Pat Costello To Depart As GOED Commissioner

Pat Costello To Depart As GOED Commissioner

PIERRE, S.D. – Pat Costello will leave his position as Commissioner of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) at the end of this month, Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced today. 

Costello, who has served as commissioner since Gov. Daugaard took office in 2011, is leaving for an opportunity in the private sector. His last day will be June 30, 2016.

“Pat has been an outstanding representative for South Dakota, and under his leadership, our state has added thousands of jobs and continued to be one of the best places in America for business,” said the Governor. “I sincerely thank him for his service and wish him the very best in the future.”

Costello is a businessman and, prior to serving in the Daugaard administration, spent four years on the Sioux Falls city council. In addition to serving as GOED commissioner, Costello has also served on the Governor’s Executive Committee.

“I’d like to thank the Governor for the opportunity to serve as GOED commissioner,” said Costello. “It has been a personally rewarding experience. I’m very proud of what the Governor and our team have accomplished, and I’ll always value the friendships across the state I’ve made.” 

Aaron Scheibe, GOED’s deputy commissioner, will serve as interim commissioner from July 1 until a new commissioner is named.

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14 thoughts on “Pat Costello To Depart As GOED Commissioner”

  1. I called this one two years ago. Good luck with the run for Mayor of Sioux Falls, Pat!

  2. Is he the one who said that lack of a state income tax was keeping people from moving to South Dakota?

    1. I heard something to that affect too, but I heard he said that the lack of an income tax was keeping businesses from coming here because SD doesn’t have extra money to be able to offer those businesses incentives to come here. Frankly, I don’t think I would want those types of businesses to come here. When the incentives run out, they might too. I like the businesses that can make it on their own and aren’t looking for a handout, but just looking for a good working environment.

      1. I’m not advocating an income tax but SD pummels you with taxes before you make 1 cent. Income tax states don’t tax you until you become profitable. When you move or expand are you flush with cash to pay taxes?

    2. Yes. He’s also the guy that flushed $3 million down the drain for life on Mars. A contract that went to L&S from the futures fund and is overseen by Daugaard’s daughter. No conflict there.

      GOED needs to go.

    3. Noooo. Pat has routinely cited GOED’s surveys of people living outside of South Dakota that no income tax isn’t always a positive sales pitch like no corporate tax is to a business thinking about locating here. Surveys showed some people equate taxes to services and quality of life. It’s not Pat’s position, it is–as Richard Dawson would say–“survey says!”

      1. If people thinking of moving here but deciding not to because they equate taxes to services and quality of life, I suggest they instead move to MN. They will be very happy there with the amount of taxes they pay and all the unnecessary goodies they can then receive at someone else’s expense.

  3. Costello might run for mayor. His supporters in SF are the same moderate supporters Mickelson has. Costello will have to fight for spot #2 in the runoff because Greg Jamison will be guaranteed a spot.

    1. Then he’ll be mayor. Traditionally the number two vote getter in the first election wins the race in Sioux Falls.

  4. Congrats to Pat and the whole GOED team. The impact that team has on South Dakota’s economy pays off in spades!

  5. I’ve never heard of anybody who didn’t move here because there’s no state income tax.

    I have, however, worked in Dell Rapids with a number of minimally educated, low-skilled single mothers who lived in Minnesota because they qualified for services like Medicaid there. And if they can get Medicaid here, they will move into subsidized housing and enroll their fatherless children in the public schools, and the rest of us will pay for all that.
    In short, the kind of people who equate a state income tax with better services are the kind of people who pay little or no income tax but require lots of services.

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