CASS COUNTY, N.D. – While saying he “never gives definitives” on creating deadlines, Cass County Commissioner Joel Vettel says his decision to possibly run for mayor of Fargo could come this fall.
While Vettel says he’s still having “conversations”, the county commissioner told guest host Tim Flakoll on WDAY’s The Jay Thomas Show that October could be “a line that I think we’ll probably have to draw in the sand.”
“I would love to have a decision right now,” said Vettel. “There’s a lot of things that I have to do personally, but also I have to be respectful of the process.”
Back in August, Vettel told Flag Family News first indicated he was considering a mayoral run.
On Monday, Vettel said a variety of factors are at play, from family, to his employer at Sanford Health and the fact that he has “really enjoyed my time on the county commission.”
“At the end of the day I have to weigh all of that,” said Vettel. “I’ll be honest with you I’m living my best life right now.”
Listen: Cass County Commissioner Joel Vettel on WDAY Radio
“I want to be in a position where I can best serve our community, our region, and whatever that role is I’ll do it.”
That said, Vettel did spell out some of the city’s problems he would address if elected.
“There certainly is an issue with public safety right now,” said Vettel. “It’s not anyone’s fault. Whether it’s perception or reality, people feel less safe than they did ten years ago.”
Vettel, who served almost 20 years with the Fargo Police Department before becoming a county commissioner, did give credit to communities for working “very hard to solve those problems” but added “sometimes you need to look at things with a different lense.”
Vettel also believes Fargo need to shore up government transparency.
“I believed in building relationships with media,” said Vettel, who also served a police department spokesperson in his career. “Transparency is extremely important because if people lose trust in the process in the people, we’ve lost.”
The deadline for candidates to file for mayor of Fargo in the next city election is in early April 2026.
