Nonpartisan
Candidate Questionnaire
What motivated you to run for the Fargo Park Board? (100 words max)
Born and raised in Fargo, I have seen this city triple in size during my years of service on the board. I have served the Park District for 20 years to ensure equal and equitable recreational opportunities for all people throughout our great community. At the same time, we need to ensure sustained growth and be fiscally responsible with our dollars. Whether it is riding our bikes along the bike/walking trail system, golfing as a family, or coaching my nieces' flag football team at the Sports Complex, the Fargo Parks system has always been a big part of our lives.
What personal, professional, or community experiences have best prepared you to serve on the Fargo Park Board? (100 words max)
I am a professor of Physical Education and Recreation at NDSU and have served on the Fargo Park Board for the last 20 years. As a commissioner with a background in Recreation, I not only have extensive experience in the field through my academic background, but also my years of service on the board. In my many years of service, I have gained a deep understanding of the budgetary process, and we have worked with staff to make that more transparent and inclusive to everyone involved. At the same time, ensure sustained growth and be fiscally responsible with our dollars.
If elected as a member of the Fargo Park Board, what would be your top three priorities for the park district, and why? (100 words max)
Having a strategic plan for the entire city system, as well as specific master plans for Yunker Farm and Island Park. This ensures that we move forward at a pace that sustains growth while staying aligned with the district's priorities and values. It also ensures we continually assess inventory and prioritize based on the long-range plan and systematic growth.
Fargo needs to continue meeting the recreational needs of the neighborhoods and the whole community, while maintaining the rich history and value of its already existing parts as it continues to expand and grow.
Looking ahead five years, what do you see as the most important opportunities and challenges facing the park district? (100 words max)
The biggest challenges and opportunities we face at the park district are managing growth sustainably. Growth is a great “problem” to have when we plan for the future. As we continue to grow with the city, it is important that we do not create a donut effect and forget the interior. Our park system strategic plan for the entire city helps us consistently consider and support the City of Fargo's full recreational footprint. Two perfect examples are not only building the Sports Complex in South Fargo, but also renovating the Island Park pool downtown.
How would you approach balancing investment in facilities and programs with the district’s long-term financial sustainability? (100 words max)
We have worked closely with our staff to continue to develop mission and vision as we move the Park District forward. As I mentioned earlier, the city is growing rapidly, so it is important for the Park System to grow with it, but in a planned fashion that ensures appropriate services without duplicating efforts. We need to continue working closely with the city and school systems to ensure our dollars are spent collaboratively and efficiently, so we get the most out of taxpayers' dollars.