Rhoden taps health care executive for open legislative seat

Britton man served on school board and board of S.D. Association of Healthcare Organizations

Gov. Larry Rhoden has appointed a health care executive to fill a vacancy in the Legislature in northeastern South Dakota.

Rhoden named Nick Fosness to the District 1 seat.

“Nick Fosness is a true South Dakotan. He believes in the importance of hard work, community and resilience – values that are essential to our state’s way of life,” Rhoden said in a release announcing the pick. “I am confident that his leadership will help us keep South Dakota strong, safe, and free.”

Fosness, from Britton South Dakota, has served as the CEO of Marshall County Hopspital Healthcare Center Avera for more than 13 years. He is also the current vice president and incoming chair to the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations Board of Directors.

Outside of his work in health care, Fosness, 47, also served nine years by serving on his local school board. For seven years he was the board’s president.

“I’m honored by Gov. Rhoden’s faith in me, and I look forward to working on issues that help my neighbors,” Fosness said in the release.

Fosness will replace Christopher Reder. Reder resigned from the Legislature in May, citing personal and professional reasons for departing the Legislature. Reder had won election in November to a first term and participated in just one legislative session this year before choosing to step down.

It’s the second legislative appointment that Rhoden has made in the past month. On July 10, Rhoden announced the appointment of Brandon Wipf to the District 22 Senate seat. That vacancy occurred when former Sen. David Wheeler stepped down to take a judgeship.

Wipf is a fourth generation farmer from Spink County.

Fosness and his wife, Jenny, have four children. District 1 includes Brown, Day, Marshall and Roberts counties.