     One of the youngest city council members in South Dakota is the new chairman of the South Dakota Democratic Party.
Shane Merrill of Parker was selected by the party’s Central Committee at a meeting Saturday in Rapid City.
The youngest city councilor ever elected in Parker, Merrill grew up on a dairy farm and coaches baseball.
He’s served as interim chair since the Central Committee unanimously recalled Jennifer Slaight-Hansen of Aberdeen early last month over allegations she violated the party’s constitution.
Slaight-Hansen was also accused of contributing to a hostile work environment that led to the resignation of Dan Ahlers as party executive director.
Slaight-Hansen appealed the decision, but the Central Committee upheld the vote to remove her last week.