Jill Schramm/MDN Minot mayoral candidate Mark Jantzer answers a question at the Minot Area Chamber EDC candidate forum June 25. Jantzer is the current acting mayor.

Mark Jantzer is looking to turn his acting mayor status into an elected position.

He joins Paul Pitner, Rob Fuller and Josiah Roise on the Aug. 5 ballot for mayor in Minot.

Jantzer said his service on the Minot City Council since 2008 and with Task Force 21 taught him how to lead collaboratively and effectively.

He said his ability to work over the years as a trusted community spokesperson and representative before legislators, Minot Air Force Base commanders, the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff of the Air Force has been unique preparation for the mayor’s role.

“I’ve worked with multiple governors. I have been on various boards of directors. I have been close friends with multiple commanders at our base who are still friends,” Jantzer said.

“I think I can be of service because of what I’ve done in the past, and with the abrupt transition that occurred making me acting mayor, I feel like I wanted to offer my candidacy to the community and see if they want to have me,” he said.

He described the mayor’s position as a voice for the community and one that helps set direction or affect people’s thoughts regarding certain issues or actions of the city. On the other hand, he said, the mayor runs council meetings so has less opportunity to voice opinions and cannot make motions.

The council recently adopted a policy for public appearances, which the mayor now follows in giving members of the public opportunities to speak.

“We’ve done a pretty good job of maintaining a balance, of trying to give people an opportunity to speak, and at the same time, maintaining decorum,” Jantzer said.

Raised in Bismarck and a resident of Minot since 1977, Jantzer, 73, is retired after previously managing a computer store.

On the campaign trail, Jantzer said, he’s talking about taxes, taking care of city employees and attending relationships with key partners, including federal and state governments and local businesses. He’s also heard from voters about whether the city should continue to fund outside organizations, such as the Commission on Aging or Domestic Violence Crisis Center.

“There’s concern that with this desire to limit taxation and cut budgets, that those relationships might be in jeopardy. And I would argue that it’s responsible of the city council to not only take care of our city services in the community but to in some way support those organizations that are taking care of some of our vulnerable populations,” he said.

“I do believe that we also need to have economic development efforts because, at whatever level – whether it’s primary sector, whether it’s retail, whether it’s entrepreneurship start-ups – it’s a competitive endeavor. If Minot says we are not going to do economic development, it kind of takes you out of the game,” he said.

Jantzer said he understands the pressures created by property tax.

“What I am for is limited taxation to provide for our city services, the benefit of which our citizens receive. It’s the city government’s obligation to try to provide those services in a cost effective, efficient, smart way,” he said. “But having sufficient revenue to be able to do it, that’s what I’m for.”

A sales tax for public safety has been bandied about, but Jantzer noted the dangers of becoming dependent on a tax form that can fluctuate and be undependable. A high sales tax also can negatively impact the economy by causing shoppers to consider purchasing certain items elsewhere, he said.

Last year, the city used $3.5 million dollars from reserves to give homeowners, on an average home, roughly a $200 tax break, he said. With the state’s new 3% tax cap, additional use of reserves may be needed this year as most of the 3% gets absorbed by inflation and employee costs, he said.

However, he added there are other good uses for extra funds on hand, including full conversion of the legacy city hall building into a police station.

Jantzer said experience doesn’t run counter to fresh ideas.

“If I’m elected mayor, I’m open to whatever fresh ideas somebody has, whether they’re an alderman or whether they’re a business leader in our community, or whether they’re a retired citizen who’s just observing and has a thought on what’s going on. I don’t think there’s anybody who has a corner on providing or accepting new ideas,” Jantzer said.

A disadvantage of longevity is the increased likelihood that some event will have gone wrong. When things go wrong, such as parking ramp agreements or Broadway Circle agreements, there’s a tendency to look for blame, Jantzer said.

“We, as a council and as a city, make decisions based on information that we have in hand at the time, but we don’t have a crystal ball that tells us what’s going to happen in the future, nor is our information exhaustive on any item. Stuff goes awry. You have partners who fail to hold up their end of the bargain. You have things that are beyond our control,” Jantzer said. “I would readily admit that there are a few votes, and it’s not that many, but there are a few votes that if I knew then what I know today, I would have voted the other way, but that’s how it works.

“There is some negativity out there, and I would want to stand against that. That doesn’t mean we don’t have problems, and it doesn’t mean we don’t have things that need to be fixed, and it doesn’t mean that everything is going to go perfectly every time,” Jantzer said. “You try to fix problems, but I think we need to remain positive about what has gone on and what problems we’ve solved, and we need to keep moving ahead to make Minot better. That’s what I’m for. Leadership becomes important when things don’t go perfectly, and they never do. That’s when we need to be at our best and find ways to solve problems and to get through things that occur.”

He added he’s always been collaborative when it comes to working through problems.

“Community means we’re all in it together, and we need to treat each other respectfully. And that’s how I approach things,” he said. In his more than 17 years on the council, working with many different council members and mayors, he didn’t agree with some of them on many issues but they did get along, he said.

“One of the characteristics that I think is important for the mayor is to be able to work collaboratively, respect other people’s opinions, give the citizens their due in speaking and raising issues, and then have an intelligent and thoughtful response,” he said. “I would want people to take away that Minot is a city that we’re proud of, that it’s a good place to live, that we have a good economic base. We have a good quality of life.”

Mayoral election set for Aug. 5

A city poll will be open for voting on Aug. 5, from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. at the Minot Municipal Auditorium, Room 201.

Eligible voters are those who are at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, and have lived in Minot for 30 days prior to the election. Voters will need to provide a current form of identification, such as a driver’s license or nondriver’s license through the North Dakota Department of Transportation.

Absentee ballots must be delivered to the Ward County Administration Building by 7 p.m. on Aug. 5. Ballots can be delivered to the dropbox outside the building or to the auditor’s office.

– MDN STAFF