Sara Frankenstein was raised on a farm near Redfield, South Dakota, and graduated from Tulare High School. After seven years at USD, Sara graduated in the top quarter of her law school class, then served as a federal law clerk to the Honorable Richard H. Battey, federal district judge. Sara is now an attorney and partner of Gunderson, Palmer, Nelson & Ashmore LLP law firm in Rapid City. Sara is the city attorney for two towns, and defends cities, counties and school boards when they are sued. Sara specializes in public law and election law, and also practices employment and insurance law. Sara particularly enjoys defending public bodies from lawsuits brought by the ACLU and other “civil rights” groups. In addition to normal trials and appellate arguments, Sara has successfully argued before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals en banc (all eleven judges) on a voting rights case against the ACLU, successfully briefed the case to the United States Supreme Court, and won the smoking ban election law trial which was the lead South Dakota news story for 2009. The Pennington County Republican Party named Sara their “Rising Star” in 2005, and she has served in every leadership capacity for the Pennington County Republican Ambassadors, including as its Chair. Sara enjoys singing and other involvement in her church and community. Sara and her husband Lew have three children.
Party Leadership › Secretary
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Sara Frankenstein
