| Posted in: News Releases
Steve Harding, mayor of Pierre, South Dakota, was named the recipient of the MRES Community Leader Award during the 60th Annual Meeting of Missouri River Energy Services (MRES). The awards presentation was held May 7 as part of the Annual Meeting program at the Sioux Falls Convention Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
This distinguished award honors local officials from MRES member communities who have dedicated many years of service to their communities and public power systems.
“Steve’s dedication to Pierre and his decades of service reflect the kind of leadership every community could benefit from,” said MRES Board Chair Vernell Roberts. “His vision, integrity and tireless commitment to public service make him more than deserving of this award.”
Harding was elected mayor of Pierre in 2017 and re-elected in 2020 and 2023. Prior to serving as mayor, he spent nine years as a city commissioner, including time as commission president. He has also held leadership roles with numerous local and regional organizations, including the South Dakota Enhancement District, Discovery Center, Pierre Economic Development Corporation, Expo Center and River Cities Transit.
A strong advocate for public power, Harding has actively engaged with MRES to better understand the benefits of joint action and share that value with his fellow commissioners and the public. That commitment led Harding to serve as an MRES Ambassador, promoting public power and joint action through participation in initiatives such as the MRES Power Lunch at the South Dakota State Capitol and the American Public Power Association (APPA) Legislative Rally in Washington, D.C.
Harding also played an integral part in recent service territory legislation, attending committee meetings and working closely with state legislators to educate them on how proposed changes would impact municipal power customers.
Demonstrating his dedication to the next generation of energy leaders, Harding helped launch a partnership between the City of Pierre and the city library to celebrate Public Power Week and National Lineworker Day. The library distributed books and coloring sheets, and initiated a special “Lineman Storytime,” an event that brought area linemen into the library to read the book “If I Were a Lineworker” to local children.
Harding’s career also includes service as deputy secretary of the South Dakota Department of Military, a position with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, and ownership of Harding Motor Company. A lifelong Pierre resident, he holds a degree from Black Hills State University and is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. Harding retired as a colonel after 34 years of service with the South Dakota Army National Guard.
Established in 2003, the MRES Community Leader award recognizes policymakers who actively support their local municipal utilities and champion the value of public power in their communities.