All four of Moorhead’s council wards are on the ballot November 3, with three-term council member Chuck Hendrickson in Ward 4 stepping aside and the three other incumbents seeking reelection.
In Ward 1, incumbent Ryan Nelson – director of public safety at MSUM – faces three other people on the ballot: recovery center founder and owner Sarah Opitz, community activist Dalton Swenson and Ben Livingston, who announced on social media he was no longer campaigning for the seat.
Ward 2 Council member Heather Nesemeier – appointed to the council when Mayor Shelly Carlson took office – in her campaign for a second four-year term is opposed by two challengers: Attorney Chris Snyder and political newcomer Ryan Schatz, a lifelong Moorhead resident.
Ward 3 also will see three candidates. An MSUM professor running for a third term, Deb White will attempt to fight off challenges by sociologist and Human Rights Commission chairwoman Evett Ellis and Arlan Swenson, owner and operator of Moorhead-based Northwest Blinds.
In Ward 4, where Hendrickson is retiring, former news anchor and retired tourism executive Charley Johnson is facing off against Rick Rask, who has spent his career in roles like municipal infrastructure project manager and construction manager for cities, consulting firms and private companies.
Voting early: Minnesota lets any voter cast an absentee ballot with no excuse required, starting 46 days before Election Day. This year, that window opens September 18 and runs through the day before the November 3rd general election. Early voting occurs at the Clay County Government Center near the corner of 12th Avenue South and 34th Street South in Moorhead.
Finding your polling place: Voters can confirm their registration, request an absentee ballot and look up their assigned polling location at mnvotes.gov, the Minnesota Secretary of State’s official voter portal.
Ward 1
Ryan Nelson (incumbent)
Nelson currently serves as the Executive Director of Public Safety & Compliance for Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM). Prior to working at MSUM, Nelson served in law enforcement for over 20 years –- 17 of which were for the Moorhead Police Department. He held many positions within the department such as patrol officer, detective, and patrol sergeant.
High Plains Reader: How has your background prepared you for this role?
Ryan Nelson: I am essentially a lifelong resident of Moorhead. My spouse is currently employed with Moorhead Public Schools, and we have two adult children and a son in-law.
I am passionate about serving in government, as shown by many years of service in local, county and state employment. My background will help facilitate and support strong law enforcement/public safety needs, public necessities such as roads, infrastructure, and community needs, as well as support and encourage relationships in order to continue on a path of growth for Moorhead.
HPR: Top three campaign issues?
RN: 1. Listen and hear from our experts and citizens on topics.
2. Use common sense in decisions.
3. Make decisions that reflect the priorities of Moorhead.
HPR: Biggest opportunities/challenges for Moorhead?
RN: Moorhead’s greatest opportunity is continued growth through business investment, housing development, and regional collaboration. Our challenge will be managing that growth while maintaining affordability, infrastructure, public safety, and quality city services. We must carefully balance development with fiscal responsibility to ensure long-term success. There is no doubt, Moorhead will remain a destination for families, employers, and entrepreneurs.
Dalton Swanson
Swanson calls herself a small-time organizer and trans activist who has lived in Moorhead her entire life. She has a passion for gardening, the arts, and politics. She said she “will inherit the problems, triumphs and projects of the leaders before me, so I am incentivized to improve conditions in this city.” In her emailed responses, she went by Jayce Swanson, but will use Dalton Swanson on the ballot.
High Plains Reader: How has your background prepared you for this role?
Dalton Swenson: My background as a political science major and previous experience in various campus and honors committees has given me a thorough vision and idea for what government functions are like, and are tempered by community organizing as a complimentary factor in meeting community needs and getting the vital work done.
As I was born and raised in the streets of Moorhead, I’ve long had to experience the various problems, triumphs, projects, and agendas of previous city councils, such as the multitude of construction projects, the closure and opening of countless businesses, the rise and fall of various organizing spaces, and the ever-present threat of the youth of this city being siphoned off to places like Minneapolis.
My history of civic education and work with various civic groups gave me the technical and policy expertise to envision positive changes and the room to begin putting organizing projects into praxis. With the threat of a climate crisis breathing down our city’s neck, increased living costs, and the overall decline of local commerce, I have developed an unambiguous Progressive vision for what Moorhead can do to prosper and stay prosperous, let alone remain a city that can sustain real communities.
HPR: Top three campaign issues?
