South Dakota Commissioner of School and Public Lands
| South Dakota Commissioner of School and Public Lands | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $103,016 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $1,230,693 |
| Term limits: | 2 consecutive |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | South Dakota Constitution Article IV, Section 7 |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
South Dakota Commissioner of School and Public Lands Brock Greenfield | |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | 2026 |
| Last election: | 2022 |
| Other South Dakota Executive Offices | |
| Governor •Lieutenant Governor •Secretary of State •Attorney General •Treasurer •Auditor •Superintendent of Education •Agriculture Commissioner •Insurance Commissioner •Commissioner of School and Public Lands •Natural Resources Commissioner •Labor Commissioner •Public Service Commission | |
TheSouth Dakota Commissioner of School and Public Lands is an elected, constitutional officer in the executive branch of the South Dakota state government. The office is charged with supervising lands designated for educational use by the federal government, among other various duties. The commissioner is popularly elected every four years by a plurality and is limited to two consecutive terms.[1]
Current officeholder
The current South Dakota Commissioner of School and Public Lands isBrock Greenfield (R). Greenfield assumed office in 2023.
Authority
The South Dakota Commissioner of School and Public Lands' powers, term of office, etc. are derived fromArticle IV of theSouth Dakota Constitution.
Article IV, Section 7:
| Other Executive Officers--Powers and Duties There shall be chosen by the qualified electors of the state at the general election of the Governor and every four years thereafter the following constitutional officers: attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, and commissioner of school and public lands, who shall severally hold their offices for a term of four years. Commencing with the 1992 general election, no person may be elected to more than two consecutive terms as attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, or commissioner of school and public lands. |
Qualifications
Note:Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that establishes the requirements necessary to qualify for a state executive office. That information for the South Dakota Commissioner of School and Public Lands has not yet been added. After extensive research, we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, pleaseemail us.
Elections
South Dakota elects the Commissioner of School and Public Lands in midterm elections, not presidential election years. South Dakota Commissioner of School and Public Lands election years include 2018, 2022, 2026 and 2030.
Term limits
No person may serve as South Dakota Commissioner of Schools and Public Lands for more than two consecutive terms, as stated inArticle IV, Section 7 of theSouth Dakota Constitution.
Election results
See also: South Dakota Public Lands Commissioner election, 2030
There are noofficial candidates yet for this election.
See also: South Dakota Public Lands Commissioner election, 2026
There are noofficial candidates yet for this election.
See also: South Dakota Public Lands Commissioner election, 2022
General election
General election for South Dakota Commissioner of School and Public Lands
Brock Greenfield (R) defeatedTim Azure (D) in the general election for South Dakota Commissioner of School and Public Lands on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Brock Greenfield (R) | 66.7 | 215,742 |
| Tim Azure (D) | 33.3 | 107,518 | ||
| There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 323,260 | ||
 = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic convention
Democratic convention for South Dakota Commissioner of School and Public Lands
Tim Azure (D) advanced from the Democratic convention for South Dakota Commissioner of School and Public Lands on July 9, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Tim Azure | |
| There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source | |||
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Republican convention
Republican convention for South Dakota Commissioner of School and Public Lands
Brock Greenfield (R) advanced from the Republican convention for South Dakota Commissioner of School and Public Lands on June 25, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Brock Greenfield |
| There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source | |||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Jordan Youngberg (R)
See also: South Dakota Public Lands Commissioner election, 2018
General election
General election for South Dakota Commissioner of School and Public Lands
IncumbentRyan Brunner (R) defeatedWoody Houser (D) in the general election for South Dakota Commissioner of School and Public Lands on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Ryan Brunner (R) | 62.4 | 193,434 |
| Woody Houser (D) | 37.6 | 116,786 | ||
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 310,220 (100% precincts reporting) | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Vacancies
According to theSouth Dakota Codified Laws,Title 3,Chapter 4, the office of South Dakota Commissioner of School and Public Lands is considered vacant if the incumbent:
- Dies;
- Resigns;
- Is removed from office;
- Fails to qualify as provided by law;
- Is no longer a resident of the state;
- Is convicted of "any infamous crime or of any offense involving a violation of his official oath;"
- Or, breaches of his or her official bond.[2]
If a vacancy occurs in the office of commissioner after May 30 of an even-numbered year, it is filled till the end of the vacated term by gubernatorial appointment. If the vacancy is created prior May 30 of an even-numbered year, it is filled by election, unless the year the vacancy is created in a year when the term of office would normally expire. If a person is elected for to fill a vacancy, the newly-elected commissioner waits to take office until the day of that year when a full term for that office would normally commence.[3][4]
Duties
- SeeEnergy policy in South Dakota for information on the state's energy portfolio and goals.
