Mayoral Candidates Outline Public Safety Priorities for Sioux Falls

Candidates discuss balancing community needs with budget constraints ahead of June election.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 10:36am

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A moody, cinematic painting depicting a lone police officer standing on a dimly lit street corner in downtown Sioux Falls, the officer's figure bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conceptually representing the complex public safety challenges facing the city.The next mayor of Sioux Falls will face the challenge of balancing public safety needs with budget constraints, as the city seeks to maintain its low crime rates and community trust in law enforcement.Sioux Falls Today

Ahead of the June 2 primary election, Sioux Falls Simplified interviewed the five mayoral candidates about their plans to address the city's growing public safety needs and budget challenges. The candidates shared a range of approaches, from increasing funding and resources for the police department to exploring alternative community-based public safety initiatives.

Why it matters

Public safety is a top priority for Sioux Falls voters, with the city seeing a five-year low in violent crime per capita even as the public safety budget has increased 75% over the last decade. How the next mayor approaches this issue will have significant impacts on the community's sense of security and quality of life.

The details

The five mayoral candidates - David Zokaites, Jamie Smith, Greg Jamison, Christine Erickson, and Joe Batcheller - each outlined their unique visions for public safety in Sioux Falls. Proposals ranged from increasing police funding and resources to exploring alternative, community-based approaches that address root causes of crime. Several candidates emphasized the need to modernize the police department and improve officer retention, while others called for a greater focus on alcohol-related issues and treatment programs.

  • The Sioux Falls mayoral election primary will be held on June 2, 2026.

The players

David Zokaites

One of the five candidates running for mayor of Sioux Falls.

Jamie Smith

One of the five candidates running for mayor of Sioux Falls.

Greg Jamison

One of the five candidates running for mayor of Sioux Falls.

Christine Erickson

One of the five candidates running for mayor of Sioux Falls.

Joe Batcheller

One of the five candidates running for mayor of Sioux Falls.

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What they’re saying

“The reason we don't do that is because there's too much money in alcohol sales.”

— David Zokaites

“A lot of the worst crime in our city – we've identified who is doing this and maybe the networks that are going on. But how do we get in there and help do things before bad things happen?”

— Jamie Smith

“Anybody who wears a bulletproof vest to go to work to protect the people who live here deserves the respect of this community and the pay and all the benefits that are required to keep those people here.”

— Greg Jamison

“If you don't feel safe, you won't maybe expand your family, your business. It's really the cornerstone of making sure our community is alive and well.”

— Christine Erickson

“I look at supporting staff as being key to allowing police officers to be able to focus on what their core duties are. There are also some opportunities to invest in technology to automate some of the tasks.”

— Joe Batcheller

What’s next

The Sioux Falls mayoral election primary will be held on June 2, 2026, with the top two vote-getters advancing to the general election in November.

The takeaway

The Sioux Falls mayoral candidates have proposed a range of approaches to address the city's public safety needs, highlighting the importance of this issue to voters. As the election approaches, residents will need to carefully evaluate each candidate's vision and plan to ensure the community's safety and security.