RAPID CITY, S.D. — A challenger for Rapid City’s Ward 2 city council seat left the financial disclosure section of a required conflict of interest form entirely blank when he filed his candidacy in March, records obtained by the Rapid City Sentinel show.
Christopher Vanderhoof, who faces incumbent Lindsey Seachris in Tuesday’s primary, signed the form under penalty of perjury certifying it as a true and complete representation of his financial interests.
The financial disclosure table on the Candidate Statement of Financial Interest requires candidates to identify any source of funds — including current employers — contributing more than 10% of gross household income. Vanderhoof left that section empty.
When the Sentinel requested comment this week, Vanderhoof confirmed in writing that he is employed as a Senior Systems Engineer in Identity Access Management at Black Hills Energy.
In the same response, Vanderhoof acknowledged that his employment creates a recusal obligation under South Dakota law. “If a matter comes before the Council that would directly benefit our employer, it is the Council person’s responsibility to avoid any appearance of favoritism,” Vanderhoof wrote. “So yes, if a matter comes forward where Black Hills Energy would receive direct funding from the city, I would be required to recuse myself from that vote.”
Black Hills Energy operates within Rapid City’s jurisdiction and is a central stakeholder in several matters currently active before the council, including energy infrastructure discussions tied to proposed large-scale data center development in the region.
The Sentinel’s inquiry cited South Dakota Codified Law 6-1-17, which prohibits municipal officials from participating in discussion or voting on matters in which they hold a conflict of interest, and asked Vanderhoof how he intended to provide full representation to Ward 2 constituents on matters requiring his recusal, including infrastructure, franchise agreements, easements, and energy-related development currently active on the council’s agenda.
The conflict of interest form instructs candidates not to leave the financial table blank and specifically prohibits the use of N/A. The form was filed March 27, 2026 with the Rapid City Finance Office.
The Ward 2 primary takes place Tuesday, June 2.
Ward 2 Candidates Utility Employment Raises Recurring Conflict Questions
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