Nancy Trautman, who is running for re-election to the Pennington County Commission, said she believes South Dakota's way of life can be preserved, through careful planning, even with the growth in the county.

Trautman on Friday officially announced her bid to return to the commission seat from District 2.

She will face former commissioner Lyle Hendrickson and newcomer Wayne Sumner for the Republican nomination in the June 3 primary. No Democrat has filed for the seat. Independents have until June 3 to file.

Trautman was appointed in January 2007 to complete the term vacated by commissioner Mark Kirkeby when he took office in the state House of Representatives.

Trautman said she has promoted hiring a long-range planning consultant to consider the county's future needs.

She also has been involved in the development of a "Cost of Services" study, which she said would provide valuable information as the county looks for alternative funding sources.

"A long-range plan and the 'Cost of Services' study are essential for the county to move forward in providing the services mandated by state law," Trautman said in her announcement. "You have to have a plan."

Trautman, 56, a native South Dakotan, grew up on a ranch near Hermosa, graduated from Rapid City Central High School and attended Black Hills State University.

She worked in the financial industry in the Black Hills for more than 30 years.

Currently, she is the marketing director at Westhills Village Retirement Community.

Trautman serves on the Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and has served as chairwoman of the American Heart Walk for the past two years.

She received awards from the governor's office for her work in helping to bring the "Character Counts!" program to the Rapid City area, according to her announcement.

In 2005, she was honored with the Minuteman award from the South Dakota Army National Guard for her support of the 109th Engineering Group while it was deployed to Afghanistan.