SIOUX FALLS — The Sioux Falls City Council will be under new leadership at their next meeting after council members voted unanimously to shake up who shall hold the position of chair and vice-chair.
By an 8-0 vote at the council’s regular meeting on Tuesday, May 16, the councilors selected Marshall Selberg to serve as the body’s next chairman, followed by another all-to-none vote for Rich Merkouris to serve as vice-chair. The change in leadership will take effect at the city council’s next meeting on June 6.
Selberg was nominated by Councilman Alex Jensen, who had served as the council’s vice-chair. Jensen noted that Selberg had served as chair before Jensen was elected to the body in 2020, and said he wanted to Selberg lead again.
“I came onto council after Councilor Selberg was done being chair and I think it’s about time to see his leadership from the front,” Jensen said. “I’m eager to see his leadership to move the council’s agenda forward.”
Merkouris touted Selberg’s communication skills, calling him a team player before all councilors cast a vote to seal Selberg’s bid as chair. Selberg is entering this final year on the council before he’ll be term-limited.
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“I want to give everybody my best as I ride off into the sunset,” Selberg said with a laugh, thanking the councilors for their support.
After the vote on Selberg, Councilor Sarah Cole nominated Merkouris to the position of vice-chair, saying that she’s “come to appreciate his leadership and service to positively impacting the community.”
That vote also passed with the approval of all eight council members.
Before the votes, two members of the public rose to the podium to voice their support for Merkouris and Neitzert to serve as chair, but their comments did not sway the council’s vote.
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