My top three campaign priorities are infrastructure, public safety, and fiscal reforms. What does that mean? For public safety: I support hiring more social workers on the Moorhead PD payroll or another. The goal is to have them work alongside police to address the variety of mental health or drug related calls in the city, as it will retain local talent and ease pressure on otherwise intense situations. In addition to this, I would love to help organize additional neighborhood watches across the First Ward, as it will meet our need for community and resolve that overarching theme of distrust in the community. I also want to work on securing a federal grant to give all first responders free mental health services, in contrast to the present grant that only covers such services for local police. Does the suffering of an ambulance driver or the trauma of rescuing survivors from a burning home have less value? Let’s find a grant that gives these people the help they deserve.
For infrastructure: I want to build a third fire station in south Moorhead, as our fire department has hired on new people and our infrastructure must reflect that. I’m happy to work with our firefighters to pick out a new location for the station. In addition to this, I want to establish a polling station in Oakport, which was annexed in 2015 and lacks sufficient access compared to other wards. If a church or some other space can be reserved for such a function, it would be a good step to increasing local voter turnout. Next, I want to update our snow removal and trash collection equipment. During one of our classes in the Moorhead Citizen’s Government Academy, I had learned that much of the snow removal trucks and machinery is from the late 2000s to the early 2010s, so it would be vital to update that. I also vehemently oppose any contracts with Flock or any other surveillance firm that spies on Moorhead residents. You deserve privacy.
Lastly for financial reforms, this is something of a budgetary wish list. I am hoping to see additional funds brought to affordable housing aid to incentivize more people in my generation to stay in the city as well as to assist the struggling community members who are already there. To complement this, I also hope to continue increasing the budget for our mass transit portion of the budget, as it is now. Our parks budget is improving as well as of 2026, with a budget of nearly $5 million, and I aim to help keep it that way. Lastly, I would like to see increases in spending for the Sanitation, Vehicles, and Wastewater sections of our budget, which would help increase local resilience to environmental problems with good funding.
Sarah Opitz
Opitz is a social worker, licensed alcohol and drug counselor, and Founding Executive Director of Lotus Recovery, Inc. She has called Moorhead home for nearly 20 years and is the mother of two daughters attending Moorhead Area Public Schools. As a parent, homeowner, nonprofit leader, and person in long-term recovery, Opitz said she brings professional knowledge and lived experience to her work and community service.
Opitz began her career as a veterinary technician and has experience in veterinary medicine and marine mammal research. She earned her bachelor’s degree in social work and a graduate certificate in addictions counseling from MSUM.
For more than a decade, Opitz has worked alongside people navigating substance use, mental health challenges, and housing instability. She said her own “experiences with loss, recovery, and rebuilding inspired a commitment to ensuring others have access to hope, opportunity, and belonging.”
In 2017, Opitz helped establish Lotus Recovery, which opened its doors in 2019. Under her leadership, its work expanded from outpatient treatment to include recovery housing, outreach, overdose prevention, and community connection. She has shared her story and perspectives at public events in Los Angeles and Austin, including engagements with Austin Recovery and United Way of Austin.
Opitz’s other community involvement has included the Greater Moorhead Business Association Board, the West Central Continuum of Care, and the Clay County Drug Court panel.
High Plains Reader: How has your background prepared you for this role?
Sarah Opitz: Moorhead has been my home for nearly twenty years, and this community truly holds my heart. Years ago, during one of the hardest chapters of my life, this town supported me, giving me a second chance and a path forward. Today, as an MSUM alum, a homeowner, a social worker and addiction counselor, and a mother of two children in our public schools, I am running to give back what was so graciously given to me. My journey includes lived experience with homelessness and long-term recovery, which led me to found a local agency providing housing and recovery services. Whether serving on the Greater Moorhead Business Association Board, participating in the MN Young American Leadership Program, or working with the Clay County Treatment Court, I have dedicated my life to lifting others up. I am ready to bring that same dedication to public service for our community.
HPR: Top three campaign issues?
SO: Improve reliable transit and essential infrastructure. We must responsibly maintain the foundation our community already depends upon. This includes streets, utilities, public facilities, parks, and transportation systems. It also means ensuring that police officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, direct-care professionals, and other frontline workers have the staffing, equipment, and support necessary to serve Moorhead effectively. Strong infrastructure and dependable public services are essential to the safety, stability, and quality of life of every resident.
