Jim Shaw

Who is Jim Shaw?

Jim Shaw was the mayor of Rapid City, South Dakota from 1997 - 2001, and from 2003 - 2007. He is the second longest-serving mayor of Rapid City. Shaw's 8 years in office were highlighted by his successful economic development efforts, which resulted in Rapid City gaining more than 3000 new jobs during his years in office, according to the RC Economic Development office.

Shaw was born October 30, 1946 in Elmira, New York. He grew up in Dundee, New York and attended the State University of New York and the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology.

Prior to being elected mayor, Shaw was a radio personality and television news anchor on KOTA-TV in Rapid City.

Shaw was part of a statewide, non-partisan effort to persuade the BRAC to remove Ellsworth Air Force Base near Rapid City from the list of recommended closures in 2005, according to Pat McElgunn, Military Affairs Chairman of the RC Chamber of Commerce. Shaw, along with U.S. Senators Tim Johnson, John Thune, Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin and Governor Mike Rounds, testified before the BRAC committee public hearing in Rapid City in favor of keeping Ellsworth open. Later that summer, the BRAC voted to remove Ellsworth from the list of recommended closures, and Shaw called it "a grand and glorious day for our community." Ellsworth contributes $328 million to the area economy annually, according to figures from the South Dakota Governor's Office.