Mayor Ried Holien

National Night Out honoring all our first responders is being celebrated tonight in conjunction with Thursday Night Live. Come on down and have some fun and thanks the great people who provide safety and security to our community.

$1,000 Grant Group "Awesome Watertown" Helps Regional Airport Elevate Ribbon Cutting The anonymous group of monetary philanthropists calling themselves “Awesome Watertown” has come “flying” in with another $1,000 grant to a local Watertown cause.

I’m not a rodeo guy, but I plan to be in attendance next weekend for the professional rodeo in Watertown. It’s amazing how much work has been done on the Derby Downs complex.

KELOLAND News was in town today to do an update on the rodeo and the rodeo grounds. Big thanks to Mayor Ried Holien for coming out in support and discussing the impact a PRCA ProRodeo will have on the town and the future of Derby Downs Rodeo Arena. Check out www.watertownrodeo.com for ticket information and tune in to Keloland Monday morning for the story.

KELO Ariana Schumacher
Sutton Rodeo Inc. Trav's Outfitter South Dakota Army National Guard Macksteel Farm and Ranch Equipment KXLG Radio Power 106.3 Lake Area Tech

You can text me too if you have my number and I can send you the link!

Oh no, I’m in Children’s Miracle Network jail again this year! I must have violated my probation from last summer! Please help me raise money for a great cause and get me out of jail. You can come to Walmart to donate or I can send you a Venmo code if you wanted to do it online. Thank you so much!

Oh no, I’m in Children’s Miracle Network jail again this year! I must have violated my probation from last summer! Please help me raise money for a great cause and get me out of jail. You can come to Walmart to donate or I can send you a Venmo code if you wanted to do it online. Thank you so much!

It was my honor to greet the American Legion convention that took place in Watertown this last weekend. It was a good turnout, and I was honored to speak in front of such an esteemed group of people. Thank you to all veterans for your service.

Mayor Ried Holien shared with us his welcome to his city at the 103rd Department of SD state convention. “Veterans serve our nation, free our nation, and build our nation.” “Freedom must be renewed over and over... Veterans are the ones who bring freedom by their service.”

At the Governor’s Luncheon at Lake Area Technical College. So honored to have this great leader here, and so happy to have the great LATC in Watertown.

It was cold, but so many came out to join us for the ribbon cutting of the Foundation Plaza! The park is set to open this fall!

(although today could have been )

It was almost a year without Christmas decorations in downtown Watertown! A short time ago, City Manager Amanda Mack and I learned that our old Christmas decorations were no longer usable. Our friends and partners at the Watertown Chamber of Commerce, Watertown Development Company and Convention and Visitors Bureau alerted us to the problem and helped find a solution. Special thanks to the Watertown City Council for taking fast action to allocate the funds to buy new decorations.

Thanks also to all the great people with Watertown Municipal Utilities who are hanging them up. So go check out the lights and support all our local stores. Thanks and Merry Christmas!

It was an honor to attend the 9/11 tribute at the Watertown Fire Department this morning. It was solemn and emotional. Please take time today to reflect upon this great country we live in, and to show our admiration and appreciation for all the men and women who keep us safe.

I’m so proud of my daughter. Thanks to LATC for the wonderful welding education and providing her the resources to show off her artistic talent.

Metal sculpture entitled "Reach" unveiled on the Lake Area Technical College campus (Audio) | Go Watertown August 17, 2021 Mike Tanner WATERTOWN, S.D.–A piece of metal artwork was unveiled this afternoon on the...

I’m in Children’s Miracle Network jail and my bail keeps going up! Can anyone help free me while helping a good cause? (My original bail was $200)

Venmo to help!

Tonight I was sworn in as Mayor of Watertown. I want to take this time to thank all of you who supported and helped me along the way. I was humbled by the amount of you who came out to help us throughout the campaign and after. I will work my best to be worthy of your support.

To all of Watertown, I will work with anyone and everyone to do what is best for this community. I appreciate ideas and input.

I look forward to serving our wonderful community over the next 4 years.

We spent today gathering up yard signs.

We **think** we got them all. If you still have a yard sign, please let us know and we will have someone come grab it.

