Sturgis council amid legal dispute appoints Don Lanfer to Ward 3 seat

The Sturgis Common Council appointed Don Lanfer to the Ward 3 alderperson seat Monday after a contentious discussion about which members of the governing body are authorized to vote on the vacancy.

The council began the night wrestling with competing readings of South Dakota statutes about appointments to municipal vacancies. Eric, the city—legal counselor, said his legal interpretation required five votes and "that would include the mayor voting." Several councilors, led by Councilor Jim, disagreed and moved to restrict the appointment vote to the seven aldermen, arguing past practice and fairness to the Ward 3 electorate.

That procedural motion passed on a roll-call vote, 5–2. With the voting body set, the council then held a short candidate forum in which four applicants — Don Lanfer, Francie Ganji, Rochelle Brook and Christopher Paldo — each delivered a two-minute statement and answered questions about teamwork, budgeting and conflicts of interest.

Lanfer, a retired law-enforcement official who described "a career in law enforcement [that] has spanned 46 years," won the appointment on paper ballots reported by staff, 6–1. After the results were read aloud, Lanfer was administered the oath of office and took his seat on the council.

Council members who opposed the mayor—s inclusion in the appointment process said they were concerned about consistency and precedent; proponents of the city counsel—s legal opinion said the statutes can be interpreted to include the mayor in the governing body that makes appointments. The council did not adopt a separate, binding legal opinion beyond the roll-call outcome and the appointment.

The council—s next regular meeting items will proceed with the newly seated Ward 3 representative in place.