MEHLHAFF NAMED LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH COUNCIL INTERIM DIRECTOR
PIERRE – Legislative Research Council (LRC) Deputy Director and Chief Fiscal Analyst Jeff Mehlhaff has been named
as LRC’s Interim Director. The LRC’s Executive Board officially made the appointment at its June 16, 2026, meeting.
Mehlhaff succeeds John McCullough, who resigned this month after serving in the Director position since
March 26, 2024. Prior to becoming Director, McCullough was the LRC’s Chief Research and Legal Analyst and
served as Interim Director from October 2023 to March 2024 following the resignation of then-Director Reed
Holwegner. McCullough was initially hired as the Code Counsel for LRC in 2021.
Mehlhaff began his career with the LRC in 2016 as a fiscal analyst and became Chief Fiscal Analyst in December
of 2020. The Deputy Director title and duties were added to his position in April of 2024.
The Executive Board has tasked Senator Chris Karr (R-Sioux Falls), Chair, Representative Jon Hansen (R-Dell
Rapids), Vice Chair, and Senator Liz Larson (D-Sioux Falls), Ranking Minority Member, with reviewing applicants
for the Director position until August 31, 2026. Application information will be posted on the LRC website at
https://sdlegislature.gov/.
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