Fargo City Commission Candidates Talk About The Issues During Candidate Forum

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — The League of Women Voters of the Red River Valley host a candidate forum for those seeking a Fargo City Commission seat.

There are seven candidates for two seats up for election including those of Arlette Preston and John Strand, who are both running for re-election.

They were joined by Al Carlson, Anna Johnson and Delson Saintal.

Michelle Turnberg and Nathan Pullen did not attend the forum.

The candidates talked about crime, liquor licenses, aging neighborhoods, and the greatest need facing Fargo right now.

“Behavioral social health issues, addiction issues and that whole lane of getting people assistance so we’re not putting all of the burden on these challenges of people on the shoulders of our law enforcement,” said Strand.

“What’s going on right now is a lot of those guys are dealing with mental health are just going back into jails and it’s just a revolving door, so,” said Saintal.

“Public safety is really a problem. And when I listen to the news at night and find out all the different things that have happened around our community, we need to address that,” said Carlson.

The candidates also talked a great deal about affordable housing, getting the homeless into homes and a rental registry.

“Racism exists in our city and we need to stop acting like it doesn’t. If we don’t hold these landlords accountable, it will never change,” said Johnson.

“Yes, there are definitely slum lords in town and yes we do have inadequate, unsafe housing situations that really need to be watched much more closely and that’s what a rental registry program would do,” said Preston.

The election is Tuesday, June 11.