Mayoral candidates to face off in public safety debate May 5
Batcheller, Erickson, Jamison, Smith, Zokaites confirm attendance at law enforcement-focused forum hosted by The Dakota Scout, Sioux Falls Live
The Dakota Scout and SiouxFallsLive.com are again joining forces to host a candidate debate — this time in the race for Sioux Falls mayor.
All five candidates vying to lead City Hall — Joe Batcheller, Christine Erickson, Greg Jamison, Jamie Smith and David Zokaites — have confirmed they will take part in a public safety-focused forum ahead of the June 2 municipal election.
The hour-long debate is scheduled for 6 p.m. May 5 in Sioux Falls and will be streamed live on TheDakotaScout.com and SiouxFallsLive.com. It will also be held in front of a live audience, with attendance limited exclusively to members of the law enforcement community and their families.
The forum will be moderated by Joe Sneve of The Dakota Scout and Patrick Lalley of SiouxFallsLive.com, veteran South Dakota journalists who lead their respective organizations. The two outlets are also partnering on a gubernatorial primary debate later this month in Sioux Falls.
“This is an important race for the future of Sioux Falls, and voters deserve the opportunity to hear directly from every candidate on issues that matter — especially public safety,” Sneve said. “We’re proud to once again partner with Sioux Falls Live to bring that conversation to the public in a meaningful and accessible way.”
Organizers said the debate’s focus on public safety reflects the central role the next mayor will play in shaping policy, staffing and funding decisions affecting police, fire and emergency response services.
The debate is sponsored by Ascend Financial, Rausch Meats, Craze Minds Marketing and Sioux Falls Insurance (Eric Meyers Group).
Just curious, why only members of the Law Enforcement community are invited? Why not Fire Rescue & EMS? They are also part of public safety, no? Honest question.