1954 Sioux Falls mayoral election

1954 Sioux Falls mayoral election

←  1949 April 20, 1954 April 27, 1954 1959  →

Candidate Fay Wheeldon Henry Saure Charles E. Enright Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan First round 3,886 29.57% 4,871 37.06% 3,733 28.41% Runoff 8,873 61.30% 5,601 38.70% Eliminated

Mayor before election Henry Saure Nonpartisan Elected mayor Fay Wheeldon Nonpartisan

The 1954 Sioux Falls mayoral election took place on April 27, 1954, following a primary election on April 20, 1954. Incumbent Mayor Henry Saure ran for re-election to a second term. In the primary election, Saure placed first, winning 37 percent of the vote. Former South Sioux Falls City Commissioner Fay Wheeldon narrowly defeated former corporate executive Charles Enright in the primary, 30–28 percent, to advance to the general election. Wheeldon defeated Saure in a landslide, winning 61 percent of the vote to Saure's 39 percent.

Primary election

Candidates

• Henry Saure, incumbent Mayor ^[1]
• Fay Wheeldon, former South Sioux Falls City Commissioner ^[2]
• Charles E. Enright, former corporate executive ^[3]
• Gilbert Norbraten, insurance company owner ^[1]

Results

1954 Sioux Falls mayoral primary election ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Henry Saure (inc.)	4,871	37.06%
	Nonpartisan	Fay Wheeldon	3,886	29.57%
	Nonpartisan	Charles E. Enright	3,733	28.41%
	Nonpartisan	Gilbert Norbraten	652	4.96%
Total votes			13,142	100.00%

General election

Results

1954 Sioux Falls mayoral runoff election ^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Fay Wheeldon	8,873	61.30%
	Nonpartisan	Henry Saure (inc.)	5,601	38.70%
Total votes			14,474	100.00%

References

1. "3-Way Race for Mayor Looms; Saure, Norbraten Candidates". Argus Leader . Sioux Falls, South Dakota. March 24, 1954. p. 14. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
2. "Wheeldon Announces Candidacy for Mayor". Argus Leader . Sioux Falls, South Dakota. January 31, 1954. p. 4. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
3. "Enright in Contest For Post of Mayor". Argus Leader . Sioux Falls, South Dakota. March 28, 1954. p. 8. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
4. "Annual City Election - April 20, 1954". Sioux Falls City Clerk. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
5. "Secondary Special City Election - April 27, 1954". Sioux Falls City Clerk. Retrieved July 5, 2025.