Fargo First

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06/03/2026

Doug Sharbono is running as a write-in candidate for the District 11 Republican seat in the North Dakota House of Representatives.

Doug is the current chair of the District 11 Republicans, and he exemplifies what it means to be a Republican. He is pro-life, which is a fight that will continue in the next legislative session, he will support the ban on the needle exchange program, and a common sense, down to earth engineer, who, above all, lives out his faith in Christ.

Doug is an excellent choice for Representative in District 11, and remember, you will need to specifically write him in on the Republican side of the ticket.

District 11 is located in South Fargo. It is generally described as including areas from Lindenwood Park west toward Interstate 29, and from Interstate 94 north to 13th Avenue.

If you live in District 11, be aware that Doug Sharbono is a write-in option on the ballot. His name must be written in exactly as it appears when voting.

Doug has a message for all of our Fargo First followers:

06/02/2026

Vote like your daughter or granddaughter depends on it, because her safety is her future!
Vote like every child deserves to walk through a downtown park without worry about discarded needles!
Vote like safe neighborhoods matter!
Vote like your paycheck matters!
Vote like your property taxes matter!
Vote like common sense is the most important qualification on the ballot!
Vote for the family trying to afford groceries!
Vote for the small business owner hanging on by a thread!
Vote for the people who are tired of excuses, endless studies, committees, and "someday" promises!
Vote like Fargo's future is on the ballot, because it is!
Vote for policies that put public safety, fiscal responsibility, and families first!
Vote for us taxpayers who are tired of being the city’s piggy bank!

Bring your friends!
Bring your family!
Fill your car!
Call your neighbors!
Get people to the polls!

Text every Fargo resident you know the link we shared at the bottom!

Because the people who complain online will never change this city!

The people who SHOW UP will!

Do not let Fargo become a city ran like New York, Minneapolis, Chicago, Portland! Make your statement by voting!

Use the link below to find your polling location and voting information. Share it with everyone you know.

https://fargoscandidates.my.canva.site/

Early Voting Starts Tuesday and runs through Saturday! ✔ Michelle Turnberg for Fargo Mayor✔ Chad Peterson for Fargo City...
06/01/2026

Early Voting Starts Tuesday and runs through Saturday!

✔ Michelle Turnberg for Fargo Mayor
✔ Chad Peterson for Fargo City Commissioner
✔ Scott Brekke for Fargo City Commissioner
✔ Tony Gehrig for Fargo City Commissioner
✔ Paul Mohr for Fargo School Board
✔ Carissa Geske for Fargo School Board
✔ Andrzej Novszewski for Fargo Park Board

Fargo residents can cast their vote early at any of these 3 Fargo locations:

Fargodome(Ribfest starts on Wednesday)
1800 N University Dr, Fargo, ND 58102
"Not open Saturday, June 6th due to Ribfest"

Fargo Parks Sports Center
6100 38th St S, Fargo, ND 58104

Ramada by Wyndham
3333 13th Ave S, Fargo, ND 58103

Voting Hours:
Tuesday the 2nd–Friday the 5th: 11 AM – 7 PM
Saturday, June 6th: 11 AM – 5 PM

If you or someone you know needs transportation to a polling location on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, reach out to Fargo First. Our volunteers are ready to help get voters to the polls, and we already have many rides scheduled. Don't let a lack of transportation stop you from voting. Send us a message, and we'll work to get you there!

Make a plan. Bring a friend. Get out and vote!

https://fargoscandidates.my.canva.site/

05/31/2026

Fargo taxpayers need leaders who understand fiscal responsibility, public safety, and accountability.

Scott Brekke is running for Fargo City Commissioner with a clear focus on:

• Reducing or eliminating burdensome special assessments
• Maintaining a balanced budget through careful review of city spending
• Eliminating unnecessary tax incentives
• Supporting law enforcement and public safety
• Bringing real-world management experience to City Hall

With years of experience managing large retail operations and serving on Fargo's Liquor Control Board, Scott understands the importance of responsible budgeting, oversight, and making tough decisions.

At a time when residents are concerned about rising costs and city spending, Scott Brekke offers practical solutions and a commitment to protecting taxpayer dollars.

Scott Brekke has been doing some serious digging into the city's finances, and what he's uncovering deserves the attention of every Fargo taxpayer. Local media outlets have been reaching out to him about the information he has uncovered regarding city spending, debt, and financial obligations and soon you will see Scott all over the news and radio. Whether you agree with him on every issue or not, asking tough questions and demanding transparency is exactly what taxpayers should expect from their elected officials.

The information coming to light should encourage all of us to pay closer attention to how our tax dollars are being spent. Transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility are not partisan issues, they are taxpayer issues.

Vote Scott Brekke for Fargo City Commissioner.