***Yard Sign Update***

The Sign Bandit will be around tomorrow to collect your yard signs. Please do not throw them away, and contact us if you still have a sign on Friday.

Thank you all for everything you have done to help us. We are anxiously awaiting results and hope you have taken the time to vote.

Today is the day! It has been a fast month of campaigning and I appreciate all of the help we have had. We couldn’t have pulled this together without our amazing volunteers.

Please get out and vote today. Every vote matters, and I would appreciate yours.

We are planning to pick up yard signs tomorrow morning, if you have time and would like to help, please send a message in to us and we can get you a small map to make it easy!

Thank you all for your support.

It's Election Day in Watertown; mayoral, city council, school board races to be decided | Go Watertown June 15, 2021 Mike Tanner WATERTOWN, S.D.–All the campaigning is done in Watertown. Now it’s time to...

333 Miles to Vote “Ried Holien!”

Last day to vote is tomorrow, June 15th 7-7 at the WHS Civic Arena

Spent the morning with Mike Tanner at KWAT today. If you missed it live, here is the replay.

You can still early vote through Monday. Final day to vote is Election Day on Tuesday.

I would love the opportunity to continue to serve Watertown, and would appreciate your vote.

Election Day Primer: Watertown mayoral candidates Caron, Holien visit with KWAT's Mike Tanner (Audio) | Go Watertown June 11, 2021 Mike Tanner WATERTOWN, S.D.–With Election Day in Watertown just a few days away, mayoral...

Please join me on air tomorrow at 8:20 with Mike Tanner. This is the last planned radio interview prior to Election Day.

Early voting continues tomorrow through Monday at City Hall, and the final day to vote is Election Day on Tuesday, June 15th at the WHS Civic Arena.

Thank you all for the continued support and I would appreciate your vote.

KWAT's candidate interviews continue this week | Go Watertown June 7, 2021 Mike Tanner WATERTOWN, S.D.–With Election Day in Watertown just over a week away, KWAT...

Have you voted yet?

We are a week away from Election Day. You can early vote through Monday at City Hall with Election Day voting at the Civic Arena on Tuesday, June 15th from 7-7.

I would appreciate your vote!

https://riedholien.wixsite.com/riedholien/get-involved

Voting Information | Ried Holien for Mayor 2021 Early Voting is taking place right now at City Hall. Registered Voters are able to vote now through June 14th until 5pm at City Hall. Follow the "Vote Here" signs.

I spent lunch with Kiwanis answering questions they had about the upcoming election. A few audio clips and interview questions can be found below.

NEW: Differences in ice arena project emerge in Watertown's mayoral race (Audio) | Go Watertown June 7, 2021 Mike Tanner WATERTOWN, S.D.–Watertown’s mayoral race will be decided in one week, and if...

06/7/21 City Council Meeting for those needing the link.

https://youtu.be/dbLR1Ad64dQ

City Council Meeting - 06/07/2021 City Council Meeting - 06/07/2021

There are many important issues facing our city going forward. I care very much about the ice project, but I do not want anyone to feel this is a single issue election.

That being said, we are discussing ice again at the council meeting tonight. Many of the concerns will be clarified by members of the city itself and ice committee.

If you can’t be there in person, tune in to the City YouTube channel!

https://youtu.be/dbLR1Ad64dQ

Gracelyn was a terrific helper last night during the kickoff to Thursday Night Live!

Recently, there have been a lot of negative rumors (and ads) about the ice arena project and my participation in it. I want to assure everyone that these rumors are simply political attacks against me designed to damage my reputation and hurt my chances in the upcoming election for Mayor. The Ice Committee continues to meet, as we did today.

Let’s set the facts straight:

-I am still the Chairman of the Ice Committee. I am committed to seeing this through to completion. Fearing that some people would attack the ice proposal as a way to attack me, it was my desire to protect the project by not tying it too close to the election. To me, this proposal is bigger than me or any candidate, it’s for the good of the entire town.

-The proposal that the Ice Committee brought forward is still solid and moving forward. We have continued to meet with architects, contractors, and our Owner’s Representative.

