Noem spokesman resigns to take job at BH Corp.

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Rep. Kristi Noem is getting a new spokesperson.

Josh Shields, who has served as Noem’s communications director since she was elected to Congress in 2010, announced Tuesday he is resigning. Friday will be his last day.

Jordan Stoick will serve as interim spokesman until a permanent replacement is named, Shields said in an e-mail message. He said he has “mixed emotions” about the move.

Shields will start Monday as federal governmental affairs manager at Black Hills Corporation in Rapid City, his hometown. He and his wife, Danielle, are relocating to the Black Hills, he said.

“Needless to say, I’m excited about this new opportunity,” Shields said. But he said the chance to serve South Dakota’s lone member of the U.S. House was a great experience.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to work with Rep. Noem and her team during the last year in the official office and in the trenches of the campaign before that,” he said. “Rep. Noem’s team is second to none, but of course, a team is only as good as their leader and you won’t find a better one than Rep. Noem.

“I am continually amazed at her ability to serve as a leader for our state, and our country, while simultaneously being a wife, a mom, a sister and a neighborly South Dakotan. I am thankful for the opportunity I’ve had to work for her.”

Shields worked for Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., from 2006 to 2009 and Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., in 2009.

According to Noem reports, Shields was paid more than $80,000 as Noem’s communications director.

Shields worked for Blake Curd in the 2010 South Dakota Republican House primary. After Curd finished third behind Chris Nelson and Noem, Shields jumped to Noem’s team and was named campaign manager.

He served as campaign manager and chief spokesman throughout the race and then was hired to work on the congressional staff.

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