The South Dakota Commissioner of School and Public lands has several duties prescribed byArticle VIII of theSouth Dakota Constitution.
The office was mainly created to deal with lands designated for educational use by the federal government.Section 4 lays out the details for appraising such school lands that might be sold. It states that the commissioner sits on a board of appraisers that evaluate all school lands that are to be sold. This is board also includes theauditor and county superintendent of schools.Section 6 describes that such sales are to be conducted through the commissioner's office. All sales are subject to approval by thegovernor.Section 9 details the commissioner's role in leasing these lands.
Funds that are generated from the sale and lease of these lands and their mineral rights are used to fund education in the state.
Other duties of the commissioner of school and public lands include:
- Managing Permanent Trust Fund
- Issuing and maintaining grazing leases
- Inspecting and repairing state owned CCC and WPA Dams
- Issuing and monitoring all mineral leases for the State
- Controling noxious weeds on school and public lands, state-owned dams and meandered lakes
- Recording land transactions for easements on right-of-ways and state-owned lands
- Purchasing and selling property as requested by the legislature or other state agencies
- Issues Seismic Permits on state-owned mineral acres[1]
Divisions
Note:Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for information that describes the divisions (if any exist) of a state executive office. That information for the South Dakota Commissioner of School and Public Lands has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, pleaseemail us.
State budget
South Dakota School and Public Lands had an appropriated budget of $1,230,693 for the 2025 fiscal year.[5]
Compensation
See statutes:SD Codified L § 3-8-2.1 (2014)
The commissioner's annual compensation is set by Title 3, Chapter 8, Section 2 (§ 3-8-2.1) of the South Dakota Codified Laws and it may not be raised or diminished effective during his term in office, pursuant toArticle XII, Section 3 of theSouth Dakota Constitution.
As is the case for all of South Dakota's elected executives, the commissioner's base salary is subject to annual rate increases under the General Appropriations Act for each corresponding year.[6]
2024
In 2024, the commissioner received a salary of $103,016, according to the State of South Dakota Governor’s Budget Fiscal Year 2024.[7]
2023
In 2023, the commissioner received a salary of $94,907, according to the State of South Dakota Governor’s Budget Fiscal Year 2023.[8]
2022
In 2022, the commissioner received a salary of $94,907, according to the State of South Dakota Governor’s Budget Fiscal Year 2022.[9]
2021
In 2021, the commissioner received a salary of $93,046, according to the State of South Dakota Governor’s Budget Fiscal Year 2021.[10]
2020
In 2020, the commissioner received a salary of $90,776, according to the State of South Dakota Governor’s Budget Fiscal Year 2020.[11]
2019
In 2019, the commissioner received a salary of $89,700, according to the State of South Dakota Governor’s Budget Fiscal Year 2019.[12]
2018
In 2018, the commissioner received a salary of $89,700, according to the Bureau of Finance and Management.[13]
2017
In 2017, the commissioner received a salary of $87,342, according to the Bureau of Finance and Management.[14]
2016
In 2016, the commissioner received a salary of $85,629, according to the Bureau of Finance and Management.[15]
2015
In 2015, the commissioner received a salary of $83,135, according to the Bureau of Finance and Management.[16]
2014
In 2014, the commissioner received a salary of $85,629.23, according to the South Dakota Bureau of Finance and Management.[17]
2013
In 2013, the commissioner was paid an estimated $83,135.17.[17]
Historical officeholders
There have been 27 South Dakota Commissioners of School and Public Lands since 1889. Of the 27 officeholders, 23 were Republican and four were Democrat.[18]
| List of Former Officeholders from 1889-Present | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Name | Tenure | Party | ||
