Isn’t it Lovely to Lead a City You Love? Special Guest: Mayor Paul TenHaken
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“I love Sioux Falls. [I’m] doing this job because I love this city.”
It’s a celebration of leadership and local government as the Honorable Paul TenHaken takes a break from City Hall to join Tracy and Rachel for an honest behind-the-scenes take on what it is like to serve as the mayor of Sioux Falls, South Dakota! Paul speaks candidly about the rewards and challenges of this wholly unique role, as well as the values that drive his passions, including faith, fitness, mental health and wellness, and protecting the youth of Sioux Falls through collaborative programming. Tracy and Paul discuss the importance of spouses yielding to one another in marriage, while Paul and Rachel explore the balance between protecting family life and remaining accessible to constituents. Paul also reveals the routines that center his identity and keep him grounded and celebrates the power of local government. Rachel ponders receiving daily coaching and encouragement calls from Paul’s amazing wife Jill; Tracy declares it’s time to make school board meetings cool again.
Episode Mentions:
Mayor Paul TenHaken’s Website: https://www.siouxfalls.org/council/members/p-tenhaken
Mayor Paul TenHaken’s Instagram: @paultenhaken
Mayor Paul TenHaken’s Facebook: Paul TenHaken
Pigeon 605: At home, Paul and Jill TenHaken reflect on year that called for leadership
Isn’t it Lovely? Podcast Season 4 Episode 3: “Isn’t it Lovely to Live a Life of Service? Special Guest: Sioux Falls Police Chief Jon Thum”
What Are You Loving:
Paul: Netflix’s Physical: 100; Holy Moments: A Handbook for the Rest of Your Life by Matthew Kelly; indoor bike trainer
Tracy: Break Point docuseries
Rachel: International Women’s Day 2023; Women’s History Month; Bread Givers: A Novel by Anzia Yeziereska
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Since taking office as mayor of Sioux Falls in May 2018, Paul TenHaken has amassed a list of accomplishments for the city by putting people first and taking strategic steps to ensure the continued success of South Dakota’s largest city. Through his One Sioux Falls framework, Mayor TenHaken’s focus is on safety, housing, workforce and engaging people across Sioux Falls, which was named one of the best run cities in the country in 2021.
Mayor TenHaken has demonstrated his commitment to public safety through projects that include opening The Link, a behavioral health and addiction triage center, and securing funding for a public safety training campus and Metro 911 dispatch center. He has also launched initiatives that focus on improving lives and fostering leadership and community engagement, including the Sioux 52 Mentoring Initiative and the Mayor’s Youth Council. A thought leader, Mayor TenHaken was selected for the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative with a focus on innovation and chairs the FCC’s Intergovernmental Advisory Committee. A dedicated public servant, successful entrepreneur and avid athlete, Mayor TenHaken’s proudest accomplishment is his family—his wife, Jill, and their three children.