Meet the Candidates: District 5 State Senate

City leaders Vilhauer and Solberg vying to represent Watertown in Pierre


Meet the Candidates

 

The Watertown Current is pleased to provide each of our local candidates up to 400 words to describe themselves and the issues they care about. The responses below were written by the candidates themselves, and do not necessarily represent the views of the Watertown Current, our sponsors, or the McQuillen Creative Group.

 

 

South Dakota State Senate, District 5

District Five  includes the City of Watertown, Lakes Pelican and Kampeska, and the townships of Elmira, Lake, Pelican and Sheridan

 

Glen Vilhauer, Republican

Former Watertown city councilman, deputy mayor, and retired local business owner Glen Vilhauer has announced his candidacy for the South Dakota Senate District 5.

Senator Lee Schoenbeck currently fills that seat and has already said this is his last term and does not plan to run for re-election.

Glen Vilhauer

“We have been blessed with strong conservative representation in Pierre over the years. I hope to continue to bring a conservative, common-sense approach to the citizens of this District and the people of South Dakota. My time on the Watertown City Council has taught me how to listen to constituents’ concerns and attempt to find a solution to their issues. I will be their advocate in Pierre just as I have been here in Watertown.”

Public service is nothing new to Vilhauer as he was a Watertown councilman for eight years and deputy mayor for two years. He served 10 years in the S.D. Army National Guard and has served on the Prairie Lakes Healthcare System Board and Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Trustees.

“I am a farm boy at heart and also a long-time business owner. I understand the concerns of the farming community while also supporting ongoing economic development in South Dakota.”

Vilhauer is a retired CPA and lives with his wife, Darla, in Watertown. He has three adult children and six grandchildren.

 

Dennis Solberg, Democrat

Dennis Solberg grew up in the town of Lily, S.D., in Day County. He grew up in a family of very limited means and had seven brothers and sisters. He graduated from Bristol High School and attended Watertown Business University for two quarters. The military was drafting most men at the age of 18, so Denny and friend decided to enlist in the Navy’s buddy program. After boot camp, Denny was assigned to the USS Kennebec, serving four years aboard and doing three tours of duty in Vietnam.

Dennis Solberg

After receiving his honorable discharge from the Navy, he attended the University of South Dakota, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. For the next 5 years, he worked for Salkin and Linoff as a district manager for their clothing stores in Iowa. In 1978, he and his wife, Kay, along with brother Dave and his wife, Brenda, started the Coteau Shopper, a weekly paper serving northeast South Dakota. Twenty years later, they sold the paper to the Watertown Public Opinion. Since then, Denny worked in outdoor sales for Menards and at CHS as a payload operator. He now works on and manages his rental properties.

Denny has served on the Watertown Municipal Utility Board for ten years and the Watertown City Council for eight years. He enjoyed the challenges of the job and felt good about all the accomplishments during his tenure.

He is the past commander of the VFW and is now the Post Quartermaster. He is also on the board of directors of the Vietnam Veterans of Northeast South Dakota and is a member of their Honor Guard. Denny is also a member of the American Legion and helps with activities of all three organizations.

Dennis and Kay have two sons; Matt of Watertown, and Mark of Denver, Colo. They have six grandchildren and two great-granddaughters. Together, the family owns four businesses in Watertown.

Solberg has been an avid hunter for over 60 years and has had an interest in government and finding solutions that will help people and communities improve their lives in South Dakota. He has many personal experiences as a Vietnam veteran, growing up in South Dakota and as an owner and manager of various businesses.