Jan. 21, 2026:
Kristin Gabriel has declared her candidacy for the Fort Pierre City Council Ward III position that will be on the June 2, 2026, election ballot.
Gabriel said she moved to the area after college and ended up meeting her husband, Tate. Now, Fort Pierre is home.
One focus of Gabriel’s campaign platform is strengthening the city’s administrative stability.
A second focus of Gabriel’s campaign is prioritizing Fort Pierre’s long-term water security– including both a source of drinking water as well as water storage.
Gabriel said Fort Pierre residents with questions or concerns can reach out to her in person or message her through her Kristin Gabriel for Fort Pierre City Council Ward III Facebook page.
Gabriel is running for the seat currently held by Rick Cronin. Other members of the Fort Pierre City Council whose terms expire this year (2-year terms) are Mayor Gloria Hanson, Larry Cronin in Ward I and Scott Deal in Ward II.
Circulation of nominating petitions may begin on February 2 and petitions must be filed no later than March 24.
Absentee voting for the June 2 election begins April 17.
Jan. 19, 2026:
Kristin Gabriel has officially announced (Jan. 19, 2026) her candidacy for the Ward III position on the Fort Pierre City Council. Gabriel is a wife to Tate, mom to Gavin, Scarlett, and Gray, a full-time employee at a local business, a community leader in various clubs and service organizations, and a small business owner.
“I moved to Fort Pierre in December of 2010 after graduating from college. I didn’t know what my future held, but I met the love of my life, started a family, built a home, and have firmly planted roots in Fort Pierre,” Gabriel said.
As part of her platform, Gabriel is focusing on strengthening the city’s administrative stability and planning for long-term infrastructure needs.
Fort Pierre, she noted, has faced challenges in recent years with staffing key positions and maintaining continuity within essential departments. “Fort Pierre deserves a stable, transparent, and cooperative city council,” Gabriel said. “Over the past several years, the city has experienced challenges in staffing key positions and maintaining continuity in essential departments. These gaps have increased our reliance on outside contractors and created avoidable costs for taxpayers. As we look toward the future, it’s important that our personnel decisions support long-term stability, fair compensation for our dedicated staff, and responsible stewardship of the city’s budget. I believe Fort Pierre thrives when our leaders work collaboratively with employees, value their expertise, and ensure the right people are in the right roles.”
Gabriel is also prioritizing Fort Pierre’s long-term water security, one of the most urgent issues facing the community. With formal notice that the city’s current water supply agreement will end in 2032, the city has been working to evaluate new options for a reliable source of water.
“Fort Pierre’s long-term water security is one of the most critical infrastructure issues facing our community,” Gabriel said. “I believe Fort Pierre needs steady, proactive leadership to ensure we have a dependable, affordable water supply for families, businesses, and the generations that follow.”
Petition circulation begins Monday, February 2, and ends Tuesday, March 24. This year, the municipal election will be held in conjunction with the Primary Election on Tuesday, June 2. To follow Gabriel’s updates, visit her campaign Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/
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