Nonpartisan
Candidate Questionnaire
What motivated you to run for the West Fargo Park Board? (100 words max)
I have always been interested in being involved with different aspects of living in West Fargo. I was born and raised in West Fargo and now have a family that resides here. I was fortunate to be able to participate in many Park District events growing up. I am at a point in my life where I have the ability to give time and effort to an area that was important to me growing up and that is now important to my family.
What personal, professional, or community experiences have best prepared you to serve on the West Fargo Park Board? (100 words max)
Growing up with parents with careers in public service, I was able to absorb a great deal of information on how to effectively and professionally work in community spaces. I have also served on and been involved in different boards which has allowed me to learn the dynamics of how different Boards operate. I also feel that my family is the target market as we have young children that love to take advantage of what West Fargo Parks has to offer!
If elected as a member of the West Fargo Park Board, what would be your top three priorities for the park district, and why? (100 words max)
The first priority would be to ensure that we retain a large amount of green space. Areas with open grass and trees with parks in or near them are important to have with everything around them surrounded by concrete. Another priority is keeping existing parks and park district buildings updated and clean. Another priority is to keep innovating as we continue to expand. As our community expands, we will have the opportunity to use our imagination to create exciting new venues for everyone in West Fargo to enjoy!
Looking ahead five years, what do you see as the most important opportunities and challenges facing the park district? (100 words max)
A five year plan should include securing enough land to ensure enough space for parks in new parts of the city that will be created. West Fargo has a population that is increasing at a very high rate. We need to be aware that development will sometimes overlook things like parks and recreation areas. With new development, there will be opportunities for new and innovative parks and buildings like an additional sports complex or pool. Having enough parks and recreational spaces for our growing community should be a focus in the near and distant future.
How would you approach balancing investment in facilities and programs with the district’s long-term financial sustainability? (100 words max)
Budgeting in an area like park districts can be a difficult thing to do. As we expand and build new venues, we have to sometimes temper our desire to have the biggest and best parks to maintain a budget that will not negatively impact us in the future. Things like donations and sponsorships will be very important to maintaining our existing parks and for the creation of new parks. Multi-year plans need to be created and adhered to when new large projects are thought of.