Minot - Following Tuesday’s Special City Council meeting, where it was formally announced that former Mayor Tom Ross had submitted his resignation and City Council President Mark Jantzer would step in as interim mayor, it seemed like things in Minot were finally starting to settle down.
The lead-up to that moment had been incredible. An investigation into the mayor, which began at the end of January, had finally concluded. The City Council reportedly became aware of the situation in March, shortly before the public became aware. Before the official findings of the investigation were released, it appeared many Minot residents had already heard whispers of what had happened, they were just waiting for confirmation.
At the meeting, the Council unanimously approved a motion stating that, after the required 15-day waiting period, another vote would be held to appoint Jantzer as mayor for the remainder of the term, which runs through June 2026.
And just like that, it was done. Jantzer brought the gavel down and simply said, “We’re adjourned.”
For the first time in months, Minot residents could finally go to bed without a looming investigation into city staff hanging over them. The chapter had seemingly closed.
But the bigger question remains - how does the city move on from here?
In an interview after Tuesday’s Special City Council meeting, Alderman Paul Pitner expressed his disappointment over the recent investigations that have cast a shadow over Minot. He emphasized the need for a renewed focus on accountability and leadership.
“The focus should be on holding people accountable - adults, professionals, the people we elected to lead,” Pitner said. “We need to hold our elected officials accountable, like we’ve done today.”
Pitner didn’t hold back in expressing his frustration with the current state of affairs.
“They should expect better. You know, when we talk about Minot, I’ve never been embarrassed of Minot. Now, that’s hard to say. Today, I’m very embarrassed of Minot.”
Currently, the City of Minot is still within a 15-day required waiting period before a new mayor can be appointed by Council from within its members. In that 15-day waiting period, residents of Minot are able to gather a minimum of 293 qualified signatures to force a special election where the residents of Minot could directly cast their vote for the next mayor.
If a special election is held, the newly elected mayor would serve through the end of the current term in June 2026. Whether appointed or elected, Minot is now entering a transitional period that calls for stability and trust in leadership.
Pitner stressed the importance of creating a work environment where city staff feel safe and supported.
" We need leadership where staff feel safe and comfortable and heard and like they're actually working. 'cause we are, we are the elected officials. Right? We're the policy makers."
He also cautioned against elected leaders overstepping into the roles of city staff professionals.
" I'm not gonna challenge the finance director on the financials. I'm not gonna challenge the engineer on how to pave a road. I'm not gonna challenge, you know, these professionals that we have. That's their job to be professionals, and that's, and that's what we've done." Pitner continued, "I think, I truly do believe as a city that we do have a really good team here. We need to let them work. We need to listen to their concerns and, again, we just gotta provide stability. Right now we just need a stable force up there. Not the, you know, fireworks and all that stuff."
He concluded by saying that it is time for someone to rollup their sleeves to get Minot back to what it is.
"I wanna say you don't even need a cheerleader up there. You just need somebody that's here to go to work. Roll up your sleeves, blue collar, be back to what Minot really is, and it's just a hardworking community."
The call for leadership voiced by Council member Pitner is one echoed by many Minot residents. To gain further insight into public thought, The Dakotan received statements from two community members who have recently run for office and have remained active in local issues, including the lead-up to Tuesday’s developments.
Lisa Hermosillo, a former Democratic candidate for the District 38 House of Representatives, emphasized that regardless of whether the next mayor is elected or appointed, what Minot truly needs is effective leadership and a plan to move forward.
“Ultimately, the City of Minot rightfully deserves the most qualified candidate, someone who has demonstrated not only effective leadership, but also the ability to move forward with a plan that can revive and restore trust in our elected leaders,” Hermosillo said.
John Carey, who previously ran for the Minot School Board, added that an appointment from within the Council would still reflect the will of the voters.
“People shouldn’t feel they won’t be represented if a new mayor is appointed from someone who currently sits on the council. Each of them won a city-wide election during a general election year - they are our elected voices,” Carey said.
“I would argue that appointing one of them actually reflects the will of the people more than someone who wins a special election with significantly lower voter turnout.”
Following the Special City Council Meeting, chatter quickly began to swirl around the possibility of a special election to choose the next mayor of Minot. On Saturday, residents had two locations where they could stop by and sign the petition. According to a statement from the City of Minot, 293 verified signatures are required to force a special election.
While debate continues over the best path forward, Hermosillo urged residents to approach the decision thoughtfully.
“I would encourage Minot residents to make a well-informed decision. This means grasping the potential outcomes and effects of both options. If a petition is what the people choose, I’d advise those facilitating it to ensure each step is clearly understood and properly followed.”
She also emphasized the importance of being prepared for sudden leadership changes.
“I imagine many residents trust sitting council members to appoint a mayor, and that’s something to acknowledge. But in light of recent events, it’s clear that, as a city, we must collectively work to be better equipped for unexpected vacancies.”
Carey added that any appointee would still be someone already elected by the people.
“The city requires predictability and continuity, and a special election can be disruptive to that. I don’t believe it’s necessary because each person on the council is already an elected representative voted into office by their fellow citizens.”
Voter turnout will play a crucial role in ensuring that any decision made truly reflects the will of Minot’s residents. Interestingly, Tom Ross was elected to Mayor with less votes than each of the current City Council members.
“If you look back at past city elections since 2020, each of the current City Council members received more votes during their respective elections in 2020 and 2024 than Tom Ross did in the 2022 mayoral race,” Carey noted.
“Also, each council member won their seats during a primary election, which serves as a more accurate reflection of the public’s will.”
Primary elections tend to draw more voters due to the broader range of issues and candidates on the ballot. However, Carey cautioned that voter turnout alone shouldn’t be the only concern for Minot residents as they consider what comes next.
"Historically, special elections tend to have much lower voter turn-out and this often leads to an individual getting elected that maybe couldn’t win during an official election year. Not to mention the added cost to hold a special election. The average cost in North Dakota is around $20,000."
The City of Minot estimates the cost of holding a special election would range between $15,000 and $20,000, depending on how the election is conducted. Hermosillo stated that price tag may not sit well with residents.
"Fiscally speaking, I think saving $20,000 on taxes to front the election would be favored for many residents’, considering an already established concern on taxes."
For a special election to move forward successfully, there must be candidates willing to run. While The Dakotan has not formally reached out to potential contenders, most of the names circulating so far are current members of the City Council.
Former mayoral candidate and current Ward County Commissioner Miranda Schuler has already ruled herself out, stating she is not interested in running for mayor at this time.
Hermosillo emphasized the urgency of having a candidate lined up early in the process.
“While obtaining the signatures needed for the petition itself is important, the biggest challenge will be selecting and finding a candidate who is willing, ready, and prepared to move forward with the process,” Hermosillo said.
“I haven’t heard of any names put forth quite yet, and with the restricted timelines for gathering signatures, this could increase the likelihood of a council member being appointed regardless.”
The earliest a special election could be held is July 20. During that time, City Council President Mark Jantzer will continue service as acting mayor.
A final decision on the path forward will be forced in the next few days. The Dakotan will continue to follow developments and provide updates to help Minot residents stay informed.
As the city navigates this moment, Carey offered a word of caution:
"There's always a healthy level of skepticism as it relates to elected officials and government in general and we should ask these questions. But we shouldn't allow this skepticism to morph into something that leads to a bad choice on the part of the people. And emotional choices almost always end of being bad choices."
