Thirteen people have applied for a short-term appointment to fill a vacancy on the Minot City Council.

The council will consider the applicants at its meeting Monday at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall. Meetings also are broadcast on the city’s YouTube Channel.

Applicants are Alicia Moody, Andrew Schultz, Doug McHenry, Gary Lucy, Jennifer Weigel, Macy Christianson, Miranda Schuler, Nikki Paulsen, Roscoe Streyle, Ryan Schoen, Scott Burlingame, Trev Albright and Zach Raknerud.

The council has voted to set a Nov. 8 special election to fill the seat and will act on the necessary resolution Monday. The appointee would serve only until the special election but could choose to run for the position. The vacancy was created when Tom Ross was elected mayor in June, halfway through his four-year term. November’s election winner will fill the remaining time in the term.

Moody is a spouse of a Minot Air Force Base airman and an online college student in psychology and political science. She has lived in Minot since 2017. She said in her application that she has been planning to run for council as she nears the completion of her college studies.

“I know that I have the passion and I know I have the intelligence. I just need the opportunity,” she wrote. “My husband and I have fallen so in love with Minot that we have just extended for another five years with the military.”

Schultz is owner of Worthington & Schultz, a Minot law firm. He served as city attorney for the City of Surrey until October of last year, noting that government transparency, employment issues and economic and residential development were key concerns. He also has legal education on municipal issues concerning open records, public meetings and general municipal law.

“I also have extensive experience in public policy, as a board member and first executive director of the Minot Area Recovery Community Organization, as a decade-long advocate for addiction recovery in my law practice through our court systems, and participation in local politics. I found friends from all across the political spectrum on a number of issues, and I’m known for being able to discuss issues and policies with people who don’t agree with me,” he wrote.

Schultz also wrote that a candidate in November should not have the advantage of being a sitting, appointed member, which is why he plans not to run for the seat.

McHenry, a 26-year resident of Minot, cited his work experience in state government.

“My state work experience gives me a unique ability to apply government knowledge, in all its forms, to business processes. Some of my business process knowledge includes accounting, finance, facilities, inventory control, budgeting, vendor management, safety consulting and various operational processes,” he wrote.

McHenry also has served as president and treasurer for a local sportsmen’s group.

Lucy, a resident of Minot for 28 years, owns Probitas Promotions, Inc. He said he would bring an ability to cooperatively communicate with an open mind. As chief financial officer, he said, he is accustomed to financial evaluations and budgets.

“Citizens of Minot and visitors to the community rely upon sound judgement by the Minot City Council to keep costs down while still making sound investment decisions that support the community to be a great place to live, work and visit,” he wrote. “As a long-time resident, I have had very positive experiences with the offerings of the community. However, I have also recognized there are always new unforeseen challenges that need to be addressed and there are unlimited opportunities for improvement.”

Weigel, a Minot native, is administrative assistant for the Burleigh-Morton County Public Defenders Office, having worked in the legal field for more than 10 years in Minot. She serves as training chair for the Northern Lights, Tomahawk District of the Boy Scouts of America. She also is on board secretary for the Minot Men’s Winter Refuge and volunteers with other nonprofits. She was a founding member of the noon Toastmasters group.

“I believe the skills I have acquired while working for the public would help bring perspective as well as authenticity to the position if given the chance,” she said.

Christianson is financial administrator for Wagons West Management, which includes Pizza Ranch. She previously worked as case manager for a Minot women’s shelter and for Minot Public Schools as a paraprofessional.

She has been involved in community organizations as a volunteer and board member. She served as Miss North Dakota and currently serves on the board for North Dakota Miss Amazing, an organization for women and girls with disabilities that focuses on inclusivity.

“Service to my community has always been a big part of my life,” she wrote. “Being involved with our vulnerable populations, our school system and local business sector have all exposed me to all the unique aspects of our city.”

Schuler is an insurance business owner, former council member and past school board member who ran for mayor in last June’s election. She wrote that her previous government experiences and her presence at the city’s preliminary budget meetings this year will minimize the learning curve. She noted, if appointed, she would be the only council member personally impacted by the 2011 flood.

“I enjoy a challenge, consider public service an honor and hold myself to a very high ethical standard both personally and professionally,” she wrote.

Paulsen is an active volunteer, serving on the board for the Second Story Club and on the Human Rights Committee at Kalix. She wrote that the past decision to reduce the size of the city council failed to achieve the objective of bringing in new voices.

“Cutting the size of the city council ended up limiting new voices from having any say in how the city is run. Ending the ward system also effectively ended representation for the working families of Ward 2. As a resident of Ward 2 for over 40 years, I am submitting my name for the vacant seat,” she wrote.

Streyle, a banker and former legislator, said he plans to run in November if elected. He previously ran in 2020 for the council.

Streyle, who has lived and worked in Minot for 21 years, cited his strong relationships with state officials and city employees. He said his experience in banking gives him a unique perspective into small businesses.

“Minot must be the best place to do business in the state. This is a passion of mine. City government must be growth orientated and above all responsive to the people and the community’s needs,” he wrote. “My business and public service experience positions me well to hit the ground running for the tough decisions that will have to be made in the coming months in regards to the City of Minot’s budget. It will not be easy to fund the priorities and pass a balanced budget without increasing taxes, but I know I can provide valuable input during this critical time.”

Schoen is a fuel transport driver. He is a former volunteer firefighter and security officer. He moved from Wisconsin to Minot in October 2013.

“I believe in balance when it comes to the private sector and the government sector,” he wrote. “I am also aware of the fact that there will always be questions about what is the proper role for government, and what is not. That’s where I see the need for balance.

“So many of the people who live here are hardworking Americans who also moved here for work,” he added. “I admire those who are productive and creative in their pursuit of the American Dream. Minot has given so much to me and my family and I wish to share that joy and perspective with so many others.”

Burlingame is executive director of Independence, Inc.; president of the Minot Alliance of Nonprofits; state president of Affordable Housing Developers Incorporated; and past president of the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living. He ran for city council in 2020.

“However, before I ran, or after that election, I have never waited for elected office to find ways to make this community stronger. I have served on local, state, and national boards, councils, and commissions that are dedicated to making this community stronger,” he wrote.

He serves on the Minot Area Chamber EDC Government Affairs Committee, participated on the Census Complete Count Committee and served on the Minot Housing & Community Character Focus Group.

“I have a demonstrated history of community involvement and leadership that will help me to make this council stronger. I have widespread experience in working with people from various backgrounds to get things done and I have extensive experience with making complex budget decisions,” he wrote.

A Minot native, Albright is an architect who spent 15 years with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in overseeing construction projects in North Dakota, Montana and South Dakota. He returned to Minot in 1995 to work as base architect at Minot Air Force Base, and for the past seven years has been engineering flight chief in the Civil Engineer Squadron at the base.

He also volunteers in various youth programs, including serving 23 years as a hockey coach and 14 years on the Minot Hockey Boosters board. He served on the 2011 Flood Recovery Committee, is a former chairman of the Minot High Drafting Class Advisory Committee and former president of the Minot Gun Dog Club.

“I feel my experience working for the Air Force and the Corps of Engineers, my construction knowledge and involvement with youth organizations would be an asset to the City Council,” he wrote.

Raknerud had been on the June ballot to fill another council opening.

“Through this experience, I was able to earn the support and excitement of many voters,” he wrote. “Many have reached out to me asking that I seek this appointment because they appreciated my campaign and the perspective I would bring.”

Raknerud, who works as a sales manager, said his priority is to be a positive representative for Minot and to make informed decisions in the best interest of the community. He indicated his interest in running in November.