HURON – Longtime Huron resident Rhonda Kludt has announced her candidacy for a seat on the Huron City Commission. Kludt and her husband, Doug, have lived in Huron for 40 years. They have two children, Rachel Kary and Thomas Kludt.
When asked why she is running Kludt replied, “My passion has always been to work with others to connect community resources to community needs. Our community has a strong reputation of coming together to solve our most pressing needs and that is one of the most endearing qualities of Huron. To serve the citizens of Huron as a city commissioner is something I have long contemplated and I now have the time needed to devote to this position.”
After a career in education as a teacher at St. Martins – now Holy Trinity – Catholic School, Kludt embarked on a 20-year career as the executive director of The United Way Heartland Region.
“In my role as the Executive Director, I established relationships that still exist with the agencies and organizations that provide vital resources to our residents,” Kludt said. “During my tenure, we transitioned into what is known as a ‘Community Impact United Way,’ which involves the implementation of programs and projects having a direct impact on the education, health and financial security of the people served.
Projects such as the supplemental food backpack program, the Girls on the Run program, Dolly Parton Imagination Library and Preschool Partnership were the result of the hard work of board members during Kludt’s tenure as director. Projects such as the 211 Helpline Center, Huron Youth Leadership Council, Slumberland Home for the Holidays Bed Giveaway, the Delta Dental Bus and the quarterly collaboration meetings with other agencies as well as the Day of Caring and Day of Action were the collaborative efforts of the United Way and other like-minded organizations. “I have been fortunate to have worked with individuals and groups who share the same objective to make Huron an even better community to call home.”
Kludt has served on the HRMC Foundation Board, Huron Chamber Board and is a founding member of the recently established Huron School District Foundation Board. Currently, she serves on the People’s Transit Board and Career Technical Education Advisory Council and Huron Community Foundation Advisory Council.
“During the recent Huron Rising 2.O, valuable insight was voiced by community members regarding the most pressing issues facing Huron,” she added. “Those seven key issues are the catalyst for the positions on which I plan to focus if elected. When community members come forth with ideas, it is imperative to listen and launch into motion efforts to bring positive change for all.”