The 1986 Sioux Falls mayoral election took place on July 1, 1986, following a primary election on June 17, 1986. On June 4, 1985, voters ratified a change to city government that expanded the size of the city commission to five and cut short the mayor's term, forcing an election in 1986 for a new five-year term. Incumbent Mayor Joe Cooper, who was elected in 1984, originally planned to seek re-election, but instead opted to run for city Public Safety Commissioner.
Former State Senator Mike O'Connor, the 1982 Democratic nominee for Governor, placed first in the primary, winning 41 percent of the vote, and faced Jack White, a real estate agent who narrowly lost the 1984 mayoral election to Cooper. White defeated O'Connor by a thin margin, winning 51–49 percent.
Primary election Candidates Mike O'Connor, former State Senator, 1982 Democratic nominee for Governor Jack White, real estate agent, 1984 candidate for Mayor Al Brown, anti-tax activist Lloyd M. Taplett, former manager of the Job Service of South Dakota Sioux Falls office Bob "Skippy" Blechinger, radio announcer Charles Nixon, businessman (deceased)
Results
General election Results
References