STURGIS - The Sturgis City Council set a special election for Tuesday, June 2, during a special meeting Wednesday following the resignation of Mayor Kevin Forrester.
 Council members did not make an appointment to fill the mayoral vacancy at this time. Instead, Council President Tony Dargatz will continue to serve as mayor pro tempore, carrying out the duties of mayor until the council discusses a possible appointment to the position at its meeting on Monday, April 6.

Forrester resigned from his position on March 23, citing health concerns, and a desire to spend time with family and focus on his health, which created a vacancy in the city’s top elected position.
  Under South Dakota law, when a vacancy occurs in the office of mayor, the mayor pro tempore immediately assumes the duties of the position to ensure continuity of city operations.
  State law and city ordinance allow for a special election to determine who will serve the remainder of the unexpired term.
  With Wednesday’s action, the council chose to move forward with a special election, giving voters the opportunity to decide who will complete Forrester’s term, which runs through 2028.
  City Administrator Aaron Jordan, in a staff report presented to the council, said the June 2, date allows the city to meet all required publication timelines under state law and city ordinance, including notice requirements, petition circulation, and filing deadlines.

With the election date now established, city staff will begin the formal election process, including publishing notice of the vacancy and outlining procedures and deadlines for candidates to file nominating petitions.

Jordan believes the publication requirements may be met as soon as April 7. If that happens, people may begin taking out petitions for the office of mayor on April 8. Each candidate would be required to gather 50 signatures to be placed on the ballot. The filing deadline for the mayoral position would be Friday, May 1, at 5 p.m.

Forrester’s resignation marks the end of a public service career rooted in a deep connection to the Sturgis community.
  A lifelong resident, Forrester served on the City Council beginning in 2021 before becoming mayor in October of 2024. During his time in city leadership, he was known for a thoughtful, process-driven approach to decision-making, strong budget awareness, and a commitment to listening to all sides of an issue. 

As mayor, he emphasized transparency, communication, and long-term planning. He remained actively involved in many of the city’s most significant issues, including infrastructure investment, public safety, and the continued success of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, working to balance its economic benefits with quality of life for residents.
  Before entering city government, Forrester spent 28 years with Meade County as facility manager and IT director, where he led major facility and technology improvements that helped modernize county operations. He retired from that role in June of 2023.
  He was also deeply engaged in outdoor recreation and trail development, contributing to projects that created more than 75 miles of trails in the region and founding K4 Trails in 2021.
  In his resignation letter, Forrester expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and confidence in the city’s future.
  “I feel good about the progress we have made and the amount accomplished,” he wrote. “It has been a true honor for me to serve as your mayor.”
  City officials echoed that appreciation, noting Forrester’s leadership and long-standing commitment to the community.
  Throughout his career, Forrester often shared a guiding philosophy: “It takes a community to build a community,” a belief that shaped both his public service and his decades of civic involvement.
 With Wednesday’s action, the city begins its transition to new leadership, with voters set to determine the city’s next mayor in June.