| 1 | Osmer H. Parker | 1889 – 1891 |  Republican | ||
| 2 | Thomas H. Ruth | 1891 – 1895 | Republican | ||
| 3 | John L. Lockhart | 1895 – 1899 | Republican | ||
| 4 | David Eastman | 1899 – 1903 | Republican | ||
| 5 | C.J. Bach | 1903 – 1907 | Republican | ||
| 6 | O.C. Dokken | 1907 – 1911 | Republican | ||
| 7 | F.F. Brinker | 1911 – 1913 | Republican | ||
| 8 | Fred Hepperle | 1913 – 1917 | Republican | ||
| 9 | N.E. Knight | 1917 – 1925 | Republican | ||
| 10 | O.P.J Engstrom | 1925 – 1933 | Republican | ||
| 11 | Ben Strool | 1933 – 1939 |  Democratic | ||
| 12 | Earl A. Hammerquist | 1939 – 1943 | Republican | ||
| 13 | John A. Lunden | 1943 – 1949 | Republican | ||
| 14 | Bernard Linn | 1949 – 1971 | Republican | ||
| 15 | Ralph Ginn | 1971 – 1972 | Republican | ||
| 16 | George D. Kane | 1972 – 1979 | Democratic | ||
| 17 | John J. "Jack" Gerken | 1979 – 1983 | Republican | ||
| 18 | F. Julian Cheney | 1983 | Republican | ||
| 19 | David L. Volk | 1983 – 1984 | Republican | ||
| 20 | John J. "Jack" Gerken | 1984 | Republican | ||
| 21 | Sheldon E. Cotton | 1985 – 1987 | Republican | ||
| 22 | Timothy H. Amdahl | 1987 – 1990 | Republican | ||
| 23 | Curtis J. Johnson | 1991 – 2003 | Democratic | ||
| 24 | Bryce Healy | 2003 – 2007 | Democratic | ||
| 25 | Jarrod Johnson | 2007 –2013 | Republican | ||
| 26 | Vernon L. Larson | 2013-2015 | Republican | ||
| 27 | Ryan Brunner | 2015-2022 | Republican | ||
| 28 | Jarrod Johnson | 2022-2023 | Republican | ||
| 29 | Brock Greenfield | 2023-Present | Republican | ||
Recent news
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Contact info
South Dakota School and Public Lands
500 East Capitol Ave.
Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: (605) 773-3303
Fax: (605) 773-5520
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑1.01.1South Dakota School and Public Lands, "OFFICE OF SCHOOL & PUBLIC LANDS DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑South Dakota Codified Laws, "Title 3, Chapter 4, Section 1," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑South Dakota Codified Laws, "Title 3, Chapter 4, Section 3," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑South Dakota Codified Laws, "Title 3, Chapter 4, Section 6," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑South Dakota Bureau of Finance and Management, "Budget in Brief - Fiscal Year 2025," accessed January 23, 2025
- ↑Justia.com, "2014 South Dakota Codified Laws: Title 3 - PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES: Chapter 08 - Compensation of Officers and Employees § 3-8-2.1: Adjustment of salaries of constitutional officers and judges," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑South Dakota Governor’s Budget Fiscal Year 2024, "Executive Salaries," accessed January 23, 2025
- ↑South Dakota Governor’s Budget Fiscal Year 2023, "Executive Salaries," accessed January 23, 2025
- ↑South Dakota Governor’s Budget Fiscal Year 2022, "Executive Salaries," accessed October 30, 2023
- ↑South Dakota Governor’s Budget Fiscal Year 2021, "Executive Salaries," accessed September 28, 2022
- ↑South Dakota Governor’s Budget Fiscal Year 2020, "Executive Salaries," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑South Dakota Governor’s Budget Fiscal Year 2019, "Executive Salaries," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑Bureau of Finance and Management, "2018 Recommended Budget," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑Bureau of Finance and Management, "2017 Recommended Budget," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑Bureau of Finance and Management, "2016 Recommended Budget," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑Bureau of Finance and Management, "2015 Recommended Budget," accessed February 2, 2021
- ↑17.017.1https://bfm.sd.gov/budget/rec14/SD_Total_Recommended_2014.pdfSouth Dakota Bureau of Finance and Management, "Executive Salaries Required by SDCL 4-7-10.1 as of 8/13/2013 2:00:56 AM," accessed February 2, 2021]
- ↑South Dakota Blue Book 2009, "Chapter 4," accessed February 2, 2021
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