From San Diego to Sioux Falls, mayor’s new policy adviser tackles range of timely issues

The Midwest was pretty high on Jenna Harris’ list of places to move.

She and her husband, Bobby, were living in San Diego, and they knew they were ready for a change. With two young daughters, the traffic, cost of living, culture and general feel of Southern California just wasn’t working for them.

But the Midwest, with its reputation for being friendly and fostering personal responsibility, felt like the kind of place they wanted to raise their kids. They looked at cost of living, demographics, political culture, weather.

That last one knocked Sioux Falls off the list.

“Then, some of the places we had on our list, in the South, we saw some of the trends we were seeing in California,” Harris said. “We realized the weather is a small price to pay for everything else Sioux Falls has to offer.”

In fairness, even when Harris and her husband came to look around, she was convinced the city wouldn’t be right. They were in Sioux Falls for fewer than 24 hours on a tour that included Omaha and Kansas City.

“I thought it would be too small, too flat and not enough trees,” Harris said of their October visit. “But something about Sioux Falls spoke to me. Everyone was so friendly, and it’s beautiful.”

They came back in February to see if they could handle the weather, determined they could and moved here in June, buying a home near Dawley Farm Village.

She notes that it has been an adjustment.

“It’s definitely a change – getting the kids ready for school and making sure they have snow pants,” Harris said. “My kids are 3 and 5, and they lose their gloves, their hats. It was my first white Christmas, and that was amazing. It’s so beautiful and magical; it’s like a Christmas card.”

Harris grew up in Oregon, married her high school sweetheart at age 19 and moved to Twentynine Palms in California, where he was stationed in the Marine Corps. He did one tour of Afghanistan and then was medically retired from the military in 2011.

They had family in Southern California, so after they had kids, it made sense to stay in the area. “Then the benefits were just not enough anymore to keep putting up with the negatives anymore,” Harris said.

Harris began her political career in 2012 doing candidate fundraising, working in PACS and in the Republican Party in San Diego. She was working at Starbucks and going to college studying economics when she started with the San Diego County Taxpayers Organization. Then, she began working as a staff fundraiser for a council candidate, who got elected.

“I said yes because I wanted to work on policy, and I got a lot of policy experience very quickly,” Harris said. She ended up spending seven years working for that council member in public policy, community affairs and public relations. “Their district was 140,000 people,” Harris said. “We have a strong mayor form of government like Sioux Falls, but they executed differently. Council members are full time with full staffs.”

After her time there, she returned to the tax association as vice president and chief operating officer.

“It was fun being back in nonprofits and able to shake things up with policy work, analysis and advocacy,” Harris said.

But then they decided to move, and she hoped to take a year off to complete her MBA at the University of Sioux Falls, while her husband started a business.

Then, Mayor Paul TenHaken came calling about a position on his team — the newly created role of policy adviser.

“At first, I turned it down because I am so burnt out on politics,” Harris said. “Then, I had a few candid conversations with him and his chief of staff and realized very quickly that the political climate here is constructive and unifying. It’s people from all walks of life who want to make this community better, and I am incredibly glad I took this position.”

She began Jan. 3.

Community concerns

In her short tenure, she already has seen a few hot topics, including passionate feedback on the city’s sustainability plan and homeless task force.

She said sustainability requires a measured approach and noted that it can be a very emotionally charged topic for everyone involved.

“We need a realistic and attainable approach to sustainability,” Harris said. “What’s working in San Francisco or New York isn’t going to work in Sioux Falls. We need to tailor this to the community and what we can do to move the needle but still maintain the city as a highly desirable and investible community.”

She said compromising isn’t “throwing in the towel.”

“Our goal is to put something together that is realistic and achievable and well accepted by a diverse group of stakeholders and the public,” Harris said. “Sustainability should be a choice, and our job in government is to provide an education so people can make those choices. We aren’t doing mandates or forcing it on people because that isn’t how we want to govern. That isn’t how the mayor sees his role. He wants to be a uniting mayor.”

How to address the homeless population also has been in the news. The task force convened last year developed several recommendations, which were approved recently by the City Council. The Helpline Center Network of Care will manage the database of services, and there is a street outreach program as well in need of a nonprofit partner.

“I think the way Sioux Falls is approaching homelessness is very pragmatic,” Harris said. “We are fortunate here that the scale is manageable, and we want to keep it that way. This is a good step forward, and it’s not the last step.”

She said the data collected will help drive future recommendations.

Mayor Paul TenHaken said Harris already has made a difference, especially as the legislative session unfolded in Pierre, noting her work on bills that affect Sioux Falls.

“Jenna brings a unique perspective, with much of her professional background in local government in Southern California,” TenHaken said. “She has a good handle on smart, pragmatic policy.”

Looking ahead

As for what appeals to Harris moving forward, she is passionate about housing and development, child care and the economy.

“The Riverline District is very exciting. In San Diego, we didn’t get to do a lot like that because there just wasn’t land available,” she said, noting the city was built after World War II, when the housing crunch superseded smart urban planning. “They built without thinking.”

Harris said she thinks the current city leadership is thoughtful and intentional about urban planning, considering housing, business and entertainment. “They are thinking about the bigger picture and the long term,” she said. “You need to balance the need and goal of urban density with the understanding that people in South Dakota want space. You have to manage that urban sprawl in a way that makes sense.”

Despite the bumps with the sustainability and homeless issues, Harris sees the momentum the city has. “I’ve gotten more done in the two months I’ve been here than the seven years in San Diego,” she said. “It’s really exciting. This community is so collaborative and supportive.”

TenHaken said her role will continue to be influential.

“It will offer the guidance, research and expertise to help my office make thoughtful decisions to keep Sioux Falls investible and a place where kids and families can thrive,” he said.

Family life

Meanwhile, her husband, Bobby, has been looking to grow his own business – a craft distillery. They’ll start with clear spirits, such as vodka and gin, and then move on to aging whisky and blended whiskies.

“We are in the throes of planning right now, with a goal to open by the end of the year,” Harris said.

They’ve been looking east of downtown both in industrial areas and more suburban developments. “It’s just going to come down to the math,” she said. “It’s a very expensive endeavor to start. We will be able to operate as a bar with on-site cocktails and tasting.”

She said her passion is the business of it, while her husband loves the distillery side. They both appreciate the rich history of the liquor industry, she said.

While that takes time, they still have noticed how much their lives have improved since they moved to South Dakota. They spend less time in the car, feel less stressed and have less of a feeling of constant anxiety and hustle.

“I didn’t realize the impact that driving 90 miles an hour and having someone cut you off is so draining,” Harris said.

And down to the neighborhood level, they’ve enjoyed getting to know their community and seeing their girls play outside.

They love hiking and spending time outside as well. On a rare date night, they head downtown to Brix Wine Bar. This summer, they hope to take more weekend trips to see area towns and maybe the Black Hills.

“I’m enjoying being at home more than I ever have before. It’s just simple things, like we do puzzles and play games and the neighbors come over,” she said.