Dykstra Makes Campaign Staff Announcement

I received the following press release from Joel Dykstra's campaign for the U.S. Senate today. Go get 'em, Joel!


Canton, SD – In addition to logging more than 25,000 auto miles and attending more than 100 events across the State of South Dakota the past five months, U.S. Senate candidate Joel Dykstra has been busy building his campaign team. Dykstra today announced his campaign staff, praising their experience and South Dakota connections.

Watertown resident Barry Wilfahrt has joined Dykstra’s staff as the Finance Director. Wilfahrt served as President and CEO of the Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of Watertown for 20 years before beginning his own consulting company in 2005. In his role as a private consultant, he advises multiple clients including Focus Watertown, the Professional Appraisers Association of SD and the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate.

Wilfahrt received his Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Studies from Minnesota State University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN. Wilfahrt has served on more than 50 non-profit boards in the past 25 years.

Brandon resident Sue Salter is working as Communications Director for the Joel Dykstra for U.S. Senate campaign. A native of Sioux Falls, Salter managed the Sioux Empire Fair from 1998-2003, before starting her own consulting business. She previously worked as the Economic Development Director in Robstown, TX and as the City Administrator in Janesville, MN.

Salter earned her Master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA) from the University of South Dakota, and her Bachelor’s degrees in Broadcast Journalism and Political Science from South Dakota State University. She has served on the SD State Fair Commission since 2003, and on the Sioux Empire Board of the American Red Cross since 2006.

“I am pleased that the campaign has attracted staff people of such high professionalism and experience,” Dykstra said. “I am especially proud of their South Dakota roots and their desire to work for the improvement of America and of this great State.”

Two additional campaign consultants have joined the team, including Minnesota native Scott Cottington and James P. Farwell of New Orleans, LA. Cottington is a general political consultant who has served twice as Political Director at the National Republican Senatorial Committee and was Western Regional Field Director for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC). Cottington is a member of the 2008 Republican National Convention host committee, and is also involved with convention planning for a number of corporate clients and trade associations. Farwell serves as Dykstra’s media consultant, and has handled strategy and media production for political campaigns nationally and internationally, including U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s campaign.

The new campaign team joins Campaign Administrator Lanna Teunissen of Sioux Falls, who oversees the day-to-day details of Dykstra’s Canton office headquarters.

“From the start of my campaign, Lanna has expertly handled all of the administrative duties for my campaign as I’ve been traveling around the state,” Dykstra said.

Dykstra said his goal in the coming months leading up to the Republican primary in June of 2008 is to meet as many South Dakota residents as possible, listening to their concerns about the way the federal government impacts their daily lives and learning how they want to have their voices heard in Washington.

“I will give South Dakotans a fresh, energetic perspective in Washington, and will work hard to promote the strong values of the people of South Dakota,” Dykstra said. “I will advocate new views on issues of great importance to our state and our country, including health care reform, energy independence, agriculture, the environment and national security.”

Dykstra brings to his Senate campaign extensive global business experience along with three terms of public service in our state legislature. He was elected assistant house majority leader in 2004, and continues serving in that role today.


*NOTE: Joel Dykstra’s U.S. Senate campaign raised more than $81,000 in its first three months, detailed in the Federal Elections Commission report for the quarter ending September 30, 2007.