The election for Fargo Mayor is receiving lots of media attention, so it’s time to focus on other Fargo races.
–There are five excellent candidates running for the Fargo School Board. They are incumbents Katie Christensen Mineer, Melissa Burkland, Greg Clark, Robin Nelson, and newcomer Jolene Garty. They have the experience, knowledge, common sense and vision to be on the Board.
The Fargo School District will remain strong with Christensen Mineer, Burkland, Clark, Nelson and Garty on the Board.
The other two candidates, Carissa Geske and Paul Mohror, are alarming. Both of them are running as the Christian conservative candidates.
During a debate or interviews on right-wing WDAY and the Flag Radio, Geske has said frightening things, such as “Islam and Christianity cannot coexist,” the Fargo schools need to “instill Christian values,” and that “We need to address Islam in the next 10 to 15 years.”
She also said she’s unhappy with the Fargo school system, would never send her kids to public schools, and supports sending taxpayer money to private religious schools.
On top of that, she refused to answer questions from the Fargo Education Association and the Chamber of Commerce.
Mohror seems to be obsessed with former Fargo Superintendent Rupak Gandhi’s approach of protecting LGBTQ students. He asked the school board to name its new elementary school after Charlie Kirk, and when he ran for the board two years ago, received a sizeable contribution from the right-wing North Dakota Sons of Liberty.
Mohror also whiffed at two softball questions at the League of Women Voters debate. He failed to unequivocally support free school meals for North Dakota school children or oppose taxpayer dollars to private schools.
Students should receive those free meals, and taxpayer dollars going to private schools will severely harm the public schools, and is an inappropriate use of those public funds.
–As for the Fargo City Commission race, with all the important issues in the city, it’s stunning to hear that candidate Scott Brekke’s top immediate priority is to eliminate the important needle exchange program.
Brekke claims that it’s been proven that the program attracts more drug users. Actually, there’s no proof of that. Fellow candidate Jeremy Schaeffer also sadly opposes the program.
Actually, the needle exchange program saves lives, and helps get struggling people into treatment and recovery. It’s a cost-effective program that reduces overdoses and significantly cuts cases of HIV and Hepatitis C.
Good to see commission candidate Anna Johnson come out strongly in favor of the program.
Anna Johnson in KFGO studio
Getting back to Schaeffer, he’s also against extending the badly needed 1% sales tax for infrastructure and for cutting assistance to homeless people, but says he “wants to get stuff done.”
Nothing says getting things done like harming people who have addictions or are homeless, and damaging city streets and water treatment.
I’m also sorry to see that commission candidate Tony Gehrig has skipped all the debates, but did send an opening statement to one of them. In that statement, Gehrig said he opposed the convention center.
Fargo City Commissioner Tony Gehrig
Someone should tell Gehrig that ship has sailed. The convention center has already been approved by Fargo voters. The question now is not whether to have one, but where to put it and make it succeed.
Beyond that, the Forum’s reporting of court records show that Gehrig was abusive to his ex-wife and others, antisemitic, and had a drinking problem. It all demonstrates that Gehrig is unfit for office and should drop out of the race.
After watching the debates and listening to as many interviews as possible, I believe that the strongest candidate is former Cass County Commissioner Chad Peterson. He has lots of experience and knowledge. He understands the role of government and gives direct and definitive answers.
–Getting back to the 1% infrastructure sales tax, it’s a no-brainer for Fargo residents to vote yes. It would keep the streets and our water system properly maintained, and half the revenue will come from people who don’t live in Fargo.
If this measure fails, Fargo residents will pay much more in higher utility bills than they will pay in the sales tax.
–I hope you will have a chance to attend the regional premiere of “Dear Evan Hansen,” which will take place from Tuesday May 26 through Saturday May 30 at the Roland Dille Center for the Arts at Minnesota State Moorhead.
The musical is produced by the Act Up Theatre and Minnesota State Moorhead. That’s the same company that put on “Fiddler on the Roof” and “The Sound of Music” over the last two years.
“Dear Evan Hansen” touches on themes such as listening to one another and the pressures of modern life. It has a terrific cast and director, with some superb singing and acting. It promises to be an outstanding show.
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