Nonpartisan

Patti Stedman

North Dakota

Endorsements (3 Max): Bernie Dardis, Beth Slette and Building Industry Association of the Red River Valley

Candidate Questionnaire

What motivated you to run for the West Fargo City Commission? (100 words max)

I chose to run for city commission because West Fargo has been my home for over 30 years and I care deeply about the people who live here. I raised my three children in this community, built relationships across neighborhoods, and have seen firsthand how residents value safety, stability, and transparency from local government. I want to make sure West Fargo continues to grow and residents feel confident their tax dollars are spent wisely, that infrastructure keeps up with the growth, and decisions are made openly with clear communication

What personal, professional, or community experiences have best prepared you to serve as a West Fargo City Commissioner? (100 words max)

I currently serve on five state and local boards with more than 19 years of experience. I currently serve as board chair on four. I believe in collaboration and pride myself as a person who listens more than I talk. I participated in creating and monitoring policies, strategic planning, budget planning, and negotiations. I am a firm believer that the city is stronger when we collaborate with community partners. Collaboration is the key to a solid foundation and a pillar for work and each board that I serve on.

If elected as City Commissioner, what would be your top three priorities for the City of West Fargo, and why? (100 words max)

1.Continue to maintain a balanced general fund budget and manage the tax burden. With continued growth, we need to ensure new developments have necessary services while maintaining our older neighborhoods.
2.Sustain high quality core services, especially public safety. Maintaining high quality services is important to ensure that residents and businesses want to move to, and remain in, our community.
3.Improve transparency and long-range planning. Through public input, determine what the community wants and what we can afford. Long range planning allows the city to be initiative-taking and not reactive while remaining fiscally responsible.

Looking ahead five years, what do you see as the most significant opportunities and challenges facing West Fargo? (100 words max)

1. Continued economic growth to create opportunities for new businesses and workforce expansion while managing the 3% cap from the last legislative session.
2. Continuing to strengthen neighborhoods and expanding housing options through long range planning to include enhancing parks and supporting strong neighborhoods.
3. Continually updating a comprehensive plan that outlines opportunities to improve transportation, parks, community spaces while collaborating with community partners such as the parks, county, and school district.

What strategies or initiatives would you support to attract, retain, and expand businesses in West Fargo? Please include your perspective on the role of local incentives in economic development. (100 words max)

I believe the current incentives in place have served the city well and should continue with a yearly review to ensure they are still beneficial to the city. The more businesses we attract the stronger our tax base will be. The new home incentive has helped bring families to our community that will work, shop and fill our schools and add to our tax base long after the 2-year abatement.

Workforce availability remains one of the most significant challenges facing employers across the region. What role can the City play in supporting workforce attraction, retention, and development? (100 words max)

The city cannot control the labor market, but it can influence the conditions that make it easier for businesses to attract and retain employees. I also believe in strengthening partnerships with schools, training programs, tech centers, and local employers. The city can connect businesses with education and workforce resources, support career-focused initiatives, and promote opportunities that keep talent in West Fargo

In 2023, F-M Metro COG conducted a study of the metro area’s housing market that identified the need for 16,400 housing units across the region by 2033. What policies or tools can the City of West Fargo use to support the development of attainable, market-rate housing in Fargo? (100 words max)

1. Predictable, efficient development process with streamlined permitting, clear zoning standards, and consistent timelines to reduce the risk of costs for builders.
2. Zoning and land use flexibility to allow for mix of housing types. Encourage more nonprofits to build lower income housing with tax credits.
3. Public-private partnership for redevelopment
4. Infrastructure planning that will keep costs manageable.

How critical is public safety to the vibrancy and vitality of our community, and what approaches would you support to strengthen public safety in West Fargo? (100 words max)

Public safety is essential to our community and is a core service that shapes how residents experience our city every day. The city can strengthen safety by investing in training and equipment, and improving coordination between police, fire, and community partners. The city could also expand neighborhood outreach, share timely information, and make it easier for residents to share their concerns.