Happy Wednesday! Megan here.

Weather check: Just about as good as it gets

This week, cracks knuckles it's less than a week until the run-off election in which Sioux Falls will select its next mayor and add three new faces to the City Council. You've met the candidates, but today you'll find new, updated candidate guides with new questions and fresh responses that will hopefully help you find clarity before you cast your vote.

  • Plus, don't miss our weekly event guide and some Super Simplified headlines because other news is also happening in tandem with the run-off (much to my chagrin).

And now, news:

2026 CITY ELECTION

Your guide to the mayoral run-off candidates

Simplified: And then there were two. Jamie Smith and Christine Erickson are the two remaining candidates in the Sioux Falls mayoral race, rising to the top of a crowded field in the fight to fill Mayor Paul TenHaken's seat.

Tell me more

Both candidates joined the Sioux Falls League of Women Voters, Sioux Falls Simplified, Sioux Falls Live and The Dakota Scout last week for a public debate covering a wide variety of policy topics.

  • During that debate, Erickson and Smith answered a wide variety of policy questions, all of which were compiled with input from more than a dozen community stakeholders, neighborhood associations and nonprofits.

Both candidates have also previously spoken with Sioux Falls Simplified. You can see those full conversations and summaries of those interviews here:

Meet the candidates for Sioux Falls Mayor
Each candidate sat down with Sioux Falls Simplified for an interview to talk through a number of important issues – including many reader-submitted topics. Here’s your Simplified guide to the mayor’s race.
Sioux Falls SimplifiedMegan Raposa

Here's more info on the candidates and a summary of the recent debate

2026 CITY ELECTION

Re-meet the City Council candidates

Simplified: Ok, so, of the four council races on the ballot this year, only one has been decided. Incumbent Rich Merkouris held on to his seat, but we still don't know which three newcomers will join him.

All three sets of candidates sat down with Sioux Falls Simplified for one more interview after the June 2 election. Here are the summaries of those conversations:

At-Large candidates

Your guide to the At-Large A City Council run-off candidates
James Oppenheimer and Vince Danh are both vying to represent Sioux Falls in the At-Large A seat on the City Council.
Sioux Falls SimplifiedMegan Raposa

Southeast District candidates:

Your guide to Southeast District City Council run-off candidates
Two candidates remain in the race to represent southeastern Sioux Falls on the City Council. Mike Crane and Sara Pankonin sat down with Sioux Falls Simplified to talk about their campaigns.
Sioux Falls SimplifiedMegan Raposa

Central District candidates:

Your guide to Central District City Council run-off candidates
From a field of five candidates, only the Zach(k)s remain in the race to represent the central district on the Sioux Falls City Council. Both Zak Okuwe and Zach DeBoer sat down with Sioux Falls Simplified ahead of the June 23 run-off election to talk about a variety of policy topics.
Sioux Falls SimplifiedMegan Raposa

TL;DR

Super Simplified Stories

  • Go vote. Absentee voting is now available for the June 23 run-off election. You can vote in-person at either the Lincoln or Minnehaha County admin building (either one – you don't have to go to the one in the county you live in). Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 20. In-person absentee voting ends at 5 p.m. Monday, June 22.
  • Try a new sport.* The Sioux Falls Family YMCA is offering kids a chance to try out a new sport with free lacrosse clinics this month. Boys and girls in first through eighth grade can come learn the fundamentals needed to play the game, and sticks are available for those who need them. Learn more and register here.
  • Meet the folks looking at the future of downtown. The Falls Area Development Corporation – a nonprofit arm of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation – this week unveiled the Sanford District Advisory Task Force. This group will lay the groundwork for a community master plan to decide what goes in the Smithfield land after the pork processing plant moves out of downtown. Slow and steady is the name of the game, but this marks the first step in the planning process.
    • The 13-member task force includes Scott Stern, Jessie Schmidt, Mark Cotter, Keith Severson, Todd Ernst, Councilor Jennifer Sigette, Lucas Fiegen, Roger Weber, Brandon Hanson, Rep. Kadyn Wittman, Anita Wetsch, Vaney Hariri and Shawn Pritchett.
  • 🐝Bee organized.* Bee Organized Sioux Falls helps individuals and families simplify their homes and their lives, while also supporting local businesses in creating more efficient, organized workspaces. From kitchens and closets to garages and offices, as well as decluttering, packing, unpacking, and move support, Cristen and her team work alongside clients to create organized, functional spaces with systems that are easy to maintain and designed to support real life. Learn more and schedule a complimentary assessment here.

