Grand Forks County commissioners set application process, deadlines to fill vacant seat

The Grand Forks County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 17 detailed how it will fill an unexpired county commission seat after the recent death of a commissioner, setting an application timeline and directing county staff to notify the public.

State's attorney Miss Wstead told the board that state law requires the remaining commissioners to appoint someone to the vacancy and that the unexpired seat must appear on the next general-election ballot. "The position will be on the ballot at the next general election, which is November of this year," she said, adding that any person seeking ballot placement must file "300 signatures of qualified electors by April 6th of 2026." An appointee will serve until the successor takes office Dec. 1, 2026, Wstead said.

The legal briefing set the practical timeline for candidates. County Administrator Mr. Ford said staff will issue a press release and post application instructions online once the board finalizes details. "Once the commission decides what it wants to do and gives me some further directions, we'll get all of that out to the public," he said.

Board members discussed logistics: candidates may begin collecting petition signatures immediately; counsel noted that the primary election will be June 9 and that the top two primary vote-getters would advance to the November ballot. The board talked through scenarios for write-in candidates and what happens if no candidate qualifies for the November ballot; counsel said that if no candidates carry over from the primary, the highest vote-getter in November (including write-ins) would receive the seat if they accept it.

To manage the appointment, commissioners agreed to solicit statements of interest and supporting materials from potential appointees. The board recommended that applicants submit a short statement of intent, a resume or description of relevant experience, proof of residency in Grand Forks County and a brief note on availability. The board asked applicants to either email materials to the county attorney (with the chair CC'd) or mail them to the county administrator.

Members proposed a short calendar: applications due by 5:00 p.m. on the coming Monday, a regular meeting Tuesday to report received applications, and a special meeting later that week to conduct interviews. Several commissioners urged allowing at least a week between interviews and a final vote so members have time to consider candidates.

A commissioner moved that the board "go forth with the process as has been outlined tonight" (the motion covered both the application process and the election-related steps); another commissioner seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Next steps: staff will publish the application instructions and deadline on the county website and in a press release; the board will accept the filed materials, hold interviews at a specially noticed meeting, then consider an appointment at a subsequent regular meeting. Candidates who wish to appear on the primary ballot must submit 300 qualified-elector signatures to the auditor by April 6, 2026.

No formal legal citation was given during the meeting; counsel referenced "statutes relating to filling a vacancy" and said she would research whether a person may run simultaneously for the unexpired seat and other seats on the same ballot.

The meeting adjourned after the unanimous vote to move forward.