Wayne Sumner hasn't formed a lot of strong opinions about issues facing Pennington County and says he would rather listen and learn before reaching any conclusions.
Sumner is running for the county commission from District 2. He faces former commissioner Lyle Hendrickson and incumbent Nancy Trautman.
Sumner, who owned the coffee shop in the courthouse for 20 years before losing his lease this year, is making his first run for elected office. He said he isn't upset over the loss of his lease and that it isn't his reason for running.
"The thing wasn't making that much money, anyway, and I'm not getting any younger," Sumner said. "So I don't know that it would have stayed open much longer. … I'm not mad at anybody."
Sumner doesn't have any criticism of the current county commission.
"I might have some curiosity about some things," he said. "But I don't want to raise a gripe about them. Until I have the information they have, I don't think I should be critical."
Sumner said he doesn't have any major issues on his agenda.
But he said he recognizes the need to balance county services with the tax burden on citizens.
And he differs with Rapid City Mayor Alan Hanks on the city's proposal to put parking meters around the courthouse complex. He said there are some days when there is enough parking for all the people who come to the courthouse but some days when there isn't.
Before owning the courthouse coffee shop, Sumner worked nearly 18 years as a supervisor and rehabilitation counselor for the state Division of Vocational Rehabilitation's services to the visually impaired.
Sumner grew up in eastern South Dakota and attended the South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Handicapped. He graduated from South Dakota State University in 1960 and later received a master's degree from Texas Tech University in psychology and vocational rehabilitation.
Sumner said he is a good listener, having been a counselor for a long time. "I know a little bit about business. I know quite a bit about people problems," Sumner said.
