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Local Elections

Minot voters retain mayor, select Podrygula, MacMartin and Locken for council

Minot Mayor Mark Jantzer held onto his position by a significant margin, while voters elected Stephan Podrygula, John MacMartin and Eric Locken to the council in the Minot city election Tuesday, June 9. Jantzer defeated challenger Josiah Roise with 84% of the vote. The final, unofficial tally was 4,890-887. The mayor’s race drew 5,826 votes, compared to 4,551 in a three-way race won by Tom Ross in 2022. Ross resigned April 1, 2025, and Jantzer was elected to the position last August. “I'm grateful for the results and being kept on the job as mayor. I think my message was that ...

Park sales tax passes; newcomer joins school board

The second time was the charm for the Minot Park district after Minot residents voted to approve a half percent sales tax for the Minot Park District at the polls on Tuesday's Primary election. Minot voters shot down a prior measure seeking funding for a new turf facility in 2025, but the yes's had it 3,307 to 2,508 for no. The dollars brought in by the tax will be dedicated to the Park District general fund for operations and future capital improvement projects. The half percent sales tax is estimated to generate about $6.5 million a year, in tandem with a 40% property tax reduction ...

Surrey school bond narrowly misses passage

SURREY – Voters in the Surrey Public School District narrowly defeated a $5.8 million bond issue measure Tuesday, June 9, that would have added classrooms to replace portables and make other repairs. The measure required 60% for passage. It achieved 58.65%, according to unofficial results. The vote was 217-153. According to information provided by the school to its patrons, the district had been working with architects and engineers over the past year to study facility challenges. Among them are: – Portable classrooms installed in 2012 were intended to be temporary and are ...

Voting begins next week in primary, local races

Early voting begins next week in Ward County in primary, city and school elections. A poll will be open Monday through Friday, June 1-5, and Monday, June 8, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. in the Ward County Administration Building, first floor, 225-3rd St. SE, in Minot. Election Day is Tuesday, June ...

Park board incumbents see more to do

Three incumbents are seeking reelection to the Minot Park Board in the June 9 city election. Perry Olson, Justin Hammer and Mike Schmitt say they want to continue working on park projects. “I just love being involved with the park district. I enjoy the people. The goal of increasing quality of life in Minot is something that I want to try and be a small part of,” Olson said. “I’ve enjoyed my time and would love to keep being involved.” Olson works in business development at a Minot bank and has been active in various community organizations, including the park board since ...

Minot mayoral candidates sound off on city governance

Minot mayor and mayoral candidate Mark Jantzer sees exciting times ahead for the city. “I think that with what’s been accomplished – everything from the revitalization of downtown to a new hospital, a new discovery center – these kinds of things add to the quality of life in our community and the pride that we can have in it, and I think there’s more good things on the horizon,” he said. “There's all kinds of good things going on. I want to continue to lead the community as those things unfold.” “The magic of Minot is in the people,” said mayoral challenger Josiah ...