Heather Nesemeier
Ward 2

city council

Nancy Edmonds Hanson

Heather Nesemeier has been chosen to fill the second Ward 2 position on the Moorhead City Council. The seat has been vacant since early February, when Shelly Carlson was appointed to replace Johnathan Judd as the city’s mayor.

Nesemeier, 38, has lived in Moorhead for five years. She is employed by the Office of Online Learning at Minnesota State University Moorhead.

Six candidates filed applications to fill the Ward 2 seat. After interviewing the four men and two women at their last meeting, council members nominated the finalists this week. Deb White put forward Nesemeier’s name, while Brad Gilbertson nominated Dave Marquart and Laura Caroon – the other Ward 2 representative – named Evan Balko. Nesemeier received four votes and Marquardt, three.

In nominating Nesemeier, White noted that she has worked with her on many community projects, including the PB&J fund-raiser last spring that helped pay down local students’ hot-lunch debt. “She has helped find creative solutions to bring together businesses, citizens and government,” she said. She added, “Heather was the only candidate who brought up affordable housing and child care during her interview. … She has shown she can really work to bring people together throughout the community, especially addressing the needs of those who are marginalized.”

Nesemeier will be sworn in at the council’s next meeting May 10. She will serve the remainder of Carlson’s term, which ends Dec. 31, 2022.

Carlson thanked all six who volunteered for the position. “It’s wonderful to see so much community engagement,” she said, adding that after “thoroughly vetting each candidate,” all were not only willing but ready to fill the seat.