The former head of the South Dakota appraiser certification program says Governor Kristi Noem’s daughter got an extra opportunity to complete her appraiser license upgrade.
Sherry Bren– whose appearance was compelled by subpoena– spoke to the legislature’s Government Operations and Audit Committee yesterday (Dec. 14, 2021).
Bren detailed the meeting she had in July of 2020.
Bren says she attempted to explain how the appraiser certification program worked.
Noem’s daughter, Kassidy Peters, failed the required second step to get a license, but was offered a third chance. That agreement was signed more than a week after the July 2020 meeting at the Governor’s Residence.
Bren was later asked to resign from her position. She sued and received a $200-thousand settlement, but also signed a non-disparagement agreement.
Several lawmakers have said they would like the non-disparagement clause to be removed from Bren’s agreement because it would let them get more information. Rep. Steve Haugaard– who is challenging Noem for the republican gubernatorial nomination in the upcoming June primary– also wants the GOAC to subpoena Noem and Peters so they have to “testify under oath as to the chain of events that led to Ms. Peters receiving her appraisers certification outside of normal procedures.”
Noem has denied wrongdoing saying she is trying to improve the appraisal certification program and her daughter did not receive special treatment. Noem calls her actions an effort to cut red tape to address a shortage of certified appraisers in South Dakota.
(The Associated Press, Argus Leader and WNAX Radio also contributed to this story.)
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