Commissioner Steve Westra Stepping Down
PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem announced that Steve Westra, Commissioner of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED), will be stepping down from that position, effective May 22.
“South Dakotans are building the strongest economy in America with the lowest unemployment rate of all time. Steve helped provide the level playing field to make that possible,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “I want to thank him for his leadership on behalf of the people of South Dakota.”
Westra has served as GOED Commissioner since 2019. He previously served as the chief operating officer of Hegg Companies in Sioux Falls. He was a member of the State House of Representatives from 2013-2016 and also served on the State Tourism Advisory Board.
“When I took on this role, I never expected that it would be defined by a global pandemic. Governor Noem trusted the people of South Dakota and our business community to make the right decisions, and we have emerged with record-breaking business investment,” said Steve Westra. “We had more business development in the last four years than in the previous ten combined. I am grateful to the Governor for her trust in me and her leadership of our state, and it has been an honor to serve on her team. There are more opportunities for our future than ever before!”
South Dakota’s 1.9% unemployment rate is the lowest in the nation and tied for the lowest of any state in American history. In the last year, South Dakota has at various points been the national leader in new business applications per-capita, new housing growth, and personal income growth.
Travis Dovre will serve as interim commissioner of GOED.
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Westra for congress
He would be right there with Tenhaken as frontrunner.
Westra over Mayor Selfie any day.
Tenhaken should focus on fixing the roads, crime and homelessness. I barely recognize SF when I’m there
Paulie could never win, he’s a liberal.
Too many potholes. Huether was less conservative but he knew his job wasn’t to be a reality tv star.
No doubt this race would make a competitive race in the General Election.
TenHaken should have a pretty easy path through the Dem field into the General. Would there even be a primary race?
Lol a Westra-Crabtree primary would be worth busting out the popcorn for.
Westra would easily win. I don’t think it would be close.
That’s hilarious
Crabtree is nice but no one knows who he is and he’s never had to run a real campaign plus he’s following Schoenbeck and not Noem.
What has Westra accomplished in his role at GOED? Give me a break.
No other commissioner has had dozens of local economic development groups ask the governor for his removal. That’s an accomplishment.
Ok give some examples. Besides you personally don’t care for him.
Westra would be formidable.
I know Crabtree and his group think he has the inside track but Noem could endorse Westra for congress and that’s the ball game. She could do the same for governor. She has a lot of clout with the voters in a primary.
Westra might also look to run for Governor in 2026. Which he could do well.
I think Westra’s best move would be a senate run against Dusty. He’s got the Sioux Falls development experience and support. Wide network of folks around the state he worked with in GOED and dusty won’t be able to shed the RINO charge after blaming Trump for January 6th.
Eh, I don’t think not being in Trumps good graces is going to matter much after he loses to Biden again.
1) Dusty isn’t running for Senate.
2) Who says Westra has SF development support?
No one stops Westra except Westra. Any office is for his taking.
I can’t think of a unelected state bureaucrat who has parlayed that position into a successful candidacy for Governor. Maybe a question for the South Dakota Governor’s blog.