Paul TenHaken

TenHaken was born in Sioux Center, Iowa, to parents Lyle and Beth TenHaken.[2] He was raised in Worthington, Minnesota.[3] TenHaken attended Dordt College and received his degree in graphic design in 2000.[4] Upon graduation, TenHaken moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and worked as the mascot of the Sioux Falls Skyforce.[5] He attended the University of Sioux Falls and received an MBA in 2004.[4]

TenHaken founded Click Rain, a marketing technology agency in Sioux Falls, in 2008. TenHaken was named one of Entrepreneur magazine's Top 10 Emerging Entrepreneurs as well as South Dakota Young Entrepreneur of the Year. TenHaken is also the co-founder of the Dispatch Project, a non-profit that organizes overseas mission opportunities for business leaders. His efforts have received accolades from Entrepreneur Magazine, When Work Works, Inc. Magazine, and Sioux Falls Business Journal.[6]

TenHaken placed first in the April 10, 2018 election, and won the May 1 run-off election with 62.7% of the vote.[7]

On April 9, 2020, over 80 employees at a Smithfield Foods pork processing plant in Sioux Falls were confirmed to have COVID-19. The plant announced it would suspend operations beginning April 11.[8] On April 14, 2020, TenHaken stated he would be proposing a stay at home order to the city council.[9] After three days and tremendous backlash, Paul decided not to pursue the stay at home order. Mayor TenHaken is credited to saying it is difficult to lead locally in a non-partisan way. He has also said a mask mandate could 'destroy a city' due to how politicized the issue had become.[10]