1968 Sioux Falls mayoral special election

1968 Sioux Falls mayoral special election

← 1964 April 9, 1968 April 23, 1968 1969 →

Candidate Mike Schirmer G. Lowell Sutton Kenneth G. Vanderloo Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan First round 7,627 42.89% 7,826 44.01% 2,328 13.09% Runoff 8,409 50.67% 8,188 49.33% Eliminated

Mayor before election Earl McCart (acting) Nonpartisan Elected mayor Mike Schirmer Nonpartisan

The 1968 Sioux Falls mayoral special election took place on April 23, 1968, following a primary election on April 9, 1968. Mayor V. L. Crusinberry, first elected in the 1961 recall election and re-elected unopposed in 1964, died on December 12, 1967. ^[1] The City Commission voted to hold a special election on April 9. ^[2] City Auditor G. Lowell Sutton placed first in the primary election, winning 44 percent of the vote, and was joined in the general election by real estate agent and insurance broker Mike Schirmer, who won 43 percent. In the general election, Schirmer narrowly defeated Sutton, 51–49 percent.

Primary election

Candidates

• G. Lowell Sutton, City Auditor ^[3]
• Mike Schirmer, real estate agent and insurance broker ^[4]
• Kenneth G. Vanderloo, service station operator ^[5]

Results

1968 Sioux Falls mayoral special primary election ^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	G. Lowell Sutton	7,826	44.01%
	Nonpartisan	Mike Schirmer	7,627	42.89%
	Nonpartisan	Kenneth G. Vanderloo	2,328	13.09%
Total votes			18,872	100.00%

General election

Results

1968 Sioux Falls mayoral special runoff election ^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Mike Schirmer	8,409	50.67%
	Nonpartisan	G. Lowell Sutton	8,188	49.33%
Total votes			16,597	100.00%

References

1. Masek, Fred (December 12, 1967). "Mayor Crusinberry, 62, Dies Suddenly: City Hall Stunned By Death Of Mayor". Argus Leader . Sioux Falls, South Dakota. p. 1. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
2. "G. Lowell Sutton Will Seek Sioux Falls Post Of Mayor". Argus Leader . Sioux Falls, South Dakota. December 27, 1967. p. 1. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
3. "G. Lowell Sutton Will Seek Sioux Falls Post Of Mayor". Argus Leader . Sioux Falls, South Dakota. December 27, 1967. p. 1. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
4. "M. E. 'Mike' Schirmer Enters Race For Sioux Falls Mayor". Argus Leader . Sioux Falls, South Dakota. December 31, 1967. p. 1. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
5. "Kenneth Vanderloo Enters Contest For City's Mayor". Argus Leader . Sioux Falls, South Dakota. January 30, 1968. p. 1. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
6. "Annual City Election -- April 9, 1968". Sioux Falls City Clerk. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
7. "Secondary Special City Election - April 23, 1968". Sioux Falls City Clerk. Retrieved July 5, 2025.