Fargo Mayor debate at the Fargo theatre, April 21, 2026. (KFGO News Photo/Nate Coen)
FARGO (KFGO) – Five candidates for mayor of Fargo debated for the first time Tuesday night. They discussed topics including public safety, property tax, crime, communication and development. Sekou Sirleaf, Michelle Turnberg, Dave Piepkorn, Josh Boschee and Denise Kolpack each made their case for the elected position.
Turnberg, Piepkorn and Kolpack all currently serve on the city commission. Sirleaf is the chair of the Human Rights Commission and Boschee has served in the North Dakota State Legislature for over 15 years.
Piepkorn was concerned with cutting costs for taxpayers, and says Fargo’s current leadership is soft on crime.
“When criminals find out there are no consequences, where do they come?” Piepkorn said. “Elect a mayor that’s tough on crime, we will solve it in a hurry.”
Sirleaf addressed issues of homelessness and says that Fargo’s budget ignores support for ordinary residents.
“Ordinary people, that’s the only time we don’t have money. When it has to do with ordinary people. We have money to remodel the airport but don’t have money to improve our bus service. We’re cutting the bus service, we are cutting the library, we cut the snow removal from downtown because that doesn’t effect us, and that is why city hall is so tone deaf, and the people are tired.” Sirleaf said. “You see, when you’re drowning, it doesn’t matter who your rescuer is. It doesn’t matter what they look like or what they sound like. You just want to live. Fargo is drowning in debt. Fargo is drowning in mismanagement. Fargo is drowning in crime. Fargo is drowning in the city leadership that does not listen.”
City Commissioner Turnberg argued for making Fargo a safer place and giving first responders more support.
“I’ve lived in Fargo for about thirty five years, and I remember Fargo being a place where you could leave your door unlocked, where you knew that the streets would be plowed, the lights would come on and you felt safe. And I want to make sure that we get back to those basics, that we really focus on public safety and fund our police and our fire and our first responders.” Turnberg said.
Fargo Mayor debate, April 21, 2026. From left to right: Sekou Sirleaf, Michelle Turnberg, Dave Piepkorn, Josh Boschee and Denise Kolpack. (KFGO News Photo/Nate Coen)
Deputy Mayor Kolpack and Boschee shared concerns about a lack of communication between Fargo and its residents.
“My wish is that for those of you who don’t know me, that we can sit down and have a conversation and I can hear your concerns and your ideas for Fargo, and you can learn a little bit more about me,” Kolpack said.
Boschee says Fargo needs to make sure residents from across town feel like their voices are heard.
“One thing I continue to hear especially from south Fargo is they said they can’t think of the last time the city has come to them to ask them about things when it comes to interchanges on interstate. When it comes to the development of a sports center where there’s not transit going directly to it but drops people off two blocks away. We have to do better.” Boschee said.
The next mayor will replace Tim Mahoney, who was elected in 2015. The election will be held on June 9. The winner will be Fargo’s first full-time mayor.
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