Letters to the Editor | September 23, 2026

Be an informed voter this fall
Early voting is accessible at the Brookings City-County Building on the first floor from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. , Monday through Friday. Be an informed voter. Take your driver’s license or passport with you to check in and receive a ballot.

New voters to Brookings County need to register to vote before Oct. 19 in the City-County Building.

Local candidate forums are scheduled for Saturday, September 26th on the third floor of the City-County Building:
- 9 a.m. City Council;
- 10 a.m. County Commissioners; and
- 11 a.m. Sheriff Candidates.

Larry Rhoden and Dan Ahlers will debate on South Dakota Public Broadcasting at 8 p.m. on September 28.

Brian Bengs, an independent candidate for U.S. Senate was interviewed on September 14 on SDPB. Mike Rounds declined to participate in this broadcast.
In addition, local TV stations will interview candidates in the near future, tune in, stay informed.

Your voice matters. Your vote counts. Exercise your civic duty to preserve democracy.

Roberta Olson
Member, Brookings Area Indivisible

Langstraat for Brookings County Sheriff
I retired from the Brookings County Sheriff’s Office after spending more than 30 years in law enforcement.

During my career, I have worked alongside countless officers including both candidates currently running for Sheriff.

I am supporting Manny Langstraat because I know he has the honesty, integrity, experience and moral character necessary to lead the Brookings County Sheriff’s Office.

I know Manny professionally, and I know the position he holds today because it is the same position I held before retiring. Being Patrol Sergeant isn’t an easy job. The Patrol Sergeant position responsibilities include supervising employees, making decisions quickly, responding to incidents and having difficult conversations. The position is also responsible for leading the community interactions the deputies have on a daily basis. Manny has the technical skills to help lead the team through the ever changing challenges that law enforcement faces. Manny has shown his ability to make tough calls under pressure while remaining fair, honest and accountable.

One of the things I respect most about Manny is he isn’t afraid to be upfront with people. He doesn’t tell people what he thinks they want to hear; and he has run his campaign the same way. He is willing to honestly explain where he stands on issues and why, even when his stance may not be the easiest or politically convenient.

Manny has one of the best work ethics I have ever seen; he is always willing to help anyone out. Manny began his public law enforcement career with Brookings County and I believe this is a life- long career for him.

I have said publicly many times, I believe Manny possesses the leadership skills, honesty, integrity and morals to lead this office into the future; and I stand behind that statement.

This isn’t about personalities or political parties for me. It’s about who I believe will make the better Sheriff. After my years working in law enforcement and knowing the people involved, I believe Manny Langstraat is the right person to lead the Brookings County Sheriff’s Office.

Jon Pike
Retired Patrol Sergeant
Brookings County Sheriff’s Office