BROOKINGS (10-23-26) — Brookings Radio and the Brookings Beacon now continue Election 2026 coverage. This week, we profile candidates for Brookings County Commission.
Kelly VanderWal is an incumbent member of the Brookings County Commission.
VanderWal said Brookings County benefits economically from carefully-considered infrastructure development… “Back in the late ’60s, you know the Interstate came through, and I remember my dad saying that not everyone was for that. It was going to cut some farmlands up and make things a little more difficult for those folks that lived (near), but he also said wow can you imagine Brookings County without an Interstate?”
VanderWal said developments like that have proven to be good for Brookings County in the long-run and should be considered when looking at future infrastructure projects… “I’ve been in agriculture my whole life — either farming or working at processing plants, and now at the elevator in Volga. But the important things processing wise — we have a soybean plant, and a corn plant and a cheese factory right here in Brookings. Some of the reasons that those are here is because we have very good roads, not just the Interstate but state highways and county highways. We have an ample supply of electricity. We have an ample supply of natural gas, and number one we’ve got good help around.”
When it comes to Senate Bill 96 — the optional half-cent sales tax counties can use to lower homeowner property taxes — VanderWal said it’s wise to wait, study the issue, and see how it plays it with other counties in the state… “I’m not against it. I just think it’s a tax shift, and we should stay on the sidelines and wait and see, and hear some comments from our other counties. I attended the annual county convention in Sioux Falls this past fall, so I enjoy visiting with those people from other counties and listening to them talk about their viewpoints on subjects like this.”
Three, four-year seats on the County Commission are up for grabs.
The complete interview with Kelly VanderWal is posted at https://www.brookingsradio.com/news/interview-brookings-county-commission-candidate-kelly-vanderwal/. Next week, we’ll start profiles of the District 7 State House candidates.
Election day is November 3.
— Brookings Radio News
