Former city council candidate endorses Richard Thomason for At-Large C seat

Allison Renville won't be the city's At-Large C councilor come May 21, after she failed to make the runoff election when she got only 14.76% of the vote on April 9. But she knows who she wants to see in the seat.

Renville endorsed Richard Thomason in a Friday afternoon Facebook post, saying she plans to vote for him in the April 30 runoff as opposed to Jordan Deffenbaugh, who she had openly sparred with in the final days of her campaign.

Renville said she'd gotten to know Thomason over the campaign, calling him "open-minded" and "fully aware of his own capacity."

"I also appreciate his ability to keep his composure and rely on facts without overstepping, another strong quality to have because it’s so important to showcase self control without waiver in stressful times," she added.

She also wrote that she wanted people to "look beyond identity politics and vote for someone willing to adequately communicate with not just me but all those present and engaged."

More: Thomason, Deffenbaugh head to runoff in At-Large C race as Basye wins in Northeast

"Campaigns are about bringing people together," Thomason told the Argus Leader in a text message Friday. "I have appreciated getting to know Allison, and we have had great conversations. Her support means a great deal to me."

Asked for his comment, Deffenbaugh texted:

"Our campaign has a lot of momentum. Our supporters are fired up and energized about the runoff. Over the last six months, we’ve continuously focused on the issues confronting our city and our message will continue to be about how we can address them. I’d invite the public to examine Allison’s campaign, compare my platform with Richard’s, and make informed decision based on what they see."

Could Renville's endorsement make a difference?

Renville's endorsement could play a part in a Thomason victory, if her supporters follow her lead. Thomason had 5,052 votes on election night compared with Deffenbaugh's 4,109.

If the April 30 runoff election looks similar in voter turnout and ratio to that election, the 1,692 people who voted for Renville could make or break Deffenbaugh's hopes.

That said, both Thomason and Deffenbaugh are still campaigning and pushing for votes. And no two elections are identical.

More: Sioux Falls City Council candidate faces criticism for participation in use of force protest

Whether Renville would endorse either candidate had been an open question since election night. Deffenbaugh had criticized her presence at a recent protest march, telling the Argus Leader, "I don't think it's appropriate for a candidate to march under or alongside banners that say, 'F--- the Police' ... Elections are a job interview, and it doesn't strike me as the kind of behavior that's becoming of anyone running for an elected office."

Renville, in response, called Deffenbaugh "out of touch" in a Facebook post, and said targeting her as a woman of color showed, "his inept ability to include the benefit of anyone beyond his own limited scope of experience."

Deffenbaugh then made his own Facebook post, showing a photo of the two from September 2023, whem Renville is thanking him for his work at an event, with Deffenbaugh writing only, "Politics is weird. Thankfully, I got receipts." He appears to have since limited who can view the post on his Facebook page.

The runoff election will be held April 30, with polling places identical to the April 9 election. Absentee and early voting begins on April 23.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Renville endorses Thomason for Sioux Falls' At-Large C council seat