Laughter, a positive attitude, and always looking for the opportunity…these words have helped guide my time as a public servant. It’s not that I want to “piggy back” on the term coined by Gov. Doug Burgum, but this is a time for gratitude. However…I will use “I am Thankful.”

I AM THANKFUL for the residents of Minot. In my heart, I believe there is no other community in the State of North Dakota that has lived up to the spirit of community like the Magic City. No doubt, I see it every…single…day. Churches, non-profits, children, Boy Scouts, military, schools, local businesses…every day, you see groups gathering and organizing to achieve their goal. They’re not worried about who gets the credit, but more focused on who will it impact. This in itself strikes me deeply. We are blessed as a community.

I AM THANKFUL for agriculture, and for our farm families. They risk so much every spring and have a level of faith most of us can only dream about. Every year they put seed in the ground in the hopes they can harvest a crop in the fall. A crop that is considered the highest quality and safest food supply in the entire world. If you are connected directly to agriculture, please know this…I AM THANKFUL.

I AM THANKFUL for family, my parents, my siblings, and my children. They have all played a major role in my foundation of wanting to serve. Wanting to put the community before myself, finding ways to use my talents, to leave the wood pile higher than when I got here. Focusing on my own children, Kenzie, Spencer, and Michael – not a day goes by without me thinking of where I would be without them in my life. Different personalities, different directions, different perspectives, but when combined together, their lives shine a light so bright it will continue to show me the way to lead. I AM THANKFUL and blessed.

I AM THANKFUL for my family at the City of Minot – 450 strong, hardworking, dedicated professionals who are willing to work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Their goal? To give us all a safe, growing, community, that we can all be proud of.

I AM THANKFUL for the City Council. I serve, and I am sure we all serve, because we care for our City. We are digging deeper than ever before, stepping back and taking a look from a different angle, holding positive, respectful discussions, engaging the public and making the decisions we were elected to make, for the best of all of Minot. For my six colleagues – Mark Jantzer, Lisa Olson, Mike Blessum, Paul Pitner, Rob Fuller and Scott Samuelson, – I am thankful you made the decision to serve, I am thankful you are engaged, and I am thankful we are a team working toward a common goal.

I AM THANKFUL for the quality of life opportunities we have in our community. The symphony, Mouse River Players, Minot State University athletics, Minotauros hockey, the Sentinels, the Magicians, the Lions, the Cardinals, the Knights, our downtown, our North hill and South hill merchants, the parks, the arenas, the North Dakota State Fair, the Norsk Hostfest, and the Y’s men, to name a few. Our City has taken some pretty big steps to keep us engaged, and I AM THANKFUL.

I AM THANKFUL for our military. Minot Air Force Base, National Guard, Army Reserves, Air National Guard, – not only are you protecting our future, you have taken giant steps in the growth of our community. The members of our military are not just active duty, they are active in our community. Every single event I am able to attend, there are military volunteers, or participants. We simply need that in our City. We need that in our world.

I AM THANKFUL for the community support of a project that has become a very important part of my life – Home for the Holidays. As a community, we have recognized the fact our airmen are the Air Force’s greatest asset, PERIOD. DOT. (For you Col. Lamarand). Not only our community, but the region has stepped up to support this project that raises money to get our airmen home to be with their families over the holiday season. Now in our second year, the stories are flowing back, the tears of gratitude, the memories, the impact you have made with your support makes Minot the very best military community in all of the United States. Just try to convince me otherwise.

I AM THANKFUL for friends. You know who you are. Simply put, I am here because of you. You lift me up, push me forward, pull back on the reins, and provide me with vision. I just can’t say it enough. My life has been blessed by your friendship.
As I sit with my family and friends this Thanksgiving, with a turkey drumstick in my hand, know this – I love Minot. I love being your mayor, and I am thankful. God bless you all, and have a safe holiday.

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