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Minot City Council candidates outline priorities at Chamber forum ahead of June 9 primary
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Summary
Six candidates for three Minot City Council seats presented competing priorities at a Chamber EDC forum, focusing on flood protection, roads, public safety, housing and city budget choices including workforce reductions versus attrition.
Mark Lyman, moderator and an employee of the Minot Area Chamber EDC, opened a candidate forum at Minot City Hall on the evening before the June primary and laid out rules for one‑minute answers. Six of seven candidates — Nicole Brasfield, Joan Hawbaker, Isaiah Keller, John McMartin, Steve Padragola and David Wiley — made brief introductions and answered questions on economic development, infrastructure, public safety and budgetary pressures.
The forum quickly focused on a set of recurring themes. Candidates broadly supported continued economic development and a strong relationship with Minot Air Force Base and Task Force 21, but differed on how to pay for city services and infrastructure. Nicole Brasfield, a Minot State University alum and small‑business owner who previously served as a peace officer, said she would "continue our strong partnership with our Northern neighbors, the Minot Air Force Base" and work with the chamber on economic development. John McMartin, former long‑time chamber president, emphasized completing major projects already underway and maintaining Task Force 21 support.
Flood protection, roads and public safety were among the top priorities named by multiple candidates. Several urged completing the flood mitigation project within budget and securing state or federal assistance; Isaiah Keller described the project as "over‑engineered" and called for greater transparency and possibly a third‑party review. Candidates were also split on fiscal strategy: some urged trimming administrative positions through attrition rather than layoffs, while others cautioned that attrition can remove essential skills and urged careful workforce planning.
Housing and development funding attracted pointed debate. Several candidates opposed special assessments that place direct costs on homeowners; others said assessments can be appropriate on a case‑by‑case basis for infrastructure like sewer extensions. Candidates generally favored encouraging infill development and working with developers to reduce costs of building on the fringes of the city.
The forum closed with one‑minute pitches. Candidates urged voters to weigh priorities such as public safety, infrastructure and fiscal transparency when marking ballots on June 9. The moderator reminded attendees the primary election is on Tuesday, June 9.
