BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Some North Dakota cities facing a shortage of candidates for local government are relying on appointments, special elections and write-in votes to fill seats.
This spring, nearly 50 cities in the state lack candidates for elected positions, the Bismarck Tribune reported.
“It’s just kind of the way life is right now,” said Blake Crosby, North Dakota League of Cities’ executive director. “It’s not only for North Dakota. It’s for all the states that have a number of small cities, as they continue to decrease in population for whatever reason, mostly because those demographics change.”
New Rockford, which has a population of more than 1,300 residents, has an unexpired two-year city commission term to fill. Conway and Sibley, which both have fewer than 30 residents, do not have a mayoral candidate.
Lacking candidates isn’t uncommon for small cities, Secretary of State Al Jaeger said. Positions are typically filled through write-in votes.
Crosby noted that limited candidate pools and aging residents, whom don’t always live in the state year-round, probably contribute to the issue.
Regan voters have written in mayoral candidates with as few as five and two votes in 2016 and 2012, respectively, according to election results.
The city, which has a population of 44, doesn’t have any candidates running for mayor and has two open council seats. Mayor Marvin Gillig said he’s not running because he’s been mayor “for a long time,” off and on over 35 years.
City Council Member Otto Uhde is 76, retired and is not running for council because he doesn’t live in Regan full time. He won his 2016 bid with seven votes.
Uhde noted that appointments have helped fill Regan’s five-member city council,.
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