South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has filled one of 2 vacancies in the Legislature from the Rapid City area, but has also created a new vacancy with her appointment.
Becky Drury has been serving in the South Dakota House from District 32 since Jan 2021, but will now represent District 34
Drury bought a house in District 34 last year and told South Dakota Searchlight she now plans to sell her District 32 home in the spring.
A former city council member in Rapid City and former Wall school board member, she has already resigned from the District 32 seat to succeed Jess Olson, who resigned her District 34 seat last year because of illness..
Noem says she has great confidence in Drury’s capabilities because they’ve worked together in the past to create real solutions for the people of South Dakota – and looks forward to continuing to work with her in the future.
Drury, retired from a career in communications and marketing, calls it her “honor” to continue serving Rapid City – comparing it to her time on the City Council, where her goal was the betterment of all of Rapid City.
Since the House District 32 seat is now vacant, the Rapid City area is still short two lawmakers – the other position being the State Senate District 35 seat vacated last year when Jessica Castleberry resigned.
Castleberry stepped down after Attorney General Marty Jackley said she’d violated a state law barring state lawmakers from receiving federal pandemic aid for businesses they own.
Governor Noem has since asked for an advisory opinion from the state Supreme Court clarifying what constitutes a conflict of interest, saying she’ll wait to fill the two open legislative seats until then.
Noem spokesman Ian Fury told South Dakota Searchlight that the governor “will be prepared to act quickly once the Supreme Court” issues a ruling.