Noem appoints Hand County commissioner to legislative seat

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) – Gov. Kristi Noem has appointed a county commissioner to represent central South Dakota in the state House during the 2020 session.

James Wangsness will take the District 23 House seat vacated by Republican Rep. John Lake who was appointed to a Senate seat following the resignation of Sen. Justin Cronin in August.

Wangsness has been a Hand County commissioner since 2013. His family owns and operates Diamond W Land and Cattle Company near Miller.