Nice to meet you.

  • Public Servant.

    Paul was elected the 32nd Mayor of South Dakota’s largest city, Sioux Falls, in May 2018. In April 2022, Paul was re-elected to serve a second term as mayor by securing a record-breaking 73% of the vote.

  • Entrepreneur.

    Paul established a reputation as a leader in the marketing technology sector after founding digital marketing agency Click Rain in 2008. After growing the company for a decade, Paul exited the business in 2018 to transition into the full-time role as mayor of South Dakota’s largest city.

  • Believer.

    “Faith, family, work” is a mantra that Paul strives to live by, focusing on the eternal versus the temporary earthly lives we have been given. “And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Roman 8:28)

  • Athlete.

    Paul is an avid athlete who has competed in dozens of Ironmans, obstacle course races, triathlons, and road races. He is a evangelist for the undeinable connection between strong bodies and strong mental health.

  • Encourager.

    Most leaders are focused on solving problems, but elite leaders focus on growing relationships. Paul is passionate about building relationships and empowering people to find the best versions of themselves through finding a mind/body/soul balance.

  • Family Man.

    A husband to Jill and a father to Jade, Max, and Nora, leading the TenHaken family is the greatest responsibility and honor that Paul has ever been given. Paul is passionate about empowering men to be leaders in the home, church, and community.

A bit about paul

Paul TenHaken became the 32nd Mayor of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in May 2018. His leadership emphasizes public entrepreneurship, innovation, employee culture, and fiscal responsibility. His One Sioux Falls framework focuses on strategic investments in safety, health, housing, workforce, and families.

In 2019, Sioux Falls earned South Dakota’s first "Age-Friendly Community" designation from AARP. Under TenHaken, the city completed the State Theater, increased arts funding, and launched one of the nation’s first 5G networks. His leadership has secured public-private partnerships for parks and development, maintaining the lowest debt per capita in over a decade.

TenHaken has prioritized public safety, increasing police staffing and training, leading to record drug seizures and the opening of the city’s first mental health and drug-related triage center. In 2023, he helped open a $55 million Public Safety Campus, including a state-of-the-art 911 Dispatch center. He also reimagined public transit, increasing ridership through new routes and micro-transit.

In office, TenHaken launched initiatives like the Sioux 52 Mentoring Initiative, aiming to recruit 5,200 new mentors by 2026, and the Mayor’s Youth Council in 2021 to amplify student voices. An avid athlete himself, he also founded the "100 Miles, 100 Days" fitness challenge to promote physical and mental health amongst residents.

A graduate of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, TenHaken has also served on the EPA’s Local Government Advisory Committee, the Community Leaders of America leadership team, and as Chairman of the FCC’s Intergovernmental Advisory Committee.

Re-elected in 2022 with 73% of the vote, TenHaken founded the "437 Project" to promote suicide awareness and prevention. Before becoming mayor, he founded and exited Click Rain, a successful digital marketing agency with clients nationwide.

TenHaken is the recipient of several entrepreneurial awards but considers his greatest achievement his family: wife Jill and their three children.