SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO) — South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden has announced some staffing changes to his new administration.
Rhoden was formally sworn in Monday morning after former Gov. Kristi Noem resigned her position after being confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as the secretary for the federal Department of Homeland Security as part of President Trump’s new Cabinet.
Who is South Dakota’s new governor, Larry Rhoden?
Rhoden will keep most of Noem’s previous staff, with a few changes and additions, according to a news release.
Mackenzie Decker will serve as the new governor’s chief of staff. Decker has worked for state government for 12 years, joining the governor’s office over two years ago. She has worked for several state agencies including the Department of Labor and Regulation, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, and the Department of Revenue. She graduated from South Dakota State University and earned her master’s in administration and organizational leadership from the University of South Dakota.
Matt Michels, a Yankton lawyer, will serve as senior advisor and counsel to the governor. Michels previously served as the 38th lieutenant governor of South Dakota from 2011 to early 2019 under Governor Dennis Daugaard. Michels was a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives from 1999-2007, including speaker of the House from 2003 through 2006.
“Mackenzie Decker has proven her tenacity as a leader in the office and will thrive as my chief of staff. And I am honored to have a strong advisor like Matt Michels joining our team,” Rhoden said in a statement. “We are ready to get to work to keep South Dakota strong, safe, and free.”
Ian Fury will continue in the role of director of communications and unborn child advocate, but he will no longer serve as the governor’s media spokesperson. The news release said the announcement of the new spokesman should come later this week.
After the swearing-in ceremony Monday morning, Rhoden told news reporters he will announce his lieutenant governor in several days. That choice is subject to confirmation by the House and the Senate.
Rhoden also announced the retirement on Feb. 1 of Beth Hollatz, a senior aide from Watertown who had been with Noem stretching back to 2010, when Noem won the first of four terms in the U.S House.
And Rhoden said Darin Seeley of Wentworth would no longer serve as chief operations officer in the governor’s office but would continue as commissioner for the state Bureau of Human Resources and Administration.
