State Lawmakers Start Process to Hire Staff Director

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A legislative panel is beginning the process of hiring a new director for the South Dakota Legislature's staff.

Jim Fry, former director of the Legislative Research Council, resigned in September after a report prepared by an outside organization criticized his office. He said he was preparing to retire anyway, and resigned because he disagreed with some legislative leaders' plans to have LRC staff work more directly with political parties.

The Legislature's Executive Board on Monday planned to discuss the possibility of hiring a firm to conduct a nationwide search for a new director of the Legislative Research Council.

Sen. Ryan Maher of Isabel, chairman of the Executive Board, says he hopes a new director can be hired by the end of March.

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