The Rapid City Council welcomed five members to new three-year terms Monday night, swearing in four incumbents and former Council member Laura Armstrong, who returns to the governing body after a three-year absence.
The five members were elected during the city’s June 2 municipal election and officially took the oath of office at the Council’s organizational meeting. City Finance Director Daniel Ainslie administered the oaths to Josh Biberdorf of Ward One, Lindsey Seachris of Ward Two, Kevin Maher of Ward Three, John Roberts of Ward Four and Armstrong of Ward Five.
Before the ceremony, Mayor Jason Salamun recognized outgoing City Council President Rod Pettigrew for his years of service to the Council and the Rapid City community. Pettigrew was unable to attend the meeting.
The newly sworn members join five Council representatives who remain in the middle of their current three-year terms: Stephen Tamang (Ward One), Bill Evans (Ward Two), Greg Strommen (Ward Three), Lance Lehmann (Ward Four) and Callie Meyer (Ward Five). Each has two years remaining on their terms.
Following the swearing-in ceremony, the Council turned its attention to selecting leadership for the 2026-27 term. Tamang was elected Council president after defeating Maher for the position. Meyer was chosen as vice president without opposition after Armstrong declined a nomination.
Both Tamang and Meyer were first elected to the City Council in 2025 and now assume the Council’s top leadership roles heading into the new term.
One of the first responsibilities facing the new leadership team will be appointing members to the Council’s major standing committees, including the Public Works Committee and the Legal & Finance Committee. Both committees are scheduled to meet next week.
The organizational meeting marked the beginning of a new Council term and set the stage for leadership and committee assignments that will help guide city business in the coming year.
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