Editor’s note: This is the second of three announcements from the Brookings City Council candidates, which will be followed by a questionnaire all three filled out for The Register.

BROKINGS — I am Al Austreim.  I have been a resident of Brookings for over 28 years, and am currently running for a 3 year term on the Brookings City Council.

I grew up in Flandreau SD and moved to Brookings to attend SDSU.  My wife Amy and I have been married for 23 years  and have raised both of our children in Brookings. After graduating from SDSU, I stayed working with the  family landscaping business.  Austreim Landscaping has been doing business in the Brookings and Eastern SD area for over 50 years. I have been a small business owner and operator for over 30 years and have worked in and directly with many communities in our area.  This experience has allowed and taught me many things about positive communication and collaborative problem solving.

My number one priority for running for the City Council is Public Engagement.  I don’t feel the public is informed and given proper opportunity to share their opinions and be involved in the process.  Brookings has an entire community full of resources that need and deserve to be utilized.  City leaders need to seek out input from the citizens, in order to make the most informed decisions as possible.  Elected officials are not expected to have the answers to every question or subject matter that comes up, but are expected to utilize available resources to make an educated decision.  The best way to accomplish this is to Listen – Learn - Lead.  Listening will lead to dialogue and from that dialogue you will get new ideas and come up with positive solutions.  Once you have learned about the subject at hand, you will be able to become an effective leader and work to provide a positive impact on the community and its citizens.

Through my education and work experience, I can bring a very different and unique perspective that is not currently represented on the council.  I have interacted with homeowners and project managers in all areas of Brookings and throughout Eastern South Dakota for over 30 years and have the skills and ability to work with others to find and execute the best practical solutions.  

Brookings is a great community and I would very much look forward to serving its citizens for the next three years as an open minded and passionate representative.