HURON Incumbent Rick Benson and challenger Jared Zerfoss will compete for the District 2 seat on the Beadle County Commission in Tuesdays Republican primary. With no Democrat or Independent filing, the election will essentially decide who will take the oath of office in January 2025.
For those curious, District 2 represents the northwest portion of the county, including Broadland, Hitchcock, Wolsey, and Wessington along with selected parts of the northwest part of Huron. To find out which district you are part of in Beadle County, fill out the information on the South Dakota Secretary of State website, vip.sdsos.gov/viplogin.aspx, and that system will tell you your current registration along with city/county/state precinct information.
The Plainsman sent both candidates the same questions to provide their responses to voters.
Plainsman: Introduce yourself (where you work, your family, background, etc.):
Rick Benson: I was raised in Beadle County, graduated from Huron High School, graduated from SDSU (B.S. & M.S. in Civil Engineering), and spent 4 years in the U.S. Air Force. I am married to Sandra (Kotas) Benson and have two grown children. Our son Jeff is an Anesthesiologist in Eau Claire, Wisc. Our daughter Jodi Hegg lives here in Huron and is employed with the Federal Aviation Administration. I retired from the U.S. Government in 2001 and have operated the family farm ever since.
Jared Zerfoss: My name is Jared Zerfoss and I live in Wessington with my wife of 15 years, Lacey, and our two children, Jeven, age 13, and Makenna, age 9. After graduating from Wolsey High School in 2003, I earned an Associates Degree in Ag Business from Lake Area Technical Institute.
From there I continued farming, sold seed, and ran a successful agricultural business for 14 years. In 2021, I had the opportunity to sell my ownership to my business partner.
I currently farm and work at Fritzsche Farms, Inc. I serve as director for the Whiteside Township Board, president for Farmers Union Oil and Wessington Economic Development, and chairman for the Huron Area Yelduz Shrine Circus.
Plainsman: Beadle County has worked hard to get a number of bridges repaired in the Bridge Improvement Grant program, but that also means that the average score of the bridges in the county is high enough now that in order to push Beadle bridges to the front of the BIG list may require additional taxes or understanding that bridges may be surpassed by other counties with bridges in worse shape. Would you support or be against the potential of future additional taxes (additional opt-out or adding in a wheel tax, for instance) in Beadle County to continue the work under the BIG program?
Zerfoss: While Beadle County has successfully replaced the bridges in dire need, there is always more work to be done. I am opposed to raising taxes. Counties are capped at a 3% increase in property taxes, while they face unlimited costs due to inflation. Raising county taxes would further burden land, home, and business owners in an unstable economy. I believe there is more that can be done at the state level to provide funding for counties and I look forward to building successful relationships with area legislators to work on long term funding solutions.
Benson: I am not in favor of increasing the opt-out or the wheel tax to continue the BIG program above what has been done in the past and present. I feel our Highway Superintendents (past and present) have done an excellent job in getting 19 BIG Grants and Federal Grants for nine additional bridges. If Beadle County is unable to get additional grants in the future because our bridges score too high, then the Commission will have to re-assess the funding approach.
Plainsman: County funding was a priority discussion during the 2024 S.D. legislature, though limited items were pushed through for added funding. How do you envision the relationship between the county commission and area state legislators to encourage funding of county government?
Benson: Counties will have to continue to press local legislators on issues that are of utmost importance. An example would be State Funding of Court-Appointed Attorneys where expenditures are difficult for Counties to budget for because of the variability from year to year. Commissioners also need to stay in close contact with the State Association to assist them in their Lobbying efforts. I do commend those involved in state funding of the BIG program.
Zerfoss: While some viable recommendations came out of the Summer Study last year, most were dropped once they made it to appropriations. County funding shortfalls are a statewide issue. I envision a strong relationship with area legislators, no matter what side of the aisle they are on. We need to have an open dialogue about ways to increase county funding statewide.
While I know it will take time, I believe that with continued discussions long term funding solutions can be agreed upon.
Plainsman: What skills and knowledge do you feel that you bring to the potential role of commissioner?
Zerfoss: I have had the opportunity and pleasure to work alongside many remarkable individuals who have helped me become who I am today. I have learned the value of hearing what others have to say, as well as the importance of working together to reach common goals. My time spent serving on various boards around the Beadle County area has taught me to listen, keep an open mind, and find solutions that work for the parties involved. If elected, I intend to serve the people of Beadle County with the same level of commitment I have put into Whiteside Township, Farmers Union Oil, Wessington Economic Development, and Yelduz Shrine Circus.
Benson: I have become very familiar with Beadle County government while serving on the Commission. I have served as Commission Chair and Vice Chair, served on the Health Insurance Committee, and represented the Commission in Union negotiations. I currently serve on the County Weed Board, City of Huron TIF Committee, and the Huron Regional Medical Center Board of Directors. I was heavily involved in the review and update of County Ordinances. I personally wrote the Drainage Ordinance and currently serve as the Drainage Administrator for the County. During my tenure, the Commission combined functions in certain Departments thereby reducing staff. Subsequent to construction of the new Highway Shop, the Weed Department function was relocated to Highway and the Weed Department property was sold.
Maintaining and improving infrastructure has been a priority during my time on the Commission (examples include improvements to the 573 miles of County Roads, construction of the new Highway Shop, and improvements to the Court House).
I am a Registered Professional Engineer (retired) in South Dakota. During my Government career, I was Sub-District Chief of the U.S. Geological Survey Huron Office. Thus, I have a strong technical and personnel-management background.
Absentee balloting is available at the Beadle County courthouse through Monday, June 3, at 5 p.m. Voting on primary day, June 4, can be done in person at your registered polling place (if youre unsure about your polling place, check the voter information portal link mentioned above).
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