*Denotes a paid partnership

PRICE PREDICTOR

Can you guess the price of this Sioux Falls-area home?

This is a sponsored segment from Destinie Marshall with Discovery Real Estate Co.

This three-bedroom, two-bath split foyer is beautifully updated and right in the heart of Brandon. The main level features an inviting living space with newer LVP flooring, updated lighting, and great natural light throughout. The dining area opens to the backyard deck, creating the perfect spot to relax or entertain while overlooking the spacious yard and established garden area.

Can you guess the price?

  1. $325,500
  2. $312,500
  3. $317,500

Want to see your listing shared here? Email megan@sfsimplified.com.

EVENTS

Stuff to do: June 17-23

  • Call your dad. It's Father's Day on Sunday – don't forget to call your dad or celebrate a father figure in your life.
  • Catch some children's theater. The Storyland Children's Theater is back in McKennan Park starting this week and running throughout the summer. You can see a full schedule of upcoming shows on the city's website.
  • Celebrate the longest day of the year. It's the Solstice this weekend, and the folks at The Good Earth Farm are celebrating with a special "farm after dark" event with s'mores, astrology and some other surprises. Snag your tickets here. Or, if the after-dark crowd isn't your speed, you can also just go get pizza Sunday afternoon.
  • Celebrate Juneteenth. Sioux Falls' Juneteenth celebration will take place starting at 10 a.m. Saturday at Fawick Park.This year's theme is "Rooted in History," and KELO has the deets.
  • Paint a planter. Wild Peach & Co. is hosting a class Saturday afternoon in which you can paint your own planter pot. All supplies are included in the $25 class. Get your tickets here.
  • Hang out at the zoo. The Great Plains Zoo is staying open late Friday for its "Evenings at the Zoo" event. You can stay until 7:30 p.m. and check out your favorite animals, family-friendly games and crafts. Details here.

THIS AND THAT

What I'm falling for this week:

ICYMI

More Simplified Stories

REPLAY: Sioux Falls mayoral candidate debate
Mayoral candidates Christine Erickson and Jamie Smith will discuss a variety of policy topics in a debate hosted by the Sioux Falls League of Women Voters in partnership with Sioux Falls Simplified, Sioux Falls Live and The Dakota Scout.
Sioux Falls SimplifiedMegan Raposa
Zoo nears fundraising goal for aquarium, more improvements on the way
The Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium is nearing a fundraising milestone that’ll allow it to start construction on a new aquarium on the Great Plains Zoo campus. Meanwhile, they’re also looking at renovating the giraffe habitat – here’s what you need to know.
Sioux Falls SimplifiedMegan Raposa
Why the county says this homelessness plan is different
“The benefit of having a strategic plan is everybody is basically playing off the same sheet of music,” Sharon Chontos of North Star Solutions said. “And everybody knows what each other is doing and how they’re responsible for helping individuals and families.”
Sioux Falls SimplifiedMegan Raposa

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  • Advertise with us. Tell the "simplified" story of your business to your target audience. Want more info? Reach out to megan@sfsimplified.com.

Thank you

Thank you to Sioux Falls Simplified sponsors, including SafeSplash Swim School, Wayne & Mary's Nutrition Center, Startup Sioux Falls, Encompass Mental Health, the Sioux Falls YMCA, EmBe, the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, Barre3 Sioux Falls, the Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium, the Washington Pavilion, The Premiere Playhouse, The Good Night Theatre Collective and the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance. When you support them, you're also supporting Sioux Falls Simplified.

Oh, by the way

Your feedback is extremely helpful – hit the reply button and send any news tips, typos, complaints, compliments or cups of coffee my way. ❤️