Tony Houdney appointed interim Grand Forks County commissioner after unanimous vote

Tony Houdney was appointed interim Grand Forks County commissioner by a unanimous 4–0 vote at a special commission meeting, filling the seat vacated by the late Commissioner Cynthia Peach.

The commission interviewed a slate of applicants — including Amber Flynn, Andrew Krausnick, Mitch McCoy, Dave Engen, Bob Mullen, Clay Smolden and Deborah Colton Thiebert — before narrowing the field. After commissioners identified their top candidates, the panel moved to a formal motion and completed a roll-call vote that approved Houdney’s appointment. Staff advised that the appointment must be executed in writing and can be signed by the chair after the meeting; the swearing-in could occur at the next meeting if the board wishes.

Why it matters: The interim appointment fills a vacancy on the five-member body that oversees county services, infrastructure and the county budget. Commissioners repeatedly flagged fiscal pressure and the need to manage budgets amid rising costs; many candidates emphasized fiscal restraint and questioned use of property-tax pilot incentives for apartments and for businesses that would directly compete with existing local firms.

What candidates told the commission: Houdney, who described roughly two decades managing large agribusiness operations and capital budgets, said he would ‘‘approach this role with a lot of humility and a sense of responsibility, obviously keeping the taxpayer in mind’’ and stressed disciplined, data-driven decisions. Amber Flynn, a current Grand Forks Public School Board member, said she would resign her school-board seat if selected and highlighted experience overseeing a roughly $130 million budget. Several candidates — including Andrew Krausnick and others — voiced opposition to broad apartment pilot programs and said targeted incentives should be limited to projects that bring new primary-sector jobs or clear public benefit.

Process and next steps: Staff noted that state statute requires a written appointment; commissioners directed staff to prepare the paperwork for the chair’s signature. The commission did not set a definite swearing-in date during the meeting; staff said the appointee could be sworn in at a subsequent meeting.

The appointment vote and paperwork complete the commission’s interim-selection process; the temporary appointment will serve until the election process described in state law and local procedures takes effect.