Strengthen our economy and support local workers. Fiscal responsibility requires balancing future growth with careful stewardship of existing resources. New projects and economic development incentives should be evaluated based on their long-term public value, financial sustainability, and measurable benefits for residents. Moorhead should continue welcoming responsible development and new employers while also investing in local entrepreneurs, family-owned businesses, established neighborhoods, employees, and working families. Progress should strengthen what is already here, not leave existing businesses, services, or residents behind.
Protect affordable housing and address the needs of currently established neighborhoods. Housing and food insecurity, homelessness, substance use, mental health needs, childcare, education, transportation, workforce shortages, and business sustainability are deeply interconnected. City government cannot address these challenges alone. I wish to advocate for cross-sector collaboration among the city, Clay County, schools, colleges, healthcare providers, first responders, businesses, nonprofits, faith communities, neighborhood groups, and residents with lived experience. City leadership should connect existing resources, identify service gaps, reduce unnecessary duplication, and strengthen the valuable work already happening throughout Moorhead. Compassion, accountability, fiscal responsibility, and public safety are not competing values. Thoughtful solutions can protect neighborhoods and public spaces while treating people with dignity, connecting them with appropriate support, and maintaining reasonable community expectations.
HPR: Biggest opportunities/challenges for Moorhead?
SO: Opportunities: Moorhead stands at a pivotal point, with an opportunity to shape its next chapter through intentional, responsible growth. We can preserve the history, neighborhood character, community connection, and sense of belonging that make this city home while planning thoughtfully for the future.
We can support local entrepreneurs through the Spark Center at The Loop, the City’s Economic Development Authority, and existing business incentives. These programs should be measured by meaningful outcomes, including jobs retained, wages, local investment, and long-term public benefit.
We can connect local employers with MSUM, M State, and other workforce partners to expand internships, training, and career pathways. Childcare and reliable public transportation should also be treated as essential economic infrastructure because families cannot work and businesses cannot grow without them.
Housing provides another opportunity. We can preserve existing homes, improve access to first-time-buyer assistance, and expand partnerships with Habitat for Humanity and the Cass Clay Community Land Trust so that more families can build equity while preserving affordability.
Investments such as The Loop, downtown redevelopment, the 11th Street underpass, flood protection, and transit planning can improve mobility, strengthen local commerce, and connect neighborhoods. These projects should be evaluated carefully to ensure they serve Moorhead as a whole while minimizing hardship for residents and businesses directly affected.
Our opportunity is to connect these efforts through collaboration among city government, Clay County, schools, colleges, healthcare providers, nonprofits, employers, and residents. That means building on what works, measuring results, listening to those affected, and ensuring every neighbor has a meaningful place at the table. If we remain inclusive, accountable, and focused on the future, Moorhead can move forward together.
Challenges: One of Moorhead’s greatest challenges is ensuring that growth creates lasting opportunity while keeping our community affordable, safe, and financially sustainable.
As a border city, Moorhead operates within a regional economy shaped by two different state systems. We should support local businesses and working families while valuing the public services and worker protections that strengthen our community. That begins with responsible investment in our infrastructure, established neighborhoods, local employers, and the people who keep Moorhead running.
Housing is central to this work. People should have realistic opportunities to buy a first home, build equity, and remain in the neighborhoods they love. We also need safe, well-maintained rentals and clear accountability for neglected properties. Homeowners and renters alike deserve stability and a neighborhood they are proud to call home.
Public safety must keep pace with growth. We should evaluate staffing, station placement, ambulance coverage, and access to emergency care using reliable response data, then work with regional partners to address identified gaps.
As a social worker and addictions counselor, I understand how housing, employment, mental health, and public safety are connected. Meeting these challenges will require shared responsibility among cities, counties, healthcare systems, businesses, nonprofits, and residents.
I want to help Moorhead grow while preserving the character and sense of belonging that make it home—with transparent decisions, careful stewardship, and opportunities that reach people throughout our community.
Ward 2
Heather Nesemeier (incumbent)
Nesemeier was appointed to a vacancy on the Moorhead City Council for Ward 2 in May of 2021. She was elected to a full four-year term in 2022 and is now seeking a second full term. Before her city council appointment, Nesemeier was active as organizer of PB&J School Lunch Fundraisers – helping to raise nearly $20,000 for student lunch debt. She was also the driving force behind the local community gardens at Ellen Hopkins Nature Play Park. In addition, Nesemeier was a founding member of the Cass-Clay chapter of the Awesome Foundation, which donates funds to community projects throughout the area.