Scott Brekke has a message for the followers of Fargo First:

Most of you are aware of the local candidates Fargo First is endorsing and supporting in this upcoming election. On Thur...
05/30/2026

Most of you are aware of the local candidates Fargo First is endorsing and supporting in this upcoming election. On Thursday night, the five candidates vying for Fargo Mayor participated in a public debate.

At this stage in the race, all mayoral candidates should be firm, confident, and direct when answering questions. Each of them announced their campaigns months ago, and the questions posed during the debate focused on pressing, well-established issues they have all addressed previously.

At Thursday night's debate, voters heard answers like "I don't care" and "I need to look into that more." While there is nothing wrong with continuing to learn, mayoral candidates should already have a solid understanding of the key issues facing Fargo and be able to communicate their positions clearly. That's one of the reasons Fargo First is supporting Michelle Turnberg. She provided direct answers, took clear positions, and demonstrated that she is prepared to lead on day one.

Michelle is not a career politician. She does not rely on polished talking points or rehearsed responses. Instead, she offers direct, honest, and straightforward answers that reflect her genuine perspective and practical approach to leadership.

Below are some of the questions she was asked, along with her responses:

Moderator: What is Fargo's biggest strength and what is Fargo's biggest problem?

Michelle Turnberg: Our strength is people want to live here, families want to raise children here, and it's a beautiful place to live. Our weakness has been bad leadership and too many liberal ideas and uncontrolled spending for far too long.

Moderator: The city is carrying a debt burden of over 1 billion dollars. How serious is the problem and what specifically can be done about it?

Michelle Turnberg: When you buy a house, you go buy a house that you can afford, you don't go buy a house that is too much money and unattainable with your family budget.

Moderator: Fargo has been wrestling with a homeless problem for several years, especially downtown. On a scale of 1-10 with 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest, how would you rate the city's performance with addressing homelessness?

Michelle Turnberg: I would give it a 1. I believe the problem with the city is everyone is so worried about perception. We do not have a homeless problem. We have a drug addiction and a mental illness problem.

Moderator. Crime and public safety in the #1 concern for many Fargo residents and visitors. What more can be done to make the city safe?

Michelle Turnberg: We are absolutely at a wonderful time in the city of Fargo with our change in police leadership. We had a disastrous administration for many years and with the retirement of the former chief, we now have our new chief in office and people are already telling me they can see changes. I've noticed more police presence already. We need 25 more officers. That means cutting non-essential services and focusing on public safety.

Moderator: Downtown Fargo has a perception problem. Many residents say they don't feel safe there and businesses are feeling it. What specifically would you do to change that perception problem?

Michelle Turnberg: That is not a perception. That is reality. We will be tough on crime. I talk with Chief Stefanowitz all the time. We will be following all ordinances. Enforcing them and making sure people know that Fargo is not a city where you can get away with bad behavior.

Of the five candidates running for mayor, Michelle Turnberg consistently delivers the most firm and direct responses. While the other candidates often lean on phrases like “we will listen to the community” or “work with stakeholders,” their answers can feel less specific and more open-ended.

Fargo needs a mayor who is prepared to provide clear direction and concrete answers, not one who campaigns on the idea of “we need to talk to people, and we’ll figure it out after the election.”

05/29/2026

People have the right to vote for the candidate they feel suits them and their family best. If that candidate is Dave Piepkorn, then so be it. But Dave has built much of his campaign around fiscal conservatism, and the facts tell a different story.

Voters deserve to look beyond slogans and examine the record, the spending decisions, and the long-term financial impact those decisions have had on Fargo taxpayers.

The "Read the Minutes" Reality Check:

There are two Dave Piepkorns: The one who talks about "fiscal discipline" at campaign forums and debates, and the one who actually sits on the City Commission.

Fargo First just went through the official City Commission meeting minutes from January 2025 through March 2026. The data doesn't lie, and the "fiscally conservative" voting record is officially missing in action.

Here is what the actual record shows Dave consistently voting YES on, time and time again:

-Property Tax Exemptions: Standard 5-year tax holidays handed out for property "improvements."
-Tax Abatements & Reductions: Repeatedly lowering assessed values and slashing tax obligations for select commercial and residential owners.
-PACE Financing: Approving special development financing tools for private construction projects.
-TIF District Expansion: Pushing forward the same old Tax Increment Financing incentives that keep tax dollars locked away from core city services.

The Punchline: Dave wants you to think he’s standing at the city gates protecting your tax base. In reality, he’s inside City Hall acting as the VIP concierge for the exact same incentive-heavy, developer-friendly status quo Fargo has been trapped in for years.

If "fiscal conservatism" means limiting handouts, scrutinizing spending, and protecting everyday homeowners from picking up the tab, then Dave's record isn't conservative—it’s just a rubber stamp with a cowboy hat.

It should also be noted that at last night's debate, Dave Piepkorn stated that Fargo has access to "tons of money in the Legacy Fund." From our understanding, that is misleading. The Legacy Fund is a State of North Dakota fund, not a City of Fargo fund. The money is controlled by the state and may only be spent or invested as authorized by state law and the North Dakota Legislature. The City of Fargo cannot independently access, withdraw, or spend Legacy Fund dollars at its discretion.

