Derik Arneson

As an IT professional and project manager, I have seen what happens when things go wrong. I have worked with people when they’re frustrated. I have found ways to get different parties together and move forward. Find a mutual solution. I think these skills will work well as a city commissioner as I will be able to work with all parties involved, identify solutions and find ways forward.

One, managing the city correctly. This means setting policy and direction, not dictating how to do it on a department level. Fixing our financial problems. Two, I want to find a way that we can reduce our dependence on special assessments. Three, I want open communication with the citizens of Fargo for maximum transparency.

I think the budget issues currently facing Fargo give us hidden opportunity for success in the future. If we can make wise, albeit possibly painful decisions now to set a sound budget we will be paving the way for success in the future. Also, finding a way to balance the growth to increase the amount of affordable homes can have a direct impact on the growing homelessness Fargo has been dealing with.

Fargo has several programs on a city, county, regional and state level currently to help new businesses such as the Renaissance Zone Program, tax exemptions, FIFs, the Greater Fargo-Moorhead Economic Development Corporation, programs through the Bank of ND and other groups. I think the Commission can find ways to better assist new businesses in finding existing programs to help them, to act as a facilitator to connect start ups to the right assistance.

Fargo in North Dakota in general seems to have an issue with not having a large enough workforce. I think if we can increase the affordable housing we will have a potent way to attract the workforce to fill these needs. I thinks the city could find ways better incentivize the building of affordable housing both on the side of the builders and through programs to help the home buyers.

Careful use of inclusionary zoning could be a powerful tool if used right and continued tax breaks in incentives for new homebuyers specifically targeting affordable housing.

The obvious answer is keeping our police and other first responders fully staffed, funded and trained. I also think providing services to help those that are suffering with mental health and drug addiction is also very important. We then need to make sure our first responders and the support services have a close relationship and are working together.

I very much support the ward-based system. I think Fargo is long overdue for to a ward system. I feel having ward and localized representatives will empower our citizens to take a more active role in city government knowing there are people truly representing where they are coming from.