Mark Jantzer, who had served on the city council since 2008, was elected mayor on Aug. 5. Mike Hayes was selected from 15 applicants to fill Jantzer’s seat by council appointment in September.

The mayoral vacancy came about with the resignation of Tom Ross on April 1. The city of Minot released an investigation report that found Ross, who had been serving as mayor since June 2024, had sent a sexually explicit video of himself to City Attorney Stefanie Stalheim on Jan. 14. The investigation concluded that the incident, regardless of whether it was accidental, met the city’s definition of workplace harassment.

Jantzer was named acting mayor until the election, in which he faced two council members, Rob Fuller and Paul Pitner, and Josiah Roise, who had led a petition drive to elect rather than appoint a new mayor.

Jantzer, long active with Task Force 21, said his ability to work over the years as a trusted community spokesperson and representative before legislators, Minot Air Force Base commanders and national defense leaders has been unique preparation for the mayor’s role. His campaign persuaded voters, with official results showing Jantzer with 2,352 votes; Fuller, 1,431; Pitner, 1,399; and Roise, 324.

Minot’s new police chief, Michael Frye, speaks during his swearing in ceremony in Minot City Hall July 14, flanked by the department’s officers.

The council also received a petition for a special council election, turned in by Roise, but the council exercised its option to appoint instead. Having stalemated on tied votes on a number of issues, the council was eager to get back to seven members.

On Sept. 2, Hayes, a retired home building contractor, was sworn in as the newest member after a 5-1 vote on his appointment. In his first meeting, his vote averted a tie on a motion to eliminate administrative fees for residents who contract for sidewalk repair through the city.

For the most part, Hayes’ votes have not been weighted in favor of any faction. Another of his votes – in support of withholding North Dakota League of Cities dues – precluded a council tie, but he reversed his position on a reconsideration vote to swing the result the other way.

Both Jantzer and Hayes would need to run in June 2026 to continue in their positions.

Tom Joyce said he will look to build relationships with staff and the community as the Minot City Council’s unanimous pick for city manager Thursday, Oct. 2.

Mike Hayes addresses the Minot City Council Sept. 2 shortly before his appointment to a vacant seat on the council.

Joyce was selected over two other finalists, City of Minot Finance Director David Lakefield and David Kees, an independent contractor in business development and mineral acquisition in Irving, Texas.

Joyce began the role of assistant city manager in January 2024, after retiring as colonel with the U.S. Air Force in 2014, then serving the U.S. Army as deputy garrison commander at Fort Carson, Colorado, according to information from the city.

He had been serving as acting city manager after previous city manager, Harold Stewart, left in August to take a similar position in Pasco, Washington. Stewart had served as city manager since December 2020.

Minot’s new police chief, Michael Frye, was sworn in July 14. He brings more than two decades of law enforcement and leadership experience to Minot. He retired as a lieutenant with the City of Minneapolis Police Department in 2024 and worked in public safety education and training at Bismarck State College. He holds a master’s degree in leadership homeland security and emergency management from Grand Canyon University and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Concordia University-St. Paul.

The council also created a deputy chief position to offer to then acting chief, Capt. Dale Plessas, who along with Edward Orgon Jr., was a finalist for chief. Plessas had led the department since September 2024, when an investigation began into concerns about department management under the previous chief, John Klug. Klug and the city made a mutual decision to part ways in January.

Tom Joyce holds up a card promoting a city survey as he addresses the public at a forum to meet city manager candidates Sept. 30. Joyce was named Minot’s new city manager Oct. 2.

The police department remained understaffed at the end of 2025, although it made ground in hiring toward the end of the year. A November report indicated the department was short eight or nine officers of the 85 sworn positions but planned to add a couple of additional officers in December.