Pierre resident Brian Burge has officially announced (March 24, 2026) his candidacy for one of District 24’s two spots in the South Dakota House of Representatives.
The district encompasses Haakon, Hughes, Hyde, Stanley and Sully Counties.
During the COVID pandemic, Burge moved from Sioux Falls to Beresford and then to Pierre. Since 2021, he’s invested 18 weeks observing the legislative session process first hand. He says the 10-week trip to Pierre in 2021 was intended to be temporary, but his launch of Bridge Finch Tree Care, primarily in Pierre and Fort Pierre, lead to his moving to Pierre.
Burge says, “While government affects just a small role in our trajectory as a family, town, state and nation, I feel called to use skills as an engineer, drive as a business owner, and compassion as service provider to help keep that trajectory delivering robust infrastructure systems, timely support, and practical laws between us so that we all can enjoy our next day, week, and years to come.”
Burge says several people have asked what he wants to change if elected. He says primarily he wants to focus on maintaining the systems and values that keep South Dakota the home he grew up in and pulled him back after his college years. He’s seeing all too often an ever aging population that’s getting “squeezed tighter and tighter with forces commanding more and more of our financial capacities and of our precious spare time.”
Burge graduated from Marion High School and earned his Bachelor of Science from South Dakota State University with majors in Mehanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering and Industrial Management. Following time working in Iowa, Burge moved back to South Dakota after inventing and starting a garage door accessory business.
Burge joins a republican primary field that includes incumbent Mike Weisgram of Fort Pierre, Laurie Gill of Pierre and Regan Bollweg of Harrold.
The primary election will be held June 2, 2026.
The Fort Pierre Chamber of Commerce will host a Candidate Forum at the Pat Duffy Community Youth Involved Center in Fort Pierre (19 East Main Street) on Thursday, April 23, 2026, beginning at 6pm CT. All candidates seeking election for Stanley County School Board, Stanley County Sheriff, Stanley County Commission, Fort Pierre Mayor and City Council, District 24 Senate and District 24 House are invited to participate. Jody Heemstra with DRG Media Group and Zach Nelson with Riverfront Broadcasting will moderate the forum. Anyone with questions can contact the Fort Pierre Chamber at 605-223-2178.
The Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce Government Outreach Committee, DRG Media Group and Riverfront Broadcasting are working out details regarding a candidate forum for the Pierre School Board, Pierre mayor, Hughes County, District 24 House of Representatives and District 24 Senate candidates. More information will be released in the near future.
Courtesy photo.
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