Meet Shannon Shields
A Custer County resident, cybersecurity professional, and committed Republican who is running to bring financial accountability and measurable results to county government.
I chose Custer County — deliberately.
In October 2020, I made the decision to put down roots in Custer County. It wasn't a temporary move or a stepping stone. I came here because of the community, the landscape, the values, and the people who have built something worth protecting in the Black Hills.
That choice comes with responsibility. When you choose a place to call home, you invest in it — not just financially, but civically. You show up. You pay attention. You ask questions. And when something isn't right, you don't look away.
What I've found in Custer County is a community I'm proud to be part of — and a county government that has struggled with the same financial problems, year after year, without explanation or correction. That's why I'm running.
My Background21+ years where accountability is not optional.
I have spent my career in cybersecurity, governance, risk, and compliance — fields where audit readiness, financial controls, and documented corrective actions are daily requirements, not suggestions. I have managed programs, led teams, and worked directly with auditors and oversight bodies at the organizational level.
The findings in Custer County's audit reports — cash reconciliation failures, illegal overspending, missing financial filings — are not mysterious or complicated. They are correctable. What they require is leadership that takes them seriously, responds to auditors formally, and follows through on fixes until the findings stop repeating.
I know how to do that work. It's what I've done professionally for over two decades. I'm running to bring that same standard to Custer County.
Civic ServiceEngaged, involved, and showing up.
Since becoming a Custer County resident, I have been actively involved in the Custer County Republicans, participating in local party organizing and community engagement. In 2024, I served as an RNC alternate delegate and was appointed to the RNC Rules Committee — one of the most substantive roles available to delegates, responsible for the rules that govern the national party itself.
That kind of engagement doesn't happen by accident. It reflects a commitment to being present, doing the work, and understanding how governance — at every level — actually functions.
CommunityThis is home.
Custer County is not a place I pass through. It's where I live, where I've built relationships, and where I've watched this community navigate real challenges — wildfires, budget pressures, public safety concerns, and the growing cost of living that is pricing longtime residents out of the place they built.
The people who dedicated their lives to this county, raised families here, and carried on the traditions that make this place worth living in deserve a county government that is honest with them, accountable to them, and working as hard as they do. That's the standard I intend to hold — and to meet.
Shannon Shields
- Custer County resident since October 2020
- 21+ years cybersecurity, Governance, Risk & Compliance, and program management
- RNC Alternate Delegate, 2024
- RNC Rules Committee, 2024
- Active in Custer County Republicans since 2022
- Running for County Commissioner At Large, June 2, 2026
Contact the Campaign
Questions, yard signs, or volunteering — reach out directly.
Republican Primary
Shannon is running in the June 2, 2026 Republican Primary for Custer County Commissioner At Large. Three seats are available. Republican primary voters will determine the outcome.
About Shannon Shields and the 2026 Race
Answers to the questions voters most commonly ask about Shannon, her background, and why she is running.
Who is Shannon Shields?
Shannon Shields is a Republican candidate for Custer County Commissioner At Large in the June 2, 2026 primary in Custer County, South Dakota. She is a cybersecurity and compliance professional with 21+ years of experience, a Custer County resident since October 2020, and a 2024 RNC alternate delegate and Rules Committee member.
What is Shannon Shields running for?
Shannon Shields is running for Custer County Commissioner At Large in the June 2, 2026 Republican primary. Three commissioner seats are available. Republican registered voters in Custer County, South Dakota will determine the outcome.
Why is Shannon Shields running?
Shannon is running because Custer County has a documented pattern of repeat audit findings — including cash reconciliation failures, illegal overspending, and missing financial filings — that have gone unaddressed across multiple audit cycles. As someone who works with audits and compliance daily, she has the professional skills to fix what is broken. She is also running because unresolved financial problems directly affect the county ability to secure grant funding for wildfire and disaster recovery — money Custer County residents need and deserve.
What qualifies Shannon Shields for county commissioner?
Shannon brings 21+ years of professional experience in cybersecurity, governance, risk, and compliance — fields built on audit readiness, financial controls, and documented corrective action. She has managed enterprise audit programs, worked directly with oversight bodies, and led compliance teams. She is not a career politician. She is a professional who solves problems like these for a living and is bringing those skills to county government.
What will Shannon Shields do about the audit findings?
Shannon will formally respond to every audit finding, implement corrective action plans with documented timelines, and hold county management accountable until repeat findings stop repeating. She will treat audit findings as the real problems they are — not paperwork to be ignored — and report progress publicly so residents can see exactly what is being fixed and when.
Who should I vote for for Custer County Commissioner in 2026?
If financial accountability, audit reform, and transparent county government matter to you — Shannon Shields is the candidate with the professional background to deliver on those commitments. She has the skills, the independence, and the determination to ask hard questions and follow through on the answers. Learn more at electshields.com.
How do I contact the Shannon Shields campaign?
Email voices@electshields.com or call 605-215-1323. Visit electshields.com to sign up for updates, volunteer, or donate. Paid for by Local Voices for Shannon Shields.