High Plains Reader: How has your background prepared you for this role?
Heather Nesemeier: I have a long history of advocacy, volunteering, and gardening — personally and in community service. I have a passion and track record for improving access to healthy foods. I am an active union supporter and co-parent to a proud Spud. I have always been deeply engaged with the people and schools in our community, and strive to be a strong leader to support our growing, thriving, resilient city.
I have represented Ward 2 on the Moorhead City Council since 2021 and have been a consistent voice for residents wanting to engage with their local government and working toward improvements and changes that benefit residents. With five years under my belt, I have been able to make progress in areas important to our community based on our Comprehensive Plan, as well as feedback from residents and business owners.
HPR: Top three campaign issues?
HN: 1.Community Engagement. Bringing viewpoints to the table because our city is better when residents are involved in the decisions affecting them.
2. Development and Infrastructure. Growing all areas of our community, including housing options. Striving to maintain and improve infrastructure, while creating more opportunities to get outside and embrace our fantastic community in a more walkable and bikeable city.
3. Sustainability and Resilience. Improving upon best practices, while creating more green and resilience based policies for a healthier population and environment.
HPR: Biggest opportunities/challenges for Moorhead?
HN: I believe that the City of Moorhead has a number of opportunities and challenges in the coming years including, but not limited to, growth and communication. Growth is both a challenge and an opportunity the City of Moorhead can embrace as the fastest growing Minnesota community outside of the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area. With rapid population increases come demands on housing, safety, and infrastructure that the City of Moorhead will have an opportunity to navigate with smart, community focused, stakeholder driven decisions. Communication is another challenge and an opportunity that is tied to growth, but also how our world has changed. We have a need to keep up with internal communications, as well as external communications in a changing communication field so stakeholders can access the information they need, are shared pertinent information in a method that is beneficial to them, and information is shared in such a way that they find themselves within the message.
Chris Snyder Chris Snyder is a lifelong Moorhead resident, Moorhead High School graduate, Concordia College graduate, and local criminal defense attorney. He has built his career in Moorhead and is raising his family here. Snyder said his legal practice requires him to “listen carefully, analyze complicated issues, and help people navigate difficult situations.” He said he’s running for city council to bring that same preparation, judgment, and practical approach to city government.
High Plains Reader: How has your background prepared you for this role?
Chris Snyder: As an attorney, my job requires me to listen carefully, understand complicated issues, separate facts from assumptions, and make thoughtful decisions that can have significant consequences for people. I also regularly work with courts, government agencies, law enforcement, and members of the public, which has given me a strong understanding of how government works and the limits of government authority.
Just as importantly, Moorhead is my home. I grew up here and am raising my family here. I care deeply about the direction of the community and want to help make sure Moorhead continues to be a place where families want to live, businesses want to invest, and people are proud to call home.
HPR: Top three campaign issues?
CS: 1. Completing major city projects successfully. Moorhead has made significant investments in projects including the new library, public pool, Matson Field improvements, and the 11th Street underpass. The city needs to plan responsibly for their long-term operation and maintenance.
2. Responsible growth. Moorhead needs to continue encouraging housing, business investment, and economic development while making sure city services keep pace with growth.
3. Strong neighborhoods and dependable city services. Residents should be able to count on safe neighborhoods, well-maintained streets and infrastructure, quality parks, effective public safety, and responsive city services throughout Moorhead.
HPR: Biggest opportunities/challenges for Moorhead?
CS: Moorhead has tremendous opportunities for growth, but one of our biggest challenges is attracting and retaining business investment. We compete directly with Fargo and other nearby communities for businesses, jobs, and development, so Moorhead has to make sure we are a place where businesses can succeed and want to stay.
That means having a predictable and responsive city government, adequate infrastructure, available housing for workers and families, and a development process that encourages investment rather than creating unnecessary obstacles. At the same time, Moorhead needs to manage growth carefully so city services and infrastructure keep pace. If we can continue attracting new residents while also maintaining and growing our business base, Moorhead will be in a very strong position for the future.
Candidate Ryan Schatz did not respond to email, voicemail and text requests for inclusion in our voter guide.
