FARGO (KFGO/KVRR) – The Fargo Firefighters Union and a group that represents several local labor unions is endorsing a petition that would change Fargo’s form of government.
The petition created by two former city commissioners is gaining traction, over halfway to a goal of 6,000 signatures. Fargo Firefighters Union President Ron Guggisberg explained why the union is supporting the change.
“We have eight stations in the community, and so we’re already broken into neighborhoods. And this would do the same for that. We see different demographics and different problems in different parts of the city, and we feel the city commission should be set up the same way,” said Guggisberg.
The petition seeks to change the current city commission into a city council. The council would have seven members, including a mayor. Each council member would be elected by residents in their ‘ward’, which would be designated by the current commission. The mayor would be elected by everyone in the city.
“The city is large enough, and I think there’s been enough expansion so that there’s neighborhoods that have very different needs and concerns. And that’s very evident in my conversations with people,” said Arlette Preston, former city commissioner.
Preston says Fargo is the only city in the nation with a population of over 100,000 that’s governed by a city commission. If the petition is approved, each city council member would need to live in one of six wards.
“It makes your city representative more accountable because there’s more direct communication happening, or there will be more direct communication happening. And it’s more difficult when you have an engaged group of citizens to ignore them,” said Preston.
The Northern Plains United Labor Council, a federation of local labor unions, voted to endorse the petition. The council says, “because we believe different parts of Fargo have different needs and it’s important that those areas are able to select a representative who lives in and knows the needs of those areas.”
Preston says the group plans to finish gathering enough signatures before next spring.
The group hopes to have the issue on the ballot during a special election in the spring of 2026.
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