LISTEN: Austin Erickson’s conversation with Fargo Deputy Mayor Denise Kolpack
FARGO, N.D. – Fargo Deputy Mayor Denise Kolpack is running for mayor.
“I’ve led organizations, I’ve led teams of people, I’ve managed multi-million dollar budgets, I’ve solved complex problems and I’ve always been able to break down complex issues in an understandable way,” Kolpack said.
Kolpack says her platforms include public safety, fiscal responsibility, professionalism and transparency.
She added the perception of a safe community is as important as the statistics.
“We have to do a better job of how we talk about what our police and our firefighters and our first responders do, but the perception of safety downtown.. The first step is admitting there’s a perception problem,” Kolpack explained.
Kolpack said the city has a balanced budget and if elected, she would implement a zero-based budget.
“Every budget cycle, every department starts from zero and builds what they need and has to think through every single line item in an innovative way and look for efficiencies,” Kolpack said.
Kolpack says the City Commission needs to be transparent about the budget process and let the public be part of it.
Before being elected to the Fargo City Commission in 2022, Kolpack has been Executive Director of the North Dakota Water Coalition, North Dakota Newspaper Association’s executive director and vice president of brand and marketing communications at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota.
