Mike Huether

Mike Huether
Birthplace	Yankton, South Dakota, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, businessman, philanthropist
Known for	Mayor of Sioux Falls (2010–2018)
Alma mater	South Dakota State University
Spouse(s)	Cindy Huether

Mike Huether is an American politician, businessman, and philanthropist from South Dakota who served as the Mayor of Sioux Falls from 2010 to 2018. Born in Yankton, South Dakota, Huether rose from modest beginnings in a small river town to lead the largest city in the state through a period of significant growth and development. A graduate of South Dakota State University, he built a career in business before entering public life. Originally affiliated with the Democratic Party, Huether switched to Independent status in 2016. After leaving office, he became known for philanthropic work, including the establishment of the Mike Huether Public Service Academy at South Dakota State University. In 2025, he was announced as a member of the South Dakota Hall of Fame's class of 2025, recognized for his contributions to the state. Huether has credited his upbringing in Yankton as the foundation for his career in public service and civic engagement.

Early Life

Mike Huether was born in Yankton, South Dakota, a small city situated along the Missouri River in the southeastern corner of the state. He grew up in Yankton and has spoken publicly about the formative influence his boyhood in the community had on his values and career trajectory. In a 2025 interview connected to his induction into the South Dakota Hall of Fame, Huether credited his Yankton upbringing as the foundation for his later achievements in business, politics, and philanthropy.

Yankton, one of South Dakota's older communities and a former territorial capital, provided Huether with a close-knit small-town environment. While specific details about his parents and family background during childhood are not extensively documented in available sources, Huether has consistently pointed to his roots in the community as shaping his commitment to public service.

Education

Huether attended South Dakota State University (SDSU) in Brookings, South Dakota, where he earned his degree. His connection to the university has remained strong throughout his life, and he has been involved with the institution in various capacities following his time in public office. In 2024, SDSU announced the creation of the Mike Huether Public Service Academy, a program bearing his name that is designed to prepare students for careers in public service. The academy represents both the university's recognition of Huether's career in public service and his ongoing commitment to his alma mater.

Career

Business Career

Before entering politics, Huether built a career in the business sector. He established himself as a businessman in Sioux Falls, South Dakota's largest city, gaining experience in management and leadership that he would later bring to public office. While detailed accounts of his specific business ventures are limited in available sources, his background in the private sector was a notable aspect of his candidacy when he ran for mayor. Huether and his wife Cindy also established the Mike, Cindy, and Kylie Huether Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization reflecting the family's philanthropic commitments.

Mayor of Sioux Falls (2010–2018)

Mike Huether took office as Mayor of Sioux Falls on May 17, 2010, succeeding Dave Munson. He served two consecutive terms in office, a tenure that spanned eight years and concluded on May 15, 2018, when he was succeeded by Paul TenHaken.

Huether entered office at a time when Sioux Falls was experiencing steady population growth and economic expansion. As mayor, he was responsible for overseeing the administration of the largest city in South Dakota, which during his tenure continued to grow as a regional economic center in the Upper Midwest.

During his time as mayor, Huether was initially affiliated with the Democratic Party. In 2016, however, he changed his political affiliation to Independent, a move that attracted attention in South Dakota's political landscape. The mayoral office in Sioux Falls is officially nonpartisan, but party affiliations of mayors have nonetheless been noted in political coverage of the city.

Huether's two terms as mayor coincided with a period of development and infrastructure investment in Sioux Falls. The city experienced population increases and economic development during this period, and Huether presided over the municipal government as it addressed the challenges and opportunities associated with that growth.

After completing his second term, Huether left office in May 2018 and was replaced by Paul TenHaken, who won the mayoral election that year. Huether's departure from the mayor's office marked the end of an eight-year period of leadership in the city.

Post-Mayoral Career and Political Considerations

Following his time as mayor, Huether was the subject of speculation regarding potential future runs for public office. He held a news conference to announce that he would not be running for public office, putting to rest speculation about possible candidacies at the state or federal level.

In 2025, when Sioux Falls began looking ahead to the 2026 mayoral race following the anticipated departure of Paul TenHaken, Huether's name was mentioned among potential candidates in media coverage. A March 2025 article in The Dakota Scout discussed the anticipated crowded field for the 2026 Sioux Falls mayoral race, noting that TenHaken's departure set up potential candidates ranging from city councilors and state lawmakers to gubernatorial hopefuls and executives. An August 2025 analysis in Sioux Falls Live also discussed the dynamics of the upcoming mayoral race.

