James E. Shaw (October 30, 1946 – July 5, 2024) was an American politician. He served four terms as mayor of

Rapid City, South Dakota Rapid City ( lkt, link=no, Mni Lúzahaŋ Otȟúŋwahe; "Swift Water City") is the second most populous city in South Dakota and the county seat of Pennington County. Named after Rapid Creek, where the settlement developed, it is in western So ...

, from 1997 to 1999, from 1999 to 2001 and again from 2003 to 2005 and from 2005 to 2007.

Economic development In the economics study of the public sector, economic and social development is the process by which the economic well-being and quality of life of a nation, region, local community, or an individual are improved according to targeted goals and o ...

of Rapid City was a main focus of his administration.

Biography

Shaw was born October 30, 1946, in

Elmira, New York Elmira () is a city and the county seat of Chemung County, New York, United States. It is the principal city of the Elmira, New York, metropolitan statistical area, which encompasses Chemung County. The population was 26,523 at the 2020 cens ...

. He grew up in

Dundee, New York Dundee is a village in Yates County, New York, United States. The population was 1,725 at the 2010 census. The name was taken from Dundee, the city in Scotland with a population of 148,260. The Village of Dundee is in the Town of Starkey. The vi ...

, and attended the State University of New York at Fredonia and the

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology The South Dakota School of Mines & Technology (South Dakota Mines, SD Mines, or SDSM&T) is a public university in Rapid City, South Dakota. It is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents and was founded in 1885. South Dakota Mines offers ba ...

. Prior to being elected mayor, Shaw was a

radio personality A radio personality (American English) or radio presenter (British English) is a person who has an on-air position in radio broadcasting. A radio personality who hosts a radio show is also known as a radio host, and in India and Pakistan as a rad ...

and television news anchor on KOTA-TV in Rapid City. Shaw was part of a statewide, non-partisan effort to persuade the BRAC (Base Realignment Commission) to remove

Ellsworth Air Force Base Ellsworth Air Force Base (AFB) is a United States Air Force base located about northeast of Rapid City, South Dakota, just north of the town of Box Elder, South Dakota, Box Elder. The host unit at Ellsworth is the 28th Bomb Wing (28 BW). Assi ...

near Rapid City from the list of recommended closures in 2005, according to Pat McElgunn, Military Affairs Chairman of the RC

Chamber of Commerce A chamber of commerce, or board of trade, is a form of business network. For example, a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to ad ...

. Shaw, along with

U.S. Senators The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and power ...

Tim Johnson, John Thune, Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin and Governor Mike Rounds, testified before the BRAC committee public hearing in Rapid City in favor of keeping Ellsworth open. Later that summer, the BRAC voted to remove Ellsworth from the list of recommended closures, and Shaw called it "a grand and glorious day for our community." Shaw was arrested on August 11, 2006, and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. He claimed that police officers overreacted, and was banned for life from the

Iowa State Fair The Iowa State Fair is an annual state fair held in Des Moines, Iowa in August. It began in 1854 and has been held on the Iowa State Fairgrounds since 1886. It is based in the state capital Des Moines, Iowa over an 11 day period in August. With ...

, where the incident occurred. He initially pleaded not guilty, but later pleaded guilty and was fined. In 2009 Shaw was part of a group that purchased the Black Hills Speedway and planned to renovate it in order to attract more visitors. In early January 2010 the '' Rapid City Journal'' named him as one of the "Ten in 2010"—ten local residents to watch in the year to follow because they were expected to make news. Shaw was arrested again in 2012, this time in Rapid City, for speeding. He was also charged with obstruction and failure to yield. Then in 2014, Shaw was fined for disturbing an election. Shaw stated later that year that he was struggling to manage diabetes, on which he blamed his legal troubles. Shaw died July 5, 2024.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Shaw, Jim 1946 births 2024 deaths Mayors of Rapid City, South Dakota Politicians from Elmira, New York American radio personalities American television news anchors Journalists from South Dakota Journalists from New York (state) State University of New York at Fredonia alumni South Dakota School of Mines and Technology alumni 20th-century mayors of places in South Dakota 21st-century mayors of places in South Dakota