While state programs funded by the Legacy Fund may occasionally benefit local governments, Fargo does not have direct control over those funds. Any use of Legacy Fund money must go through the state's established legal and legislative processes.

Let’s stop voting for the rhetoric and start looking at the minutes. Fargo needs real fiscal responsibility, not a campaign slogan. "

05/28/2026

Alex Balazs, a Republican candidate for North Dakota’s at-large U.S. House seat, has a message for all Fargo First followers.

He wants to share his vision for North Dakota and why he believes it’s time for stronger grassroots leadership and real accountability in Washington.

No media filters. No polished DC talking points. Just a direct message to the people.

Vote Alex Balazs on June 9th.

Alex lives on a farm and wasn't connected to WIFI at the time, so the video is a little blurry, but here is a video that Alex made for all of our Fargo First followers this past Sunday:

The Fargo liberal governing strategy is simple:-Identify a completely normal Midwestern activity.-Declare it problematic...
05/27/2026

The Fargo liberal governing strategy is simple:

-Identify a completely normal Midwestern activity.
-Declare it problematic.
-Create a task force.
-Hire consultants from Minneapolis.
-Raise taxes.
-Hold listening sessions.
-Ignore everyone at the listening sessions.
-Celebrate “community engagement.”

Now, the City of Fargo has officially concluded that “liberal” governance is far too much like a sit-down bistro: expensive, overloaded with unnecessary garnishes, and after waiting 45 minutes for the check, you leave wondering why you paid that much to begin with.

In response, Fargo leadership is rolling out the new “Double-Drive-Thru Strategy.”

• The Right Lane (Conservative): For residents who know exactly what they want: a cheeseburger and no property tax increases.
• The Left Lane (Also Conservative): For residents who want the exact same thing but drive a slightly larger truck.
• The Walk-Up Window: Reserved for people forced to use their own hamstrings for transportation so the liberal commissioners can implement another “liberal” revenue-generating tax measure.

To avoid those pesky sidewalk taxes, downtown walkways are being replaced with synthetic putting greens. Walking will now legally qualify as “Practicing Your Short Game,” making it a protected sporting activity and therefore tax-exempt.

In an effort to keep Fargo officially “not weird,” all commission members will now wear whistles and striped referee shirts during meetings. Whenever a resident proposes a “liberal” idea, like bike sharing, public art, or free drug paraphernalia, the nearest commission member will blow the whistle, signal “Illegal Motion,” and sentence the offender to five minutes in a dark room watching slides made by Denise Kolpack.

City leaders remain optimistic. By combining the gearhead philosophy of Scheels Sports with the fine-dining efficiency of Burger Time, officials hope to achieve a permanent state of “Enlightened Stasis” where the only thing moving quickly is the wind, and the only thing “raging” is a drunk Josh Boschee after midnight somewhere on 32nd Avenue.

Meanwhile, every city commission meeting will now begin with a ceremonial reading from Dave Piepkorn about “fiscal conservatism,” immediately followed by the approval of another infrastructure project that he can't fully explain but somehow costs $47 million.

Don’t forget to join Fargo First on Tuesday, June 2nd for a special opportunity to meet local candidates, ask questions,...
05/26/2026

Don’t forget to join Fargo First on Tuesday, June 2nd for a special opportunity to meet local candidates, ask questions, and hear directly about the future of Fargo.

This is your chance to connect face-to-face, discuss the issues that matter most, and get informed before Election Day.

Bring your friends, neighbors, and family. An informed community is a stronger community.

✅ Free pizza
✅ Free bowling
✅ Arcade games
✅ Meet the candidates
✅ Show your support

Xcalibur – North Fargo
707 28th Ave N
Fargo, ND 58102

Tuesday, June 2nd
6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Get involved. Stay informed. Make your voice heard.

FARGO FIRST NEEDS VOLUNTEERS! On Monday, June 1st from 6PM–9PM, Fargo First will be out knocking doors across Fargo the ...
05/25/2026

FARGO FIRST NEEDS VOLUNTEERS!

On Monday, June 1st from 6PM–9PM, Fargo First will be out knocking doors across Fargo the night before early voting begins, and we need your help!

Many people have asked Fargo First and the candidates that we support "how can I help?" This is your opportunity!

We are asking anyone willing to volunteer to meet us at 5:30 PM at Americans For Prosperity:
4342 15th Ave South Suite 201.

Volunteers will go door to door in teams of 2 to hand out flyers and speak with voters about the future of Fargo.

The more volunteers we have, the more neighborhoods we can reach before early voting starts.

If you care about the direction of our city, this is your chance to help make a difference.

Bring a friend. Share this post. Join the movement.

Get active like your daughters and granddaughters depend on it.

Message Fargo First if you have any questions and would like to help!

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Fargo, ND
58104

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