Welcome to this issue of Elevate, where we’re looking at all the Mayoral candidates as people, not as politicians. You’ll get so much of the political stuff in the next few months, we decided to take a different approach. Yes, we’re here to remind you to get out and vote on June 6th for Mayor, City Council, and School Board. And that elections matter. But we’ve also decided to play to our strengths, to do what we have always done, and to tell stories. Hopefully, when you’ve finished this issue, you’ll get a better sense of who these candidates are as human beings. Click here to view the full issue.
Editor's note: Candidate profiles will be released once each day, in ballot order. Elevate Rapid City does not endorse candidates, and order does not indicate any preference. Rapid City's election will be June 6. Head to Vote Black Hills and pledge to vote today!
Meet the Candidate: Jason Salamun
Jason Salamun does not believe in accidents.
The challenges and successes, choices, both good and bad, the people that come in and out of a life, all shape the course of a person’s journey.
Salamun knows this firsthand.
Born in West Texas to teenage parents, Salamun’s early childhood was a difficult one. His parents divorced early on leaving Salamun and his younger brother in the custody of their mother who struggled with addiction.
“I must have changed elementary schools a dozen times. Her addiction really drove a lot of her decisions.” As a result, Salamun lived in crack houses, slept in cars, and witnessed violence often. “It was tough. I experienced a lot of things kids should not experience.”
His saving grace were his mawmaw and pawpaw. “They were my oasis during those tough times. When I got to spend the night at their house it was like Disneyland.” His pawpaw would read Louis L’Amore books. His mawmaw would make a homecooked meal. They would eat Neapolitan ice cream and watch professional wrestling – a sport Salamun still loves to watch.
“I had amazing grandparents who loved me. Despite the difficulty of my childhood, I had a lot of love.”
It was that love that brought Salamun to Rapid City at the age of 11 to live with his father and stepmother here. “It was one of the greatest acts of love. I was very close to them, but they knew my brother and I needed a better life than what my mom could provide for us.”
Salamun moved to Rapid City, however, his mother convinced his younger brother to stay. “He has spent most of his life behind bars struggling with his own addiction.”
Salamun found a home.
“I had a mom and dad who loved me. We had dinner every night together. We had love and structure, and I had healing. The significance of family cannot be overstated. I believe the good Lord was working through all of that. Looking back, I can see all these fingerprints of God working in great ways and protecting me. I really discovered who God meant for me to become.”
Salamun flourished in his new hometown. He played sports, made friends, and grew in confidence. He graduated from Stevens High School in 1996 and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He did a deployment in the Middle East and despite numerous tries to get stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base to be back home, he ended up in Colorado Springs where he met his future wife, Gwyn. “If I had transferred, I would never have met my wife who was going to college there.”
After marrying less than a year after meeting, the young couple moved to Rapid City. “We both agreed this was a great place to raise our family.” Their kids are now grown and married themselves. Their daughter Regan is a junior at Black Hills State University majoring in education, and son Reece is finishing his active duty for the Army.
Initially thinking he wanted to be a teacher, Salamun’s path quickly changed after getting a job at American Memorial Life Insurance Company, later Assurant (now TruStage). That opportunity and the mentorship he received propelled his career. In his 20s, Salamun helped in the transition and branding of Assurant, a Fortune 500 company. He worked for Black Hills Federal Credit Union holding leadership positions including the Vice President of Operations and Strategic Services.
Salamun continued to grow as a leader participating in both Leadership Rapid City (now Elevate Leadership Institute) as well as Leadership South Dakota, which is where he was first encouraged to run for public office – one of the top 10 life goals he jotted down at the age of 18. In 2016, Salamun was elected for his first three-year term on the Rapid City Common Council serving as council president in 2017. With changes happening at BHFCU, Salamun did not run for reelection but knew his public service was not over.
“I loved serving my community and the feeling that you are making a difference.”
He prayed about what would be next on his journey.
His prayers were answered when Fountain Springs Church offered him a role overseeing the staff and operations in 2019. This also provided him with the opportunity to run for a seat on the council. In 2020, he was elected once again.
Salamun believes he is right where he is supposed to be in life.
"My story, with all the ups and downs, is not an accident. It all brought me to a place to give back to my hometown that gave so much to me."