Paul TenHaken
Mayor of Sioux Falls
Assumed office
May 15, 2018
Preceded byMike Huether
Personal details
Born
Paul Joseph TenHaken

(1977-11-13) November 13, 1977
Sioux Center, Iowa, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseJill TenHaken
EducationDordt College (BA)
University of Sioux Falls (MBA)
WebsiteOfficial website

Paul Joseph TenHaken, (born November 13, 1977) is an American businessman and website developer who has served as the mayor of Sioux Falls, South Dakota since May 15, 2018.[1]

Early life and education

TenHaken was born in Sioux Center, Iowa, to parents Lyle and Beth TenHaken.[2] He was raised in Worthington, Minnesota.[3] TenHaken attended Dordt College and received his degree in graphic design in 2000.[4] Upon graduation, TenHaken moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and worked as the mascot of the Sioux Falls Skyforce.[5] He attended the University of Sioux Falls and received an MBA in 2004.[4]

Business career

TenHaken founded Click Rain, a marketing technology agency in Sioux Falls, in 2008. TenHaken was named one of Entrepreneur magazine's Top 10 Emerging Entrepreneurs as well as South Dakota Young Entrepreneur of the Year. TenHaken is also the co-founder of the Dispatch Project, a non-profit that organizes overseas mission opportunities for business leaders. His efforts have received accolades from Entrepreneur Magazine, When Work Works, Inc. Magazine, and Sioux Falls Business Journal.[6]

Mayor of Sioux Falls

TenHaken placed first in the April 10, 2018 election, and won the May 1 run-off election with 62.7% of the vote.[7]

On April 9, 2020, over 80 employees at a Smithfield Foods pork processing plant in Sioux Falls were confirmed to have tested positive for COVID-19. The plant announced it would suspend operations beginning April 11.[8] On April 14, 2020, TenHaken stated he would be proposing a stay at home order to the city council.[9] After three days and tremendous backlash, he decided not to pursue the stay at home order. Mayor TenHaken is credited as saying it is difficult to lead locally in a non-partisan way. He has also said a mask mandate could 'destroy a city' due to how politicized the issue had become.[10]

In April 2022, Mayor TenHaken was re-elected to serve a second term as mayor by securing 73% of the vote, a record for any mayoral race in the City of Sioux Falls since transitioning to its current form of government.

One of Mayor TenHakens goals in office was to make Sioux Falls the Fittest city in the country.[11] He has implemented several programs to improve the city's health including a citywide running program,[12] outdoor fitness courts[13] and soccer pitches.[14]

Electoral history

Sioux Falls mayoral election, 2018
Candidates General election[15] Runoff election[16]
Votes % Votes %
Paul TenHaken 10,925 34.11 20,869 62.70
Jolene Loetscher 7,973 24.89 12,413 37.30
Jim Entenman 6,111 19.08
Greg Jamison 4,543 14.18
Kenny N. Anderson Jr. 2,136 6.67
Mike Gunn 343 1.07
Turnout 32,031 30.37 33,282 31.70

References

  1. ↑ Sneve, Joe. "TenHaken's transition into mayor's office centers on repairing relationships". argusleader.com. Argus Leader. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  2. ↑ Lawrence, Tom (May 5, 2020). "TenHaken still fond of Sioux Center". N'West Iowa Review. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Worthington native up for 'Hottest Husband'". Worthington Daily Globe. February 24, 2010. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  4. 1 2 Lawrence, Tom (May 4, 2020). "TenHaken leads Sioux Falls through virus". N'West Iowa Review. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  5. ↑ Sneve, Joe (May 4, 2018). "From mascot to mayor: Paul TenHaken's path to Sioux Falls City Hall". Argus Leader. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  6. ↑ Source, Secondary. "Executive Profile of Paul Ten Haken". bloomber.com. Bloomberg. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  7. ↑ Sneve, Joe. "TenHaken elected mayor: 'Voters sent a loud and clear message'". argusleader.com. Argus Leader. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  8. ↑ "Smithfield Temporarily Shuts Pork Plant Due to Coronavirus". U.S. News & World Report. 2020-04-09. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Mayor TenHaken to propose stay at home order to City Council early in the pandemic because of coronavirus numbers". kelo.com. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  10. ↑ "'Wear a dang mask': TenHaken begs residents to stop spread of COVID-19".
  11. ↑ https://www.keloland.com/news/local-news/kicking-off-100-miles-100-days-challenge/amp/
  12. ↑ https://www.siouxfalls.org/mayor/100-miles
  13. ↑ https://www.siouxfalls.org/news/2023/06/26/outdoor-fitness-court
  14. ↑ https://www.siouxfallslive.com/news/sioux-falls/mini-pitch-soccer-fields-give-access-to-sioux-falls-kids-in-core-neighborhoods
  15. ↑ "SUMMARY REPT-GROUP DETAIL". 11 April 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  16. ↑ "SUMMARY REPT-GROUP DETAIL". 2 May 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
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