Denise Kolpack announces run for Fargo City Commission

(Fargo, ND) -- Throw another hat in the ring for one of the two set to be open Fargo City Commissioners seats.

Former Blue Cross Blue Shield VP of brand and marketing communications Denise Kolpack has announced she will be running for the commission.Kolpack, who has also served as executive director of the North Daktoa Newspaper Association, said in a statement released to WDAY Radio that she believes her past experience working with complex industries and community service makes her uniquely qualified for the job.

"The bottom line is I love Fargo and I want it to continue to thrive as the special city it is,” said Kolpack.

Kolpack says her platform includes four focus areas:

• Continued smart growth for Fargo, focusing on the implementation of the Core Neighborhood initiative along with other proven incentives
• Enhancing safety and security by supporting police and fire departments, and ensuring our workforce has the support they need, especially childcare 
• Supporting the successes and innovative programs of Fargo, respecting Fargo City employees and their expertise
• Bringing professionalism and decorum to the City Commission.

Kolpack currently serves on the Fargo City Arts and Culture Commission and has been involved in a number of community organizations, including serving as board chair for United Way of Cass Clay, on the executive committees for the Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation and the ND Safety Council, and most recently as a new board member of the National Ataxia Foundation.

She also lives with her husband, Dave, in the Jefferson neighborhood. Their son, Andrew, and daughter-in-law, Siri, are both graduates of Fargo South High School.

Kolpack will shoot to take either the vacant seat being left by Commissioner Tony Gehrig, or the seat currently held by Dave Piepkorn, who has not announced if he plans to run again yet.