate on the ballot and asked the same series of questions. You'll see more of those answers in the coming weeks, but for now ... drumroll

Meet the candidates

Jennifer Sigette

• Northwest District (uncontested)
• Age: 51
• Occupation: Executive Director for the SD Lyons Foundation
• Why did you decide to run for City Council? Sigette cited some "down time" she anticipates having as her kids are graduating high school, as well as the encouragement to run from her peers and outgoing Councilor Greg Neitzert.

"Ultimately, I love Sioux Falls," she said.

Miranda Basye

• Northeast District
• Age: 29
• Occupation: Digital marketer

Why did you decide to run for City Council? Basye mentioned her reasons for running as including her upbringing in Sioux Falls and feeling like she's been supported by this community, as well as her previous role working with the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance opening her eyes to the importance of local government.

"I just really believe that we can think big, have conversations and problem-solve together better as a community when we’re inclusive to all ideas, especially in a nonpartisan municipal government structure," Basye said. "I just kinda looked around, and I was like you know what I could be somebody who helps other people get more engaged."

Neil Jeske

• Northeast District
• Age: 35
• Occupation: Investor/entrepreneur, former truck driver

Why did you decide to run for City Council? Jeske said he felt inspired to run after seeing a news report about poor living conditions in a local apartment building.

"That's why I decided to run – tenants rights," Jeske said.

David Zokaites

• Northeast District
• Age: 62
• Occupation: Retired

Why did you decide to run for City Council? Zokaites cited that he was recently the subject of a short documentary and wants to play on that momentum.

"The opportunity is here," Zokaites said. "It's now. We can work for a better government right now. I don't have to wait for anything."

Ryan Spellerberg

• Southwest District (uncontested)
• Age: 46
• Occupation: Mortgage Lender at First Bank & Trust

Why did you decide to run for City Council? Spellerberg said he'd planned to run when he retired, but decided to do so sooner when he was approached by some people in his district and asked to run to fill the open seat.

"I just don't think there's a better way to give back than public service," Spellerberg said. "And selfishly, I love to know what goes on in the city. I don't think there’s a better position to figure things out like that than City Council."

Jordan Deffenbaugh

• At-large seat
• Age: 35
• Occupation: Partnership Developer with the BAM Institute and occasional cook at Bread & Circus

Why did you decide to run for City Council? Deffenbaugh said he's been building toward a council run with his work in the Whittier neighborhood and his years of research on topics like affordable housing systems.

"I am the most equipped to address deeply seated challenges in our community that have been brewing for decades," he said.

Richard Thomason

• At-large seat
• Age: 32
• Occupation: Relationship Manager at Central Bank

Why did you decide to run for City Council? Thomason grew up in Sioux Falls and says he wants to ensure future generations have the same great experiences he did.

"(Sioux Falls) has a tradition of excellence in my opinion, and I want to make sure that tradition stays," he said.

Allison Renville

• At-large seat
• Age: 39
• Occupation: Community organizer and executive director of her own nonprofit, TiWakan.

Why did you decide to run for City Council? Renville cited a previous run she'd made for the state legislature, but when that fell through she said she's found other ways to advocate in the community – including working directly with unhoused folks.

"I'm influential enough where when I talk about things or when I do things it'll just be a matter of time before it's common knowledge," she said.