SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) -- Mayor Paul TenHaken says he hasn't forgotten the promise he made after he won office in May.
"Hold me accountable," TenHaken said. "That's what I said after I won. I know the people and the cameras haven't forgotten that line. The point of today is to do that, to come to give you an update on what the first 100 days have looked like."
TenHaken held a news conference today to discuss his accomplishments and give a preview of what he plans to do in the next month or so.
Mayor Paul TenHaken has 13 major points on his first 100 days list. He says he checked off ten of them, either in full or in part.
TenHaken says it sounds like "Kumbaya," but he says building a team and learning from city employees has been extremely important.
He also touted the establishment of the Narcotics Crime Unit, which deploys Tuesday.
Interestingly, some things don't change from mayor to mayor.
Some things don't change when you're Mayor.
Former Mayor Gary Hanson, who served in the 1990s, says current Mayor Paul TenHaken has one of the same frustrations he had. Government moves slower than business.
"I had owned four businesses," Hanson said. "When you own the businesses, you take care of them. You have a problem in the morning, by the afternoon you've made your decision and taken lengths to take care of it."
Mayor Hanson served on Mayor TenHaken's transition team earlier this year.
TenHaken did leaven his news conference with some deadpan humor.
"If I can highlight probably one of the biggest accomplishments of the last 100 days, and maybe this is all I get to say then we can all just be done, is Mr. Bendo got his pipe," TenHaken joked.
Mr. Bendo is a large fiberglass statue--and icon--that has moved from place to place in Sioux Falls over the years
TenHaken says one of the things he hasn't crossed off his list yet is selecting a new finance director. He was hoping to do that by July 31. That is still in process, with a couple of candidate interviews pending.
To listen to the full news conference, click the player above.