Burgers gets write-in votes on Hills Council

When the Hills City Council canvassed votes from the Nov. 3 election Thursday night, Nov. 12, a familiar face joined the group as a council member.
Stacen Burgers garnered 90 out of 119 write-in votes for one of two four-year positions.
Ross Metzger sought re-election and was re-elected with 346 votes. Council member Brian Sandbulte did not seek re-election.
The council voted to accept the election results. Council member Vickie Busswitz was unable to attend the special meeting.
Burgers, who decided in early October to be a write-in candidate for the council position, said he was surprised he garnered so many votes. He said he used social media and a few yard signs to let voters know he would be interested in serving on the council.
“I see it as a real neat honor,” he said Monday.
Burgers previously served one year on the council, filling an unexpired term. He also previously worked for the city of Hills.
He moved to Hills in the late 1980s with his family and graduated from H-BC in 1992. Burgers and his wife, Donna, who works with the school district, used to own Around the Clock Fitness in Hills. The couple raised two children, both graduates of H-BC.
Burgers currently works at Vander Haags Inc. in Sioux Falls in the buildings and grounds department. He has also served on Vander Haags’ leadership teams and hopes to integrate the team building skills promoted at his job into his new city council position
He said he sees his council position as one of cooperation, working with the different public and private entities to keep Hills a viable community.
Public infrastructure and streets are among the continued improvements he wants the council to pursue, among other priorities.
“If it makes sense for the majority of the community members, then I will support it,” he said.