Paul TenHaken explained

Paul TenHaken
Office:Mayor of Sioux Falls
Term Start:May 15, 2018
Predecessor:Mike Huether
Birth Name:Paul Joseph TenHaken
Birth Date:13 November 1977
Birth Place:Sioux Center, Iowa, U.S.
Party:Republican
Spouse:Jill TenHaken
Education:Dordt College (BA)
University of Sioux Falls (MBA)

Paul Joseph TenHaken, (born November 13, 1977) is an American businessman and website developer who has served as the mayor of Sioux Falls, South Dakota since May 15, 2018.[1]

Early life and education

TenHaken was born in Sioux Center, Iowa, to parents Lyle and Beth TenHaken.[2] He was raised in Worthington, Minnesota.[3] TenHaken attended Dordt College and received his degree in graphic design in 2000. Upon graduation, TenHaken moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and worked as the mascot of the Sioux Falls Skyforce.[4] He attended the University of Sioux Falls and received an MBA in 2004.[5]

Business career

TenHaken founded Click Rain, a marketing technology agency in Sioux Falls, in 2008. TenHaken was named one of Entrepreneur magazine's Top 10 Emerging Entrepreneurs as well as South Dakota Young Entrepreneur of the Year. TenHaken is also the co-founder of the Dispatch Project, a non-profit that organizes overseas mission opportunities for business leaders. His efforts have received accolades from Entrepreneur Magazine, When Work Works, Inc. Magazine, and Sioux Falls Business Journal.[6]

Mayor of Sioux Falls

TenHaken placed first in the April 10, 2018 election, and won the May 1 run-off election with 62.7% of the vote.[7]

Ten Haken pushed to get a new city flag approved in 2018 after the election.[8] The city officially adopted the flag on July 10, 2018,[9] [10] and by November 2018, the flag was being flown in front of city buildings and inside the mayor's office.[11]

On April 9, 2020, over 80 employees at a Smithfield Foods pork processing plant in Sioux Falls were confirmed to have tested positive for COVID-19. The plant announced it would suspend operations beginning April 11.[12] On April 14, 2020, TenHaken stated he would be proposing a stay at home order to the city council.[13] After three days and tremendous backlash, he decided not to pursue the stay at home order. Mayor TenHaken is credited as saying it is difficult to lead locally in a non-partisan way. He has also said a mask mandate could 'destroy a city' due to how politicized the issue had become.[14]

In April 2022, Mayor TenHaken was re-elected to serve a second term as mayor by securing 73% of the vote, a record for any mayoral race in the City of Sioux Falls since transitioning to its current form of government.

One of Mayor TenHaken's goals in office was to make Sioux Falls the Fittest city in the country.[15] He has implemented several programs to improve the city's health including a citywide running program,[16] outdoor fitness courts[17] and soccer pitches.[18]

Electoral history

Sioux Falls mayoral election, 2018
CandidatesGeneral election[19] Runoff election[20]
Votes%Votes%
Paul TenHaken 10,92534.1120,86962.70
Jolene Loetscher7,97324.8912,41337.30
Jim Entenman6,11119.08
Greg Jamison4,54314.18
Kenny N. Anderson Jr.2,1366.67
Mike Gunn3431.07
Turnout32,03130.3733,28231.70

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sneve. Joe. TenHaken's transition into mayor's office centers on repairing relationships. argusleader.com. Argus Leader. 14 May 2018.
  2. News: Lawrence . Tom . TenHaken still fond of Sioux Center . May 10, 2020 . N'West Iowa Review . May 5, 2020.
  3. News: Worthington native up for 'Hottest Husband' . May 10, 2020 . Worthington Daily Globe . February 24, 2010.
  4. News: Sneve . Joe . From mascot to mayor: Paul TenHaken's path to Sioux Falls City Hall . May 11, 2020 . Argus Leader . May 4, 2018.
  5. News: Lawrence . Tom . TenHaken leads Sioux Falls through virus . May 10, 2020 . N'West Iowa Review . May 4, 2020.
  6. Web site: Source. Secondary. Executive Profile of Paul Ten Haken. bloomber.com. Bloomberg. 14 May 2018.
  7. Web site: Sneve. Joe. TenHaken elected mayor: 'Voters sent a loud and clear message'. argusleader.com. Argus Leader. 14 May 2018.
  8. News: The People's Flag: How One Design is Sparking Conversation . Monica . Albers . 605 Magazine . August 31, 2017 . July 12, 2018.
  9. News: Sioux Falls flag update: Council worried that city brand won't be protected . Rebekah . Tuchscherer . Argus Leader . June 13, 2018 . July 13, 2018.
  10. News: Sioux Falls City Council approves city flag . . July 11, 2018 . July 12, 2018.
  11. News: Sioux Falls community embraces official flag of the city . Vanessa Gomez . KSFY . November 29, 2018 . January 14, 2019.
  12. Web site: Smithfield Temporarily Shuts Pork Plant Due to Coronavirus . 2020-04-09 . U.S. News & World Report . May 9, 2020.
  13. Web site: Mayor TenHaken to propose stay at home order to City Council early in the pandemic because of coronavirus numbers. kelo.com. 9 May 2020.
  14. Web site: 'Wear a dang mask': TenHaken begs residents to stop spread of COVID-19.
  15. Web site: Kicking off '100 miles, 100 days' challenge . 22 April 2023 .
  16. https://www.siouxfalls.org/mayor/100-miles
  17. https://www.siouxfalls.org/news/2023/06/26/outdoor-fitness-court
  18. Web site: 'Mini-pitch' soccer fields give access to Sioux Falls kids in core neighborhoods . 20 April 2023 .
  19. Web site: SUMMARY REPT-GROUP DETAIL . 11 April 2018 . 5 December 2019.
  20. Web site: SUMMARY REPT-GROUP DETAIL . 2 May 2018 . 5 December 2019.