-The funding mechanism with Watertown Development Company is proceeding as it should. We have met with the WDC staff and local bankers to procure the funding. Everyone is still in favor of the project and committed to seeing the facility built.

-The Memorandum of Understanding with all parties remains in place and in effect. We have continued moving forward with the ongoing commitment of all involved.

-City staff was regularly consulted and met with the Ice Committee.

-The Ice Committee, city staff, experts, WDC and private citizens examined multiple sites and proposals. There was NEVER any proposal that cost less money or had the positive economic impact that the Lakes of Willow Creek location offered.

-All the attacks on the ice arena proposal only came AFTER I announced my candidacy for Mayor. Despite many chances to do so, nobody voiced any concern publicly prior to my entering the race.

-There are soil samples but no member of the Ice Committee has seen them. They belong to the developer, and the developer has discussed them with city staff and will share them with the Watertown Development Company. The WDC is the “owner” of this facility, and therefore it is only the WDC that has a right to see the results.

-There are going to be obstacles ahead before we see this project completed, but my attitude is to fight to find solutions. There will always be people who want to say no to progress. My attitude is always to come up with a way to say yes to the people of Watertown.

The Ice Arena has long been a need in this community. It would bring in millions of dollars of revenue to the city, and it would improve the quality of life for all citizens. The people who are most helped by this are the thousands of kids who skate.

The fact that some people would attack this facility—and, in so doing, hurt the children of Watertown—is sad. Watertown deserves better. For us to move forward as a community we need a positive approach.

I will always stay positive, both in my campaign and as your Mayor. Please join me in creating a bright future for this city of Watertown.

There are a lot of interviews coming up at KWAT for the upcoming election.

Early voting is going on now, but if you are undecided on any of the local races, now is a great time to hear your candidates speak.

KWAT's interviews with Watertown political candidates begin this week | Go Watertown May 31, 2021 Mike Tanner WATERTOWN, S.D.–With city elections in Watertown just two weeks away, KWAT News...

My sincere and heartfelt thanks to all veterans on this Memorial Day. Freedom is never free, it must be fought for and protected. We all owe the great blessing of freedom to the brave women and men in America’s armed forces. Please take a moment today to thank a veteran, and to say a prayer for all veterans, and all men and women currently serving our country. Also, take a moment to say a prayer in remembrance of those who paid the ultimate price for freedom. Your sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Thank you to all of America’s heroes who give this amazing country the great gift of liberty. May God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.

In case you missed us at 0900, here is the replay. Do you have any questions after listening to this?

Watertown Mayoral Candidate Forum (COMPLETE AUDIO) Watertown Mayoral Candidates Ried Holien and Sarah Caron squared off during their live on-air candidate forum held Thursday morning. The complete interview with the candidates, hosted by KXLG news director

Headed to KXLG this morning for Live and Local. Tune in to 99.1 at 0900

https://bit.ly/3yJiQRJ

Events | Ried Holien for Mayor 2021

In an attempt to help you mow, the sign bandit has been relocating some signs to the boulevard.

While we also love this location, the city sign enforcement would like everyone to remember they may not be placed on the boulevard and to keep social distancing in mind in places where there is no boulevard. Signs must be 6 feet off the road or on the opposite side of the sidewalk.

Thank you for your ongoing support, and remember early voting begins Friday!

Please join us tomorrow live on the radio:

Stay informed with our local elections and listen to KXLG's Candidate Forums starting this Thursday, May 27th at 9:05 am with Troy VanDusen.

Early voting begins Friday May 28th at City Hall through June 14th with June 15th being Election Day. Will you vote early this summer or wait for Election Day?

Times, locations for early voting in Watertown announced | Go Watertown May 26, 2021 WATERTOWN, S.D.–The Watertown City Finance Office has announced the times and locations for Watertown...

As a longtime resident of Watertown, my two brothers and I are often asked "Now which one are you?". All three of us have four children, but Bret and I are the two blondes and are often confused for each other.

Going in to the pizza party tonight, here is a photo for reference.

I think this is the equivalent of a digital yard sign...

www.facebook.com/profilepicframes/?selected_overlay_id=310338337207768