1974 Sioux Falls mayoral election

1974 Sioux Falls mayoral election

← 1969 April 9, 1974 April 23, 1974 1979  →

Candidate Rick Knobe Mike Schirmer Dean R. Sheffield Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan Nonpartisan First round 2,889 20.69% 6,120 43.83% 2,887 20.68% Runoff 8,864 50.67% 8,447 48.80% Eliminated

Mayor before election Mike Schirmer Nonpartisan Elected mayor Rick Knobe Nonpartisan

The 1974 Sioux Falls mayoral election took place on April 23, 1974, following a primary election on April 9, 1974. Incumbent Mayor Mike Schirmer, who was first elected in a 1968 special election and re-elected unopposed in 1969, ran for re-election. He placed first in the primary with 44 percent of the vote. Rick Knobe, a 27-year-old radio talk show host, narrowly placed second in the primary with 21 percent of the vote, defeating customer service representative Dean Sheffield by 2 votes. In the general election, Knobe narrowly defeated Schirmer with 51 percent of the vote.

Primary election

Candidates

• Mike Schirmer, incumbent Mayor ^[1]
• Rick Knobe, radio talk show host ^[2]
• Dean R. Sheffield, customer service representative ^[3]
• John C. Sprecher, apartment building owner and manager ^[4]
• Dwight Gaut, high school senior ^[2]

Results

1974 Sioux Falls mayoral primary election ^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Mike Schirmer (inc.)	6,120	43.83%
	Nonpartisan	Rick Knobe	2,889	20.69%
	Nonpartisan	Dean R. Sheffield	2,887	20.68%
	Nonpartisan	John C. Sprecher	1,795	12.86%
	Nonpartisan	Dwight Gaut	271	1.94%
Total votes			13,962	100.00%

General election

Results

1974 Sioux Falls mayoral runoff election ^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Rick Knobe	8,864	51.20%
	Nonpartisan	Mike Schirmer (inc.)	8,447	48.80%
Total votes			17,311	100.00%

References

1. "Schirmer Announces Intention To Seek New Term As Mayor". Argus Leader . Sioux Falls, South Dakota. February 19, 1974. p. 1. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
2. "High School Senior, Radio Talk Show Host Announce Candidacies For Mayor Of Sioux Falls". Argus Leader . Sioux Falls, South Dakota. March 16, 1974. p. 1. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
3. "Dean R. Sheffield Announces As 5th Candidate For Mayor". Argus Leader . Sioux Falls, South Dakota. March 19, 1974. p. 1. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
4. "John Sprecher Is Candidate For Mayor Of Sioux Falls". Argus Leader . Sioux Falls, South Dakota. March 8, 1974. p. 1. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
5. "Annual City Election -- April 9, 1974". Sioux Falls City Clerk. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
6. "Secondary Special City Election - April 23, 1974". Sioux Falls City Clerk. Retrieved July 5, 2025.