Nurse, nonprofit founder launches bid for Sioux Falls City Council
Central District candidate among flurry of new names likely to appear on 2026 municipal ballot as four spots up for grabs
A 30-year-old health care professional and nonprofit leader is eyeing a spot behind the dais at Carnegie Town Hall held right now by Sioux Falls’ longest-tenured city councilor.
Zak Okuwe, a registered nurse at Sanford Health and founder of STEM the Gap, a tutoring and mentoring nonprofit for middle and high school students, has declared his candidacy for city council, filing paperwork with the Sioux Falls City Clerk’s Office earlier this month to run for the Central District spot coming open next year.
“Sioux Falls is a community that I deeply care about, because it has shaped who I am and given me opportunities I never take for granted,” said Okuwe, a Washington High School graduate who returned to Sioux Falls after earning his undergraduate and nursing degrees from the University of South Dakota. “Sioux Falls deserves a vision that looks beyond short-term fixes and instead prepares our city for the long-term challenges and opportunities ahead.”
Okuwe, who looks to succeed term-limited City Councilor Curt Soehl, said he gives generally positive marks to the city council for its attempts to balance the priorities of city hall with their own as well as their constituents. But more could be done, he said, to ensure voices of all segments of the Sioux Falls community are heard.
“Our City Council is largely made up of individuals from upper–middle income and business backgrounds. While their experience is valuable, it doesn’t fully reflect the perspectives of our entire city. Sioux Falls needs leadership that brings balance — voices from all walks of life who understand the challenges everyday families face,” he said, referencing his upbringing in northeast Sioux Falls where populations are the city’s most ethnically diverse.
With Soehl term-limited and two other city councilors eligible for re-election in 2026 choosing not to run for another term, Okuwe is the latest in a flurry of new names that could be on the city ballot in 2026.
Already having declared for the Central District spot are Robert Trzynka, are Sioux Falls attorney Robert Trzynka, former school board candidate Thomas Werner, citizen activist and writer Mike Zitterich and area property manager Matthew McKinley.
The CEO of the Sioux Falls YMCA, James Oppenheimer, is running for an at-large spot being vacated by Councilor Sarah Cole with her blessing – she’s chairing Oppenheimer’s campaign committee.
And Councilor David Barranco’s Southeast District seat will also be open as he pursues a statewide office. Meanwhile, Council Chairman Richard Merkouris has signaled his intent to seek another term, though he has not formally announced a re-election campaign.
“It’s time for fresh energy and new perspectives, leadership that isn’t just focused on the next 4 to 8 years, but on building a strong foundation for the next 25 to 30,” Okuwe said.
