Watertown Candidate Forum Set for Oct. 6 Featuring Codington County Auditor, District 4 and District 5 House Candidates

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Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce will host a 2026 General Election candidate forum on Tuesday, Oct. 6, beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the Heritage Theater at the Watertown Event Center. The public is invited to attend, and Northeast Radio SD will livestream the full forum for voters unable to be there in person.

The evening will open with the Codington County Auditor candidates, followed by candidates for the South Dakota House of Representatives in District 4 and District 5.

Residents may submit questions in advance to coc@watertownsd.com.

Codington County Auditor Candidates

The County Auditor serves as Codington County’s chief financial officer, clerk to the Board of County Commissioners, records administrator, and overseer of all county election operations. Certified candidates are:

· Brenda Hanten (Republican) – Incumbent Auditor and former Chair of the Codington County Board of Commissioners.

· Debbie Melville (Independent) – Longtime professional within the Codington County Auditor’s Office.

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South Dakota House – District 5 Candidates

District 5 includes the City of Watertown and surrounding Codington County precincts. Two representatives are elected at‑large:

· Byron I. Callies (Republican) – Former state representative and civic leader.

· Matt Roby (Republican) – Incumbent representative, attorney, and former Watertown city attorney.

· Neal Tapio (Independent) – Former state senator and area businessman.

South Dakota House – District 4 Candidates

District 4 covers rural Codington County along with Deuel, Grant, and Hamlin counties. Two representatives will be elected:

· Fred Deutsch (Republican) – Healthcare professional and former state representative.

· Emelia Enquist (Democrat) – Community minister and rural advocate from Revillo.

· Samuel Froehlke (Independent) – Independent candidate from Toronto.

· Ryan Kohl (Republican) – Agriculturalist and community advocate.

Chamber Statement on Civic Engagement

“The decisions made both at the Codington County Courthouse and in the legislative chambers in Pierre directly influence our local economic vitality,” the Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee said. “We strongly encourage every registered voter in our business community to engage with these candidates and make their voices heard at the ballot box.”

The 2026 General Election will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Additional voter resources, candidate information, and polling details will be shared through the Chamber’s communication channels.

For more information, visit watertownsd.com or contact the Chamber at 605‑886‑5814.