Two South Dakota Farmers Union District Boards have passed resolutions calling for the resignation of the state officers and for the organization to hold a special convention for an election. Past Farmers Union Vice President Mike O’Connor is with the Save Farmers Union Coalition. He says the District 1 and 2 Boards voted in favor of these resolutions as a result of management issues and abuse of employees and volunteers, as well as what he terms a “swindled election.” He says the Coalition has evidence of election tampering at the 2015 annual meeting.
As a result of the close state officer election, the Save Farmers Union Coalition asked for a recount of the votes. However, O’Connor says they were told by leadership that a credentials report no longer exists.
O’Connor says South Dakota Farmers Union is governed by state cooperative laws and with an officer meddling in the election it is a violation of state laws and constitutes fraud.
O’Connor says they’re hoping the board will voluntarily demand the removal of President Doug Sombke, Vice President Wayne Soren and Secretary/Treasurer Karla Hofhenke. However, the next district to vote on the resolutions is District 3 on Saturday, April 16 in Watertown.
