With three Grand Forks City Council seats up for election this year, two incumbents are undecided about running, and long-time Council President Hal Gershman has announced he won't seek another term.
Seats for Wards 2, 4 and 6 will be on the ballot in the June election. Council member Tyrone Grandstrand serves Ward 2, on the north side; Gershman serves Ward 4, in the near south side; and council member Dana Sande serves Ward 6, on the far south end.
Gershman, in confirming his decision to not run again for council, said, "It's been an incredible honor to serve the public."
Gershman was first elected to the City Council in 2000 and has been council president since then. In his time on the council, he said, he has been "very impressed" with the council, city staff and other organizations serving Grand Forks.
"It has been a privilege," Gershman said.
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With Gershman's Ward 4 seat opening up, the role of council president will also need to be filled. Officers are appointed or reappointed by the council every two years after an election, Gershman said.
Both Sande and Grandstrand have said they are undecided about running for re-election. Both were elected in 2010 and are still in their first term with the Council.
"I'll let you know when I know," Grandstrand told the Herald after Monday's council meeting.
Sande said in an email that he still needs to discuss the future election with his family.
"I know there is significant work to be done in Grand Forks in the coming years but also would like to have more time to spend at home with my family," he said. He expects to make a decision in the next couple of months.
The deadline for filing for election with the city auditor is 4 p.m., April 7, according to the North Dakota secretary of state's website. The filing period opened Jan. 2.
No one has filed for the City Council election yet in Grand Forks, said Alice Fontaine, city clerk.
Call Haley at (701) 780-1102; (800) 477-6572, ext. 1102; or send email to chaley@gfherald.com .
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On the Web: Information on filing for city office: http://1.usa.gov/1feakPe