Ward 3
Deb White (incumbent)
White moved to Moorhead in 2000 to join MSUM’s Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice. She previously lived in Albany, New York, where she completed her PhD and worked with her husband to grow an office coffee service business.
A dedicated public servant, White established NEW Leadership Northern Lights, a regional public leadership program for women from 2001-2020, during which more than 700 regional women completed the program.
First elected to represent Moorhead’s Ward 3 on the City Council in 2018, she said she champions community engagement and collaborations between the city and local stakeholders,
Beyond her council role, White is president of the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County. She has also spent over 15 years advocating for public higher education on her faculty union’s state government relations committee.
High Plains Reader: How has your background prepared you for this role?
Deb White: Before my election to public office, I spent 15 years directing a public leadership program dedicated to preparing women for elected roles. My civic service also includes time on the Moorhead Planning Commission. For the past eight years, I have been an active city council member and have represented the council on numerous local boards and commissions. This extensive background has given me a deep, practical understanding of how our city government operates. I currently serve on the following:
- Clay County Collaborative Governance Board
- Clay County Heartland Trail Task Force
- Greater Fargo-Moorhead Economic Development Corporation Board and Executive Committee
- Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County Board (President)
- Lakes & Prairies Community Action Partners (CAP-LP) Board
- Moorhead Economic Development Authority
- Moorhead Global Market Planning Committee
- MAT Bus Coordinating Committee (Chair)
- Red River Recovery Initiative (Collaborative community opioid response group)
- Metro Flood Diversion Authority Land Management Committee
HPR: Top three campaign issues?
DW: Community Engagement: Our city prospers when elected officials value constituent input and build paths for them to weigh in on decisions affecting Moorhead. Having advocated for more accessible governance for eight years on council, I remain committed to keeping constituents informed, engaged, and assuring their voice matters.
Development: Moorhead is transforming. We’ve turned blighted areas into spaces that bring us together—from the new library and community center to new apartment buildings, and the addition of fun local hubs. We are finally seeing real momentum, but to thrive, we need more retail and other businesses to invest in Moorhead. I pledge to continue to champion businesses we have and the recruitment of new ones.
Growth: Families are choosing to call Moorhead home, making our city the engine of Clay County’s record growth. To support this thriving community, we must invest in critical needs like a new fire station and work with private and public partners to make homeownership affordable for more families. Many residents are facing increasing financial strain. I will fight to ensure that our city’s growth is managed with fiscal discipline to minimize property tax burden.
HPR: Biggest opportunities/challenges for Moorhead?
DW: Challenges: Rising costs due primarily to external economic forces are putting additional strain on our city budget, discouraging new investment, and making it hard for families to get by. We need to expand our outreach to local businesses and explore new ways to attract and retain them. Increasing our commercial base will also shift more of the property tax burden off of home owners.
Opportunities: Clay County is the fastest growing Minnesota county outside the Twin Cities, and most of that growth is in Moorhead. As more families and individuals choose Moorhead as their home, they add to the vibrancy of our growing community.
Evett Ellis
Ellis is a Moorhead leader, sociologist, educator, Founder of SOWETO NFH, and Chair of the Moorhead Human Rights Commission. Running for Moorhead City Council in Ward 3, Ellis said she’s committed to putting people first: ensuring every resident’s voice is heard, strengthening neighborhood safety, and creating a welcoming, affordable community where long-standing families, young adults, and seniors can all thrive.
Ellis said she brings over two decades of hands-on experience in public service, healthcare, and community advocacy, bringing diverse communities together, including deep experience collaborating directly with tribal communities and serving residents from all walks of life.
Her broad professional background includes working in behavioral and psychiatric health as a Healthcare and Health Unit Coordinator, supporting youth within school systems for USD 21, directing residential programs for indigenous youth, running her small business (Camel Consulting LLC), and serving as Executive Director of Minnesota’s largest sexual violence resource center. Today, she manages comprehensive victim services across both civilian and military sectors.
As a proud first-generation college graduate, Ellis said she knows the value of hard work firsthand. She worked full-time to put herself through school, earning an Associate degree from Central Arizona College before graduating from Arizona State University with both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Sociology. She said she is ready to bring that same work ethic, empathy, and practical leadership to the Moorhead City Council.
High Plains Reader: How has your background prepared you for this role?
