On Friday Dan Hennessy was a candidate for the Grand Forks City Council but by Saturday he had changed his mind.
Hennessy announced that he will drop out of the race for Ward 3's council seat because he does not want to draw votes from another council candidate, Donald Forsman.
"Instead of splitting the vote, I decided it would be best if I withdrew," he said.
Hennessy ran for council in 2008 as a fiscal conservative and said he felt he and Forsman would be "very similarly politically aligned."
Friday was the deadline for candidates to file petitions to run for city offices, and it was also the last day they could remove their names from the ballot, so Hennessy will still be listed as a candidate in the June 12 election.
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He said he wanted to get the word out that he was no longer running and was endorsing Forsman to keep anyone from voting for him.
"If anyone votes for me it will be because they're not paying attention," he said.
Fiscal conservative
Forsman, a semi-retired engineer who lives in the Near Southside neighborhood, described himself as fiscally conservative but socially liberal. His main concern is infrastructure and making sure the city can afford expensive but necessary projects such as an overhaul of the water treatment plant.
"We need to be careful where we put our money," Forsman said. "I am definitely concerned about taxes and spending."
Hennessy said he learned that Forsman was a candidate Saturday and decided to drop out. Forsman called the move "gentlemanly."
Ward 3 covers north and east Grand Forks, including Riverside Park, the Near North Neighborhood, downtown and part of the Near Southside.
UND faculty member Bret Weber is also running for the Ward 3 council seat.
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In related news, North Dakota political blog SayAnythingBlog.com reported Monday that Forsman owed more than $4,000 in property taxes. He said he would pay the taxes this week.
"It's just a matter of writing them a check," he said. "It's just an oversight and I'll have to go do it."
Reach Bjorke at (701) 780-1117; (800) 477-6572, ext. 117; or send e-mail to cbjorke@gfherald.com .
