Re-elect a great leader, Mayor Brown

This letter is paid content. Dr. Mike Brown was mayor during nearly all of my years as UND President, and I appreciated very much the enthusiastic support he gave to the University as we dealt with a number of issues and opportunities in areas where our domains overlapped.

Mike was there to help with things big and not so big...issues ranging from “Springfest” to construction permits and various economic-development projects.

Perhaps the most unusual manifestation ever in the annals of host-City support for imbedded universities, the Mayor and City Council provided direct “seed-money” support to UND for research-startup and enrollment-enhancement programs. Within a few years, this support had totaled a half-million dollars and had helped drive enrollment growth and secure nearly eight million dollars Federal research grants to faculty.

Mike was there for dozens of ribbon-cuttings and other ceremonies, always with a big, warm smile making it clear that he was glad to be there representing the City, giving us a clear indication that the City was aware of the importance of UND to Grand Forks.

The City will always remain a positive piece of us. We have kept in touch with many friends and still peruse the headlines in the Herald almost every day.

Clearly, Grand Forks is a much bigger and better place than it was twenty years ago when we first saw it. There was no Alerus Center, no Hilton Garden Inn, no Canad Inn, no Water Park, no Engelstad Arena. The evident progress took a lot of great leading by a lot of great leaders. Mike Brown has certainly been one of them.

We are happy to be able to offer our perspective in support of Dr. Mike Brown in his bid to extend his service to the people of Grand Forks as mayor. Chuck and Adele Kupchella

President Emeritus and former First Lady, UND