RAPID CITY - Alan Hanks overcame an early deficit to win by more than 760 votes over Sam Kooiker in Tuesday's mayoral runoff.

Hanks defeated Kooiker 5,921 to 5,158, a roughly 53 percent to 47 percent margin. About 30.4 percent of registered voters showed up at the polls, slightly better than the 30 percent turnout June 5.

"It's an exciting night. I'm extremely excited about going to work for the citizens of Rapid City," Hanks said Tuesday night.

"I'm very grateful to all those people who worked on my campaign and the people who supported me, and I also want to make sure that even those folks who didn't vote for me know that they absolutely have a voice at city hall," Hanks said. "My door is open to every citizen."

Though disappointed by the result, Kooiker said he was proud of the way he conducted his campaign.

"I ran a good race," Kooiker said. "Although I'm disappointed, I very much enjoyed the experience and look forward to working with Alan over the next two years."

Kooiker took an early 300-vote lead, but Hanks pulled in front just before 9 p.m., 4,056 to 3,923 with 21 of 25 precincts reporting. A few moments later, Hanks had pulled out to a lead of more than 300 votes and never looked back.

Hanks said the difference in the race was comparing and contrasting experience, both in the private and the public sectors.

"I think once people actually had the ability to compare my experience with Sam's, they felt more comfortable with somebody that had more experience, both at the local and the state level," he said.

Turnout, which Hanks called one of the best in recent runoff history, also played a role.

"I believe over the last three weeks, the public has become interested in the race. Once it got narrowed down to two candidates, I think the public started paying attention to the issues," he said.

Hanks will contact Gov. Mike Rounds' office today and ask when the governor wants to receive Hanks' letter of resignation from his District 32 legislative seat. If the governor wishes, Hanks said, he would be willing to serve his summer studies duties, but if he wants to appoint a replacement immediately, Hanks will submit his resignation letter.

"If he asks for recommendations, I will give him a list of folks I think would be good; but keep in mind, it's solely at the discretion of the governor," Hanks said.

Hanks, who succeeds incumbent Mayor Jim Shaw - who finished third on June 5 - will officially be sworn in as mayor at the Monday, July 2, Rapid City Council meeting.

"I want to make sure we continue to move forward in a responsible way, and the first thing we need to do is establish better lines of communication, and of course the first thing I have to do is work on the budget," he said.

Kooiker struggled to pinpoint the turning point in the campaign.

"It's hard to say. There was a large mixture of issues involved," he said. "I'm proud of the race I ran, and I'm glad I did."

Kooiker doesn't know whether the latter stages of the campaign, which seemed to become negative with questions about his conservative supporters and a mailing sent out in support of Hanks on Monday that referenced "wing nuts," played a role in the loss.

"I'm not sure if it played a role. I ran a clean campaign all the way through and vowed from the very beginning that I would not run a negative campaign," Kooiker said. "I don't believe it's worth it for me to run a scorched-earth campaign, and that's why I chose to stay positive the entire way."

Kooiker said he will go back to work on the council and continue to fight for issues that are important for the community.

"I believe many of the issues I brought to the table during the campaign are now receiving the attention they need to receive," he said. "I'm excited I had a role in this election of helping to define the issues that Rapid City is facing over the next few years."

Working with Mayor Hanks won't be a problem, Kooiker said.

"I look forward to working with him. There were two good candidates in this race," Kooiker said. "The voters have spoken, and I respect that decision. It was a good race."

Contact Scott Aust at 394-8415 or scott.aust@rapidcityjournal.com