Spectators snacked on popcorn and candy at the packed Fargo Theatre Tuesday night, where three city commissioners, a North Dakota state senator and a pastor vied for their votes. The 90-minute debate was the first debate among Fargo’s five mayoral candidates.
The candidates debated a range of topics, including the city’s finances, homelessness and government transparency.
City commissioners Michelle Turnberg, Dave Piepkorn and Denise Kolpack, who is also deputy mayor, touted their local government experience. State Senator Josh Boschee highlighted his legislative record. Sekou Sirleaf is a pastor and the city’s Human Rights Commission chair.
Each candidate was given one minute to respond to each question and a 30-second rebuttal if they were named in another candidate’s response.
Sirleaf clashed directly with conservative City Commissioners Turnberg and Piepkorn on homelessness, leading to some of the most raucous moments of the night.
The candidates were asked for their plan to address homelessness in Fargo. Turnberg said that said the city should scale back the services it offers and that the main drivers of homelessness are addiction and mental health problems.
“We also have to remember that the city is not a nonprofit.” she said. “We have over 1814 nonprofits in Fargo. That is where that role should be. Can we help? Yes, but (city funding) should not be the main source.”
“I know people that are homeless, living in a hotel,” responded Sirleaf, the Human Rights Commission chair. “They're not on drugs. They are nurses. They are working people. They are pastors, they are pastors in churches in the local community, a family of five, six, because a landlord wrote something in their record (and) nobody will rent to them.”
Sirleaf’s retort drew cheers from the audience, despite the moderators warning spectators not to make noise during the debate.
Homelessness was a frequent topic throughout the night, specifically the city’s Downtown Engagement Center, which offers homeless services like assistance for housing and mental health. That tied into the broader topic of the city’s budget, where Piepkorn raised the alarm on the city’s debt and recently-downgraded credit score.
“The solution is, for liberals, is raise taxes,” he said. “For conservatives, it is cut spending. And the number one question that I have from people when we're out talking during the campaign: ‘Our taxes are too high.’”
Fargo’s mayor is a nonpartisan role, and all candidates expressed the importance of working with people with whom they disagree. Boschee, a member of the North Dakota Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party, said that throughout his career, he’s worked with Republicans to get things done.
“During that time, we have had to deal with budget deficits and budget surpluses,” he said. “I'm one of the only people on this stage who's had to cut budgets as a part of making sure that we balance the budget in Bismarck, that means real cuts to real services.”
All candidates, including Deputy Mayor Denise Kolpack, chided Mayor Tim Mahoney for a lack of transparency during his 11-year tenure.
“There was a couple commissioners who wanted to cut the ability for public comments at City Commission meetings,” she said, referring to a now-reversed policy change announced by Mahoney last year. I fought for more. My entire life has been about open meetings, open records and transparency, from my days at the North Dakota Newspaper Association. And I believe sunshine is the answer to a lot of uncertainty and skepticism.”
Mahoney, who is term-limited, was in the audience for the debate. He said he disagreed with the characterizations and said his administration has been transparent. He hasn’t endorsed a candidate.
“The public will decide the leader they want,” he said. “I think people understand this city is a great city, and I don’t want somebody to fumble in it.”
The election is set for June 9.