Zach DeBoer Announces Campaign for Sioux Falls City Council – Central District
l3wis 
Zach DeBoer Announces Campaign for Sioux Falls City Council – Central District
Artist, educator, and community advocate launches campaign focused on safer streets, stronger
neighborhoods, and fiscally responsible growth.
Sioux Falls, SD — February 3, 2026 — Zach DeBoer, a longtime community advocate, artist, and educator, announced today that he is running for the Sioux Falls City Council representing the Central District.
DeBoer is known for his hands-on work strengthening neighborhoods, improving street safety, and advancing public art across Sioux Falls. DeBoer has worked as a placemaking consultant with communities across South Dakota, partnering with residents to design safer streets, revitalize public spaces, and build local pride. He has also served on the city’s Visual Arts Commission as well as multiple neighborhood and historical boards.
DeBoer is currently an elementary school art teacher and has worked in education in Sioux Falls for over a decade, teaching students from kindergarten through college. He credits the classroom with shaping his leadership style—listening carefully, meeting people where they are, solving problems creatively, and making sure no one gets left behind. “Good teaching and good leadership aren’t that different,” DeBoer said. “You show up, you listen, and you build something that works for everyone.”
As an artist and educator, DeBoer has been a driving force behind citywide public art efforts, including murals, cultural initiatives, and the adoption of the Sioux Falls city flag—now a widely embraced symbol of local pride.
“Central Sioux Falls is the heart of our city,” DeBoer said. “Our neighborhoods should be safe, vibrant, and welcoming, and city government should stay focused on practical solutions that improve everyday life. I’m running because our community deserves a council member who listens, who shows up, and who isn’t afraid to speak up and fight for the people they represent.”
A central focus of DeBoer’s campaign is stronger neighborhoods and safer streets. He has been a leading advocate for traffic calming, safer routes around schools, and people-focused street design. His work has helped champion projects such as bike lanes, crosswalks, bump-outs, and neighborhood beautification initiatives. He has also helped schools and neighborhoods implement high-impact safety improvements through low-cost, community-led projects.
DeBoer is also calling for fiscally responsible, smarter growth. Rather than chasing expensive, shiny mega-projects, he believes Sioux Falls should be focused on maintaining existing infrastructure, reinvesting in established neighborhoods, revitalizing underutilized spaces, and managing growth responsibly so taxpayers aren’t left paying the price later.
“We should be careful and thoughtful with public dollars,” DeBoer said. “Fixing what we already have and investing in proven ideas is often the smartest and most responsible choice.”
DeBoer also emphasized his commitment to transparent, community-driven leadership, saying residents deserve honest communication, leaders who ask tough questions, and decision-makers who genuinely listen to public input.
“I don’t have ties to PACs or special interests,” DeBoer said. “I’m not another rubber stamper. I’ll listen to residents, push back when something doesn’t add up, and fight for what’s right for our community.”
If elected, DeBoer plans to focus on:
• Safer streets that protect children, seniors, pedestrians, and cyclists
• Neighborhood revitalization that supports small businesses and strengthens community identity
• Smart, fiscally responsible growth that prioritizes reinvestment over sprawl and megaprojects
• Transparent, responsive government that treats residents as true partners
DeBoer previously ran for City Council in 2018, winning the initial election before narrowly losing in the runoff by less than three percent of the vote. His campaign helped inspire new civic engagement, particularly among young voters, and led to meaningful changes even without holding office – including the official adoption of the Sioux Falls city flag.
DeBoer has lived in the All Saints Neighborhood for the past ten years with his wife, Molly O’Connor, and their seven-year-old daughter, Lucy.
The election for the Central District seat will be held on June 2, 2026.
For more information, visit ZachForCityCouncil.com
NOTE: There is also an Engineer running for SE District. Don’t know much about her, but I can’t recall us ever having a civil engineer on the City Council. I think it would be a great addition and someone who can question planning with big decisions.
