About Nick Kotzea
I’m told short and simple is key to effective campaign messaging. Alas, brevity has never been a strength of mine. Given the stakes of a legislative race, I think some depth – about who I am, the upbringing that shaped me, and what continues to influence me – may be useful to my District 13 neighbors.
First, the elephant in the room: How the heck do you say “Kotzea”? Just think COT-SAY-UH, and you’re all set. Many find it kind of fun! To answer your next question, the name has Prussian origins, though we’re not entirely sure where it falls on the modern-day map. With my mom’s strong Scandinavian heritage, you can safely classify me as a regular European mutt.
I’m a lifelong South Dakotan, born in Aberdeen, my mother’s hometown. It was there she met my father, a farm kid from rural Waubay attending Northern State University. I attended school in Aberdeen through second grade before our family moved to Milbank as part of my dad’s position with the South Dakota Highway Patrol.
I know well the 96-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 12 that separates Aberdeen and Milbank. I see it as part of my foundation. Aberdeen is where one of my personal heroes, Grandpa Al, ran a successful electrical contracting business, raced dirt-track late models, and rebuilt classic cars. It’s also where my mom learned to keep books for small businesses.
Milbank is where I spent my formative years – running free with friends, trying different sports, and essentially living the lyrics of an upbeat country song. My childhood was shaped by my mother’s nurturing spirit and my dad’s dry humor and discipline, informed by a 25-year law enforcement career and 26 years in the South Dakota National Guard, where he retired as a Command Sergeant Major.
It was in high school that I developed a passion for writing and began publishing columns in the local newspaper. That interest in writing earned me a full scholarship to the University of South Dakota, where I completed degrees in journalism and law. After graduation, I began my legal career with the South Dakota Department of Revenue, focusing primarily on state tax law.
During my time with the state, my family experienced an indescribable loss – the suicide of my only sibling, a standout athlete who’d suffered through years of mental health challenges. He was 25. It’s something that continues to shape how I think about family, resilience, healthcare, and the importance of community.
In 2010, not long after my brother’s death, I moved from Pierre to Sioux Falls, beginning exciting new chapters both personally and professionally. I began working with my alma mater at the University of South Dakota Foundation & Alumni Association, first as a law school development officer and eventually pivoting to a general counsel and senior executive role, positions I maintain today. Apart from foundation work, I also spent nearly four years in a public policy role at Sanford Health.
More importantly, Sioux Falls is where I met a hometown girl and young marketing professional named Kate, a graduate of Lincoln High School, St. Cloud State University, and the University of Sioux Falls. We were married in 2013 and now have three kids: Mackenzie, 10; William, 7; and Joey, 6. Faith is important to our family, and all three of our children attend Catholic school.
“Free time” is pretty elusive in our household. We stay actively involved in our children’s schooling and activities, and I enjoy coaching soccer, basketball, and baseball. We try to model for our kids the simple notion that no matter how busy we feel, we always have something to give in service to others.
I’m actively involved with the fundraising committee for Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools and recently stepped down as chair (to run for office) of South Dakota News Watch, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization committed to responsible, watchdog journalism. I remain engaged with the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, while my wife serves as Past Chair of the Sioux Empire United Way, among other volunteer efforts.
So how does all of this shape my values and worldview?
My family comes first, and I enter this campaign raising three young kids right here, right now. I have skin in the game – a personal stake in the challenges and opportunities at our doorstep and on the horizon.
The fundamentals matter. Constitutional freedoms, protecting life, safe streets, and accountable government are core responsibilities. But maintaining the baseline isn’t enough. Our focus must be on opportunity – looking out the windshield, not the rearview mirror.
Opportunity begins with education. Most of my career has been spent supporting public higher education, and I see public schools as the backbone of our system. At the same time, a broader ecosystem of options serves families like mine well. We can support that full spectrum without compromising the strength and investment our public schools deserve.
From there, enterprise and innovation follow. Efficient government and responsible tax policy matter, but long-term prosperity is driven by growth. When we get this right, we create real opportunity – for young people starting out, for working families building a life, and for seniors who want to remain in their communities with dignity and security. An anti-growth mindset is an anti-opportunity mindset South Dakotans can’t afford.
This moment calls for leadership that is grounded in common sense but focused on what’s ahead. We don’t have to choose between preserving what makes South Dakota strong and building what comes next – we can, and should, do both. I’m running to do that work.
I’d be honored to earn your vote as we continue building a state defined by opportunity, responsibility, and a shared commitment to the future.
