BROOKINGS (10-22-26) — Brookings Radio and the Brookings Beacon now continue Election 2026 coverage. This week, we profile candidates for Brookings County Commission.
Marty Stanwick has been Brookings County Sheriff since 1999. He is not seeking re-election as sheriff but is instead running for a seat on the County Commission.
When it comes to the 765-kilovolt power line proposed for Brookings County, Stanwick said that project does not seem to have benefits for South Dakota or Brookings County… “What does Brookings County get out of this power line? You know I’ve not really — I’ve sat through these (meetings) — and I haven’t really come to a conclusion of what we’re really going to get out of this. What is the benefit for Brookings County? It sounds like there’s a benefit for other data centers and different things that tie into this, and I think that’s where our zoning laws might be a little bit behind for the protection (of landowners).”
He said he’s interested in exploring Senate Bill 96 in Brookings County — that’s the optional half-cent sales tax counties can use to lower homeowner property taxes. Stanwick said Senate Bill 96 seems to be helping Lincoln County quite a bit… “They were able to bring down their property tax half — the property owners to half — with their half-cent. So I think it’s good that we probably just sit back and look at this, see what the other communities are (doing), but also I think we have a captive audience up at SDSU … at the football games. You’ve got 18 thousand fans, and right now the city’s getting all the benefit — good for the city — But I’m looking at that too and I think we need to look at this and try to capture some of that to help us reduce property taxes.”
Stanwick said his 28 years as sheriff give him the needed experience to serve on the Brookings County Commission… “I’ve been managing a $5 million Sheriff’s Office budget. I know that the budget of the county is a lot larger and there’s going to be a lot more to it, but I feel with that that … experience that I’ve had in the 28 years with county government gives me a good base for bringing some ideas and stuff to the table.”
Three, four-year seats on the County Commission are up for grabs.
The complete interview with Marty Stanwick is posted at https://www.brookingsradio.com/news/interview-brookings-county-commission-candidate-marty-stanwick/.
The Brookings Beacon has also published transcripts from the county candidates in this week’s issue of the paper.
Election day is November 3.
— Brookings Radio News
