Milbank Mayor Pat Raffety Resigns; Mindy Rogers Named Mayor ProTempore

Longtime Milbank Mayor Pat Rafety has resigned. Mindy Rogers, president of the city council since July 2025, was named the mayor pro tempore of Milbank effective immediately. Per state law, Rogers will remain in that position until an election can be held. She is also employed as a recruiter at Valley Queen.

In July, Kyle Schwandt, a plant technical specialist at Valley Queen, is expected to be temporarily appointed to fill the seat on the city council that will be vacated by Craig Weinberg. 

Raffety leaves behind a legacy of over three decades of dedication to the community and its growth and development. He was first elected to the Milbank City Council in 1991, and he remained in that role until May 1993. He continued his service on the planning and zoning commission from January 1995 through September 2013, when he was appointed to the city council. One year later, Raffety was elected mayor, a position he held from July 2014 through May 2026. During his 35 years of service, Raffety missed only one official meeting.