Evett Ellis: My preparation for the Moorhead City Council is rooted in a well-rounded career dedicated to advocating for people who cannot always speak for themselves. I learned early in customer service how to listen deeply, solve complex problems, and connect residents with vital resources.
Through my executive leadership overseeing the largest sexual violence resource center in Minnesota, directing high-needs youth programs, and managing victim services that encompass both civilian and military populations, I have managed multi-million dollar budgets, built interdisciplinary agency partnerships, and navigated complex policy frameworks.
Equally vital is my volunteer commitment. As Chair of the Moorhead Human Rights Commission and an active board member and advisor for multiple state and local organizations, I work to ensure all voices and perspectives are considered in decisions that affect us all. My background as a sociologist allows me to analyze community data, address systemic barriers, and deliver practical, equitable solutions for Ward 3.
HPR: Top three campaign issues?
EE: Ensuring every resident has a voice, as decisions impact the cost of living, housing affordability, and local opportunities. My civic and volunteer work is rooted in ensuring all perspectives are represented, using data and direct public engagement to tackle financial pressures so we move Moorhead forward together as a team.
Strengthening neighborhood safety and community partnerships: True public safety requires proactive system resilience and sustainable capacity building rather than just emergency response. Drawing on my extensive experience in multi-disciplinary teams and systems change work, I will advocate for providing first responders with necessary resources while strengthening community partnerships that foster lasting safety, trust, and proactive care.
Continue to invest in quality infrastructure, parks, and accessible spaces: Moorhead’s infrastructure, parks, and public spaces must remain accessible to all residents, enhance our natural landscape, and be delivered without imposing unnecessary financial burdens on local homeowners and taxpayers.
HPR: Biggest opportunities/challenges for Moorhead?
EE: Opportunities: Moorhead’s greatest strength is the deep foundation built by our long-time, dedicated residents who have invested in this city for years. Our biggest opportunity is honoring that legacy by ensuring Moorhead remains a vibrant, affordable home where families stay for generations, while also welcoming students and workers who want to put down permanent roots. By supporting local small businesses, expanding job opportunities, and introducing innovative civic systems, we can protect what makes Moorhead special and move forward together as a united community.
Challenges: Our main challenge is balancing city growth and necessary infrastructure updates without placing extra financial burdens on long-standing homeowners and working families. Rising living costs and property pressures require proactive, transparent planning rather than short-term fixes. Meeting these challenges requires data-driven decision-making, intentional community engagement, and fiscal accountability so that growth protects existing neighborhoods and directly benefits all residents across Ward 3 and Moorhead.
Arlan Swenson
Swenson is owner and operator of Northwest Blinds, based in Moorhead. Though he grew up on a farm near Wolverton, he said, Moorhead has “proudly been my home for a long time.” Swenson’s wife, Karla, and he have three sons, all Moorhead High School graduates. When not working, he said he can usually be found attending high school games and theater productions, involved at Christ the King Church, or taking in just about any sporting event.
High Plains Reader: How has your background prepared you for this role?
Arlan Swenson: Growing up on the farm taught me values that stay with you for life: a strong work ethic, problem solving under pressure, and a deep sense of stewardship for your community.
When my father’s health declined, returning home to run the farm was an easy choice, family always comes first. That same commitment guided me when I bought my business.
I’ve spent years balancing budgets, serving customers, and building lasting relationships. I want to bring that practical, common-sense perspective to local government. I’m running for Moorhead City Council to serve our community with the same dedication and accountability.
I love Moorhead. My wife, Karla, and I have chosen to live, raise our family, and build our business in Moorhead. We are deeply invested in our community, and I believe I can offer a constructive, fresh voice to our City Council. Even in a great city like ours, a new perspective can bring new energy and renewed focus to help Moorhead thrive.
HPR: Top three campaign issues?
AS: 1. Economic and Business Development. As a border city, Moorhead operates under Minnesota’s tax and regulatory structure while sitting right next to Fargo and that proximity creates real challenges. Active economic development helps level that playing field. The downtown revitalization project is a strong start; now we need to fill it in for long-term viability. Growing our tax base eases the burden on homeowners and funds essential infrastructure: fire, police, roads, parks, and utilities.
