X

an interview with...

Mayor of Wagner,

• For those that don’t know you, can you share a little about your background?

“I was born and raised on a farm about ten miles northwest of Wagner. Attending Wagner Community School from Kindergarten until graduating from Wagner High School in 2001, I was very active in WHS during my high school years, involved in basketball, volleyball, track, chorus, band, marching band, T.A.T.U., newspaper, yearbook, oral interp. I then attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha where I graduated with a double degree in psychology and criminal justice. I moved back in 2021 to help take care of my Grandma Norma and have been back in Wagner ever since.”

• What made you want to become mayor?

“As part of my job writing for the Wagner Post, I had been attending the monthly and special meetings of the Wagner City Council. After sitting through about eight months of meetings, I found myself coming home frustrated as it felt like the meetings went around in circles and decisions were never really concrete. To me it felt that Wagner was at a crossroads and we could either continue where we were to not grow and watch more main street businesses become boarded up or we had the potential to grow and become the Wagner that we have always had the potential to be. I figured if I wanted to see change, the only way that I could assist in it was to become part of the process, which meant for me running for mayor.

Have you always had an interest in local government?

“To be honest, growing up on a farm, I never really knew what people did at the local government level. In high school, I attended girls state and felt that my government class during senior year was very easy and kind of came naturally to me, but never thought I would ever see myself in this kind of a position.”

How did you feel when you found out you were elected?

“I was extremely excited, then nervous. I can have all the dreams and ideas, but when it truly comes down to it, what matters is getting the council excited and painting them a picture of what my ideas would really look like implemented. Change is hard for some people and that is understandable, but I have faith that the members of the city council have the same goal and desire to grow Wagner and explore all the possibilities.”

What are you most excited about in your new role?

“I am most excited to be a part of a good team of people. I feel that the council has the attitude of progressing Wagner and doing it as a team. We have extremely knowledgeable and talented people on different parts of the city team. The council has a wide-variety of individuals with varying and diverse backgrounds that will bring different knowledge and experiences to their thoughts and opinions. We have a teacher, parents, business owners, law enforcement, farmers, people that have lived in Wagner a long time and some that have lived in other areas. They are all active in different areas/boards/groups etc. We have a city hall office full of experience and knowledge.”

• What’s something you love about Wagner?

“I love that I can walk into different businesses or walk around and people are friendly. If they know you, they will engage and chat with you and if they don’t they are willing to get to know you.”

• What are your top priorities during your first year in office?

“My top priority this first year of office is to get our police department up to date on technology for both the officers and their vehicles. Especially in our area, I feel that it is of top importance to make sure that for their safety they have access to the tools and equipment that they need. In addition to the safety, I feel that it will also help with officer retention. We have young officers, being able to utilize the technology that departments of our caliber have at their disposal will make us a better candidate to keep these officers for as long as possible and attract others in the future. Another top priority is bring Main street back to life and filling the empty store fronts with businesses.”

• What do you feel are the biggest challenges for the City, and how do you hope to address them?

The biggest challenge to me is that we need to come together as a community. I would love to see the city council and Yankton Sioux Tribal agencies work hand in hand to address some of the biggest challenges facing the city which include crime, homelessness, and bringing or engaging our own residents to want to build businesses in our community.

• How can people in the community get involved or share ideas with you?

“I will have a city email shortly, so people can email me. My cell phone number is 605-491-2331; people can call or text me. They can feel free to message me on Facebook. I love hearing both the positive and negative things that people have to say. We cannot fix what we do not know is broken. Talking to residents of our community gives me different ideas and allows me to bounce ideas off them. Please come to the city council meetings. They are not only for city residents. If you have a stake in the Wagner community, then we would love to hear from you. That is the best way to engage myself and the council all at once. I encourage people to come and share thoughts, ideas and opinions.”

• What advice would you give to young people who want to make a difference in their community?

“Do not be afraid to join groups and organizations. It is a great way to meet new people of all ages. The experience will not only change you, but also change the people you volunteer with. It is very important to get young people involved so that we can continue the legacy of many of our local organizations.”

• Is there anything you’d like the people of Wagner to know as you get started?

“I will make mistakes, so please be patient. Always know that my decisions, thoughts, and ideas are what I see as a betterment for Wagner as a whole and its residents.”

Do you have anything else you would like to share with our readers?

“I figured if I want to see change, the only way that I could assist in it was to become part of the process, which meant for me running for mayor.” - Mayor Alyssa Mathis

growing Wagner.