(Editor's note: This is just one part of a series of stories about local candidates in the upcoming June 2 primary, municipal and school board election. Find more coverage here.)
Simplified: One of Mayor Paul TenHaken's big initiatives in his final term as mayor was an effort to purchase land downtown – the Riverline District – as a proposed site for a new convention center. That plan is on pause, but the city still owns the land for the time being. Sioux Falls Simplified asked each mayoral candidate for their thoughts on a downtown convention center.
Here's what we asked:
Do you support building a new convention center downtown?
Here's how candidates answered (in alphabetical order):
Joe Batcheller:
"I would support that in the right location," he said. "I have some questions about the Riverline District. It is a little bit disconnected from even the Whittier neighborhood. I think it’s a question that’s worth exploring further, and that could be somewhere else in downtown too."
Christine Erickson:
"I definitely think there’s a need for downtown convention space – I really do," Erickson said. "But is the time right now? As we continue to talk about property taxes and wanting relief, it's really hard to come forward and say, 'Hey, we need this massive $500 million project or $800 million project to come in.'"
Greg Jamison:
"I am excited about a downtown convention center, first off," Jamison said. "There are opportunities that we’ve missed because of where ours is today. ... The Riverline District is just a little too far removed from downtown."
Jamie Smith:
"I am supportive of a convention center downtown," Smith said. "In the Riverline District? Probably not, now that we know there’s other land available, or going to be (referring to Smithfield site)."
David Zokaites:
"I don't really know if we really need one," Zokaites said. "I don't know if the city needs to spend $250 million on the thing. We've got a Premier Center that seems to work pretty well. For the city to go further along in this initiative, I would like to see it brought to a public vote."
