BROOKINGS – Interim Brookings County State’s Attorney Teree Nesvold has filed the necessary paperwork to run for the spot of Brookings County State’s Attorney this fall.
The November race is for a two-year term to fill the remaining term of former State’s Attorney Abigail Howard, who became a magistrate judge for the Third Judicial Circuit in January.
Then on Feb. 6, Brookings County commissioners appointed Nesvold to be the interim state’s attorney until the end of 2018.
The fact that she has been performing the duties of state’s attorney is something to consider this fall, she said.
“I will be in this role until the election, and whatever that may bring, I’m working this job and am passionate about the role that I have here in keeping this county safe. But this isn’t a question of whether I can do it or not because I am doing it,” Nesvold said.
The University of South Dakota graduate has worked in the county since 2014, when she was a clerk for the Third Judicial Circuit. Then, in 2015, she became a deputy state’s attorney for Brookings County.
Law, Nesvold said, was “something I’ve always wanted to pursue. I’m very passionate about the law, especially about the prosecutorial side of it. I like the idea of dispensing justice. It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s just making sure that the best and most just outcome is what happens in the disposition of a case.”
And that’s part of what’s driving her to enter this race. Although this wasn’t expected, she said, this is a chance to work in her dream job, “working for the citizens of this county and trying to be the safe-keeper of everyone’s rights and safety.”
Of the issues the county is facing, drugs – and methamphetamine in particular – are among the chief concerns, as drug abuse often results in a host of other crimes that clog up the court system and jails.
As state’s attorney, she’d like to build on the success of the drug court, which she said is changing people’s lives and giving them a chance to become productive citizens.
“Even though pessimistically, meth and other drug use is a concern, we have this program now that is changing lives,” Nesvold said. “For me, I’m very passionate about the drug court because we’re not just writing people off. We’re getting them the help that they need.”
Contact Eric Sandbulte at esandbulte@brookingsregister.com.
