The Mayor of Vermillion, Jon Cole, has announced that he is running to lead South Dakota’s other university community for another term of office:
Over the past several months, many residents, community leaders, and partners have reached out to encourage me to continue serving in this role. I am grateful for that trust and support, and it is a responsibility I do not take lightly.
Serving Vermillion as mayor has been one of the greatest honors of my life. Vermillion is a city with strong values, dedicated people, and a bright future. It has been a privilege to work alongside residents, city staff, council members, county partners, state representatives, and community leaders to move our city forward.
Over my term, Vermillion has made meaningful progress. We strengthened public safety with the completion of the new law enforcement center. We invested in infrastructure to support long-term growth including roads and utilities. We expanded housing opportunities for families, seniors, and our workforce. We strengthened partnerships with the University of South Dakota and built a stronger, more collaborative working relationship with Clay County. Throughout this work, we remained focused on transparency, fiscal responsibility, and thoughtful decision making.
Vermillion continues to grow, bringing new opportunities and new responsibilities. The years ahead will require continued steady leadership, collaboration, and a clear focus on maintaining the quality of life that makes Vermillion such a great place to live, work, and raise a family.
I am seeking re-election because I care deeply about this community and believe there is more important work ahead. I remain committed to listening, working together, and leading with integrity, transparency, and common sense as we plan for Vermillion’s future.
I look forward to continuing conversations with residents across our community and respectfully ask for your support as we move forward together.
Congratulations to Jon for running again, and we look forward to watching the campaign.