Philanthropy and Public Service Advocacy

After leaving public office, Huether devoted significant attention to philanthropic work and advocacy for public service. The Mike, Cindy, and Kylie Huether Family Foundation has been the family's primary vehicle for charitable giving and community support.

One of Huether's most significant post-mayoral initiatives has been the establishment of the Mike Huether Public Service Academy at South Dakota State University. The academy was announced in April 2024 at an event at SDSU, with David Knudson appearing on behalf of benefactor T. Denny Sanford. The program was created to prepare university students for careers in public service, reflecting Huether's belief in the importance of civic engagement and government service.

In April 2025, SDSU announced the first cohort of six students selected for the Mike Huether Public Service Academy, marking the program's transition from concept to active operation. The inaugural cohort consisted of six South Dakota State University students who were selected to participate in the program. The academy represents an institutional effort to encourage a new generation of public servants in South Dakota.

Personal Life

Mike Huether is married to Cindy Huether. The couple has a daughter named Kylie, as indicated by the name of their family foundation, the Mike, Cindy, and Kylie Huether Family Foundation. The family has been based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where Huether served as mayor for eight years.

Huether has maintained strong ties to his hometown of Yankton, South Dakota, and has spoken publicly about the influence of his upbringing there on his career and values. In 2025, ahead of his induction into the South Dakota Hall of Fame, Huether described his Yankton boyhood as foundational to his public service career.

Huether was originally registered as a member of the Democratic Party but changed his political affiliation to Independent in 2016, during his second term as mayor of Sioux Falls. The mayoral office in Sioux Falls is nonpartisan.

Recognition

South Dakota Hall of Fame

In April 2025, the South Dakota Hall of Fame announced that Mike Huether would be among the inductees in its class of 2025. The announcement, covered by the Argus Leader and other South Dakota media outlets, identified Huether alongside Greg Carmon, Robert A. Miller, Walter Schaefer, Jim Soyer, Sophie Two Hawk, and Valentine McGillycuddy as members of the 2025 class. Several of the inductees from that year's class were from the Sioux Falls area.

The induction, scheduled for 2025 in Chamberlain, South Dakota, recognized Huether's contributions to the state through his career in business, government, and philanthropy.

Mike Huether Public Service Academy

The naming of the Mike Huether Public Service Academy at South Dakota State University represents a form of institutional recognition for Huether's career in public service. Announced in 2024 and launching its first cohort in 2025, the academy bears his name and is dedicated to preparing students for public service careers.

Legacy

Mike Huether's legacy is primarily associated with his eight-year tenure as Mayor of Sioux Falls, during which the city continued its trajectory of population growth and economic development. As the leader of South Dakota's largest city from 2010 to 2018, Huether oversaw municipal governance during a period of significant change for the community.

Beyond his time in office, Huether's post-political career has been defined by philanthropy and efforts to encourage public service among younger South Dakotans. The Mike Huether Public Service Academy at South Dakota State University, which welcomed its first cohort of students in 2025, represents his most tangible effort to create a lasting institutional legacy. The program is designed to cultivate future leaders who will serve in government and civic roles, extending Huether's influence beyond his own career in office.

His selection for the South Dakota Hall of Fame's class of 2025 placed him among a group of individuals recognized for their contributions to the state across various fields. Huether's induction was noted particularly in connection with his Yankton roots, with coverage emphasizing how his small-town upbringing shaped a career that took him to the leadership of the state's largest city and into statewide philanthropic work.

Huether's transition from the Democratic Party to Independent status in 2016 also reflected broader political dynamics in South Dakota, where the political landscape has shifted considerably in the early 21st century. His decision to leave partisan affiliation behind while serving in a nonpartisan office attracted attention and commentary in the state's political media.

As Sioux Falls has continued to grow — emerging as one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the Upper Midwest — the decisions and developments of the Huether era remain part of the city's ongoing civic conversation. The 2026 mayoral race, which began attracting attention and potential candidates in 2025, will represent the first open-seat contest since Paul TenHaken succeeded Huether in 2018.