2. Accountable Leadership and Fiscal Responsibility. I’ve practiced these values as a business owner and board member, and I’ll bring transparency, professionalism, and integrity to the City Council. Many in our community feel the City Council has become divided. That is why I believe in listening actively, welcoming open dialogue, and working as a team. When a strategy falls short, I’ll focus on fixing it, not assigning blame. Elected officials should own their decisions and outcomes. Financially, I’m committed to managing public money prudently, cutting waste, and making every tax dollar count.
3. Serving Moorhead with Heart. I want Ward 3 to know I’m approachable and willing to listen. I’ll champion public safety, strong schools, the backbone of our community, and a walkable downtown where people can gather, live, and thrive.
HPR: Biggest opportunities/challenges for Moorhead?
AS: Moorhead is a wonderful city to raise a family. The Moorhead school system has afforded our boys opportunities they wouldn’t have received anywhere else. There are exciting projects on the horizon with our downtown revitalization, our community remains safe, and our local colleges bring fresh energy and life to the city every fall. We have so much to be proud of and love about Moorhead.
But we also face real challenges. The border city tax disparity makes attracting and retaining businesses difficult. We need a strong commercial tax base to help balance the burden and keep housing affordable for working families. Over taxing our residents is a major concern. At the same time, public safety must remain a top priority. As Moorhead continues to expand to the south, funding essential needs like a third fire station within a tight budget is a hurdle we must solve together.
We have great opportunities ahead, but navigating these hurdles takes teamwork. As a business owner, father, and long-time resident, I want to bring a fresh, common-sense voice to the City Council. I’m ready to work hard to grow our business base, protect public safety, and keep Moorhead an affordable, thriving community for everyone.
Ward 4
Charley Johnson
Charley Johnson retired in September 2025 after 13 years as President and CEO of the Visit Fargo-Moorhead (FM Convention and Visitors Bureau). Prior to that, he spent more than 35-years in broadcasting in the Red River Valley, working as anchor, producer, news director and eventually general manager of the NBC and CBS affiliate stations in Fargo. He is a native of Minnesota and a graduate of Concordia College, in Moorhead. He and his wife Mary have lived in SE Moorhead for almost 40 years, and have three grown children and six grandchildren.
High Plains Reader: How has your background prepared you for this role?
Charley Johnson: I’ve lived my entire adult life in the Red River Valley, the vast majority of it in Moorhead. As a broadcast journalist I had the opportunity to cover city, county and state politics in all the metro cities and both states. That work gave me a solid background on how the local governments work, and how all the various political personalities interact and how they react to events and issues. Changing careers to tourism in 2012 gave me an opportunity to see the local governments from a different angle, and taught me new ways to interact. I believe all of that experience sets me up pretty well to take a seat on the Moorhead City Council.
HPR: Top three campaign issues?
CJ: Help continue Moorhead’s strong, orderly growth, including efforts to grow the city’s commercial tax base to take some of the tax onus off homeowners. I believe we should provide city staff with the tools they need to maintain a high level of affordable services in the city. More specifically, I believe a third fire station and the staff to support it should be a top priority for the city. I’m also keenly interested in finding ways to make home ownership affordable. This is a daunting task in today’s environment, and I know of no silver bullets. I do believe, however, that every small action helps, and that we should take those steps as they present themselves, rather than sitting back and waiting for the miracle. There won’t be any miracles. I was fortunate enough in my role at Visit FM to have been invited to help with efforts to alleviate the workforce shortage that became so obvious in 2014-15, and which goes on today. That work taught me very clearly that there are no easy fixes to complex problems, but it also taught me that every small step helps. There’s a tendency everywhere to study problems like these to death. Sooner or later you have to admit that you know what the problems have multiple facets, and that another study won’t give you the grand fix. Identify the individual issues and start working on them, step by step.
HPR: Biggest opportunities/challenges for Moorhead?
CJ: I think Moorhead’s biggest challenge is competition for business and industry right across the river. Much has been said about the tax advantages in ND compared with MN. The state of MN has helped with so-called “Border City” legislation over the last 30+ years, but it seems more could be done. The Moorhead-Clay County Industrial Park has multiple “shovel ready” plots for potential placement of business, and could use a few more tools to level the playing field with Fargo and West Fargo. From a residential standpoint, the city of Moorhead has more buildable single-family lots available right now than Fargo. We have to find ways to make those lots and the homes to be built on them affordable for the struggling middle-class family.
Candidate Rick Rask did not respond to email, voicemail and text requests for inclusion in our voter guide.
