Jantzer, Mark

Mark Jantzer finished on top in a four-way race for Minot’s mayor Aug. 5.

Unofficial results showed Jantzer with 2,351 votes, or 42.6% of the total votes. Rob Fuller garnered 1,430 votes, followed by Paul Pitner with 1,398 and Josiah Roise with 324. Official results will be determined following canvassing on Aug. 18.

“I’m very grateful to the citizens for electing me,” Jantzer said. “I appreciate the work that my campaign committee did, and at this point, it’s all about doing everything we can do to make Minot better and take care of the business that we have at hand.”

Jantzer, who has served on the Minot City Council since 2008, moved from council president to acting mayor after the resignation of Tom Ross on April 1. He said his goal going forward is to ensure the city stays on a positive track.

“I think that I tried to bring a positive message, let people know that we are working on whatever challenges there are and that we will find solutions to a lot of these issues. I think the positivity was probably something that people were looking for,” Jantzer said.

The mayor’s term runs only until the next election in June 2026. Over the next 10 months, Jantzer said, he would like the city to make progress or set a direction on issues such as remodeling the former city hall to provide a better facility for the police department, repairing the Third Street bridge and moving the headquarters fire station in southwest Minot.

“We need to set a direction on some of those things and then figure out a long term plan for funding,” he said.

Jantzer had stated publicly that he would run again next year and he reiterated that remains the case.

Pitner, a city council member in his second term, welcomed the election of Jantzer and indicated his support in 2026.

“I will 100% support and throw any support I can behind Mark Jantzer,” he said.

Fuller, a city council member in his first term, said he was happy with the turnout of 5,516 voters and also noted it was good to see Jantzer elected. He added it was unfortunate the city had to go through the exercise of an election when the council likely would have appointed Jantzer.

Fuller also said he expects to run again next year.

Roise, making his first run for public office, said he was disappointed in the results, but he also plans to run again for mayor in 2026.

He said he plans to bring legal action for defamation regarding statements made about him during the campaign. He declined to disclose the defendants, but there was an issue during the campaign regarding information circulating in the community on his stance on lowering the age of consent. Roise has said he does not support a law change, and the issue was never mentioned by him in his campaign. He noted the matter is a legislative issue rather than an issue the mayor can address.

Roise also challenged the integrity of the mayoral election.

“We don’t have a way to recount or see the ballots,” he said. “I don’t think there’s any way that these results are accurate, and I actually anticipated as much, which is why, months ago, at city council meetings, I was asking that the city council – for this special election – motion that this be a paper-ballot only. No machines.”

Although election officials have indicated voting machines are secure, Roise argued they have been proven to be fraudulent and easy to rig.

“I believe it’s intentional,” he said in alleging fraud in the mayoral election. However, he declined to make allegations against any individuals at this time.

There were 13 write-ins among the 5,516 votes cast. The total compares to 4,551 votes cast in the 2022 election won by Ross. Although the exact number of eligible voters in Minot is uncertain, turnout is estimated at about 26%, based on numbers available from the Ward County Auditor’s Office.