About Sam

My wife, Jennifer, and I met at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. I was in working on my Master’s in Public Administration, and she was in Dental Hygiene school. I completed my graduate internship in 1998 in the Crime Analysis unit at the police department in Sioux City, IA.

Jennifer is originally from Lead, SD. She is the youngest daughter of Wayne and Bonnie King, who owned King’s Grocery on lower Highway 85 in Lead for many years. The King’s still make their famous miner’s meat pies — known as Pasties. Jennifer is employed as a Dental Hygienist here in Rapid City. I grew up on a farm near Boyden, Iowa. Boyden is very small – famous only for its zip code — 51234. My father served for many years as the rural mail carrier for Boyden.
We have three daughters: Abbie (13), Ellie (11) and Aubrie (7).

I served on the Rapid City Planning Commission from 2001-2002, and was first elected to the Rapid City Common Council in 2002 and was re-elected in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010; Elected Mayor in June 2011 and re-elected in 2013.

My education includes a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice & Psychology, and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of South Dakota. In addition to my experience on the council and my education, I have extensive management and leadership experience in the private sector. Most recently, I worked for Golden West Technologies in Rapid City. I have also taught business law at Oglala Lakota College – Rapid City campus.

Abbie, Aubrie, Sam, Jennifer and Ellie

Learn more about my vision and my plan for positive, honest leadership in the Mayor’s office.