Jesse Batson

Every four years, the Republican Party of Brookings County gears up for the November elections. This year, in order to fundraise for the 2004 campaigns, the party members did something new: they raffled off a 2004 Ford Mustang.

The prospect of a new car piqued the interest of Brookings Mayor Scott Munsterman, who not only purchased a ticket, but also ended up winning the Mustang.

“We were surprised that the Mayor won it, but it was a good thing,” said Elmer Weisser, better known as “Bud Weisser,” who coordinated the event.

Munsterman said he hasn’t made room in his garage for the brand new Mustang yet.

“My wife and I aren’t sure what we’re going to do with it. It’s just one of those things we’re pretty surprised by,” Munsterman said.

Weiser said the party made a decision earlier this year to have a raffle.

“Normally we have some picnics, some cook-outs and so forth to promote interest in the party,” Weisser said. “We felt we wanted to do something different for a change.”

Weisser, who has been active in the Republican party since 1960, said that if the party was going to raffle away something, it had to be worthwhile.

“So, we made an agreement,” Weisser said, “with a local dealer and we bought a 2004 red mustang and started selling raffle tickets to anyone that wanted to buy them.”

The sales for the $50 dollar raffle tickets went better than expected. In fact, tickets were sold not just to South Dakota residents, but residents from Minnesota, Iowa and even San Antonio, Texas.

“Ticket sales did very well during Crazy Days because people slowed into our headquarters,” Weisser said.

The 2004 Mustang was parked on the curb during the downtown event.

“It created a lot of interest in the community,” Weisser said.

After such a warm reception to this year’s raffle, Weisser says there’s a good chance that there will be another raffle next year even though it’s not an election year

“We’re having a meeting next month and we’ll talk about it and decide what we’re going to do,” Weisser said.