It has been said that a city is only as good as its leadership. If that truly is the case, Moorhead is in good hands. Del Rae Williams has been Moorhead’s mayor for a mere ten weeks, but her accessible leadership style and creative vision for the city has already begun to turn heads.
Del Rae is Moorhead’s first female mayor and the first new mayor in twelve years, replacing Mark Voxland who declined to run for re-election in 2013. Originally from Minot, Del Rae has lived in Moorhead for over twenty years, a place that has earned a very special place in her heart. “It is just an amazing city,” she said. “I am so honored to be its mayor.” One of the things that makes Del Rae holding that position so interesting is that she is not a career politician. Although she has been “behind the scenes” in political matters for most of her life, her first career was as a CPA. Had it not been for her passion for helping people and making a difference, she might never have entered the political ring. “I never considered myself political,” she said. “There are just a lot of issues I care about.”
Because of her involvement with various politically-based issues, there haven’t been many surprises since becoming mayor. One thing that Del Rae didn’t anticipate was the amount of speaking that the job would require. “I learned a lot about speaking during the campaign,” she said. “I decided that the less I prepare specific written comments, the more authentic and engaged I become.” It is that honest authenticity that won over voters and set Del Rae apart; it is also what makes her so accessible. Connecting with the people of Moorhead has been one of her primary concentrations since taking office. “I really try to focus on the citizens of Moorhead,” she said. “I am doing my job if I am up and about.” Building those connections often takes time and a lot of footwork. During the recent Home and Garden show, for example, Del Rae spent entire days walking the floor of the FargoDome, talking to people and trying to get a feel for what the people in Moorhead desire. That kind of time and effort is not uncommon for the new mayor. “If something is going on in the area, I try to be there,” she said. “It’s the best way to get to know the people and understand their needs.”
Although the duties of the job have not been a big surprise, there is one thing Del Rae wasn’t prepared for. “I wasn’t prepared to be known,” she said, adding that the celebrity aspect of her job has been the weirdest adjustment. “I’m always the mayor, even if I’m just out buying groceries.” Another thing Del Rae didn’t expect was losing her first name. “No one calls me Del Rae anymore.” Wanting to be called by her first name and not getting caught up in the power of her title is indicative of the down-to-earth accessibility that makes her unique. She would much rather sit down, have a cup of coffee, and embrace the true nature of an open-door policy than hide behind the veil of formality. “This job is about building relationships,” she said. “Meeting so many wonderful people has been the best part thus far.”
The pride Del Rae feels for the city of Moorhead is apparent in everything she does. Although she feels many people share that sentiment, she believes it is time for that to stop being a secret. “The people of Moorhead are very proud of their community, but often we have the tendency to take a back seat a bit,” she said. “Let’s start talking about why we love Moorhead.” Del Rae understands the subtle and humble nature of Minnesotans, but wants to strike a balance between “Minnesota nice” and tooting the city’s horn. “It’s up to us to tell people,” she said. One of the things that Del Rae believes sets the city apart is its community neighborhood feel. She referenced the city’s numerous parks and neighborhood block parties as essential components of creating a sense of city-wide unity. “The strength of Moorhead is in our people and their desire to make the city better,” she explained. “I want to highlight that strength and encourage more and more people to ‘Say yes to Moorhead’.”
Del Rae has a clear vision for the city that includes a revival of the Moorhead Center Mall. Instituting a “Coffee with Mayor Del Rae” program in the mall’s atrium was the first step. “There are going to be a lot of neat things happening in the mall,” she said, adding that her revitalization vision extends to all of the downtown area. Del Rae has had several communications with local artists and gardeners to secure help in breathing life into the area. “If somebody wants to do something that is in the best interest of the city, I’m going to support them,” she said. Del Rae understands that people taking ownership of their surroundings is far more effective than mandated participation. “I want to encourage people to act on their pride.”
Del Rae has a long term ahead of her. That doesn’t mean, however, that she hasn’t hit the ground running. She has set the bar high when it comes to facilitating change and improvement. Del Rae has a clear vision on how to help Moorhead reach its potential; a vision that includes partnering with the city’s residents. When working together, she truly believes that anything is possible. “It’s a very cool time to be mayor,” she said.
Coffee with Mayor Del Rae takes place every third Wednesday from 10:00am to 12:00pm and 7:00 – 9:00pm in the Moorhead Center Mall. More information about Mayor Del Rae and the city of Moorhead can be obtained at www.ci.moorhead.mn.us.
