The former chairwoman of the South Dakota Democratic Party will appeal a unanimous vote that removed her from her post earlier this month.
An agenda for an emergency meeting of party leaders scheduled for Aug. 30 noted that members were to discuss who to appoint to an appeals committee that would decide whether Jennifer Slaight-Hansen of Aberdeen was wrongfully removed from the post.
According to the party’s constitution, acting Chairman Shane Merrill of Parker, who moved up from vice-chair at the time of Slaight-Hansen’s removal, is tasked with appointing members of that committee.
Before the meeting, Merrill declined to comment on the appeal by his predecessor.
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The party’s constitution does not specify how many are required to be appointed to the appeals committee. But once selected, they must be approved by the executive board.
Slaight-Hansen has so far declined to comment on her removal as chairwoman or the subsequent appeal process. She faced allegations of violating the party’s constitution and creating a toxic workplace.
Prior to her removal, Slaight-Hansen indicated that she did intend to appeal the vote if recalled.
At that same recall meeting, members of the central committee voted to allow for a 20-day time frame to allow the appeals process to play out, giving the party until Sept. 8.
