Baltic developer, ag expert accused of pushing for mayor's ouster

Bad blood between Brian Hefty, city administration precursor to recall efforts

A real estate developer feuding with the city of Baltic over a stalled residential neighborhood buildout is behind a push to get rid of the town’s mayor.

That’s according to members of the Baltic city administration who this week find themselves on the defensive after a newly-formed political action committee launched a recall effort against Mayor Deborah McIsaac, accused of misconduct in office and stifling economic development in the rural Minnehaha County community.

City Hall is pushing back though.

“It’s all a political smear campaign,” Baltic city attorney John Hughes told The Dakota Scout Monday while suggesting Baltic resident and developer Brian Hefty is behind the push to force a recall election.

While the name registered to the political action committee calling itself South Dakotans for Transparent Government isn’t Hefty’s, Hughes said it’s clear Hefty and his development organization known as Grant Park Capital are orchestrating the recall.

NEWS: Baltic mayor facing recall amid corruption, abuse of power accusations