Sebastian McDougall
Ward 4

Zak Amin
Ward 4

Sebastian McDougall and Zak Amin are facing their first runs at elective office in the Moorhead City Council election in November, hoping to represent Ward 4 in southeast Moorhead. But one of them has already spent a year on the board that governs the city.
McDougall was appointed to represent the southeast section of the city in August 2023. He was selected from a field of six who volunteered to fill out the unexpired term of council member Steve Lindaas, who resigned to accept a fellowship in Washington, D.C.

Zak Amin
Zak Amin, who has a bachelor’s degree in English language and literature, spent eight years as a translator for the U.S. military police advisors in Iraq. Since moving to Moorhead in 2015, he has earned an associate degree in business, with diplomas in accounting clerk and payroll specialist diplomas, at M State. He is pursuing a master’s in teaching ESL at Minnesota State University Moorhead.
He moved to Moorhead in 2015 with a special immigrant visa. As a husband and father of three boys — 12, 8 and 3 — he has used his experience in teaching language arts in Iraq as program manager for the Kurdish American Development Association and administrative assistant with Moorhead Community Education. He created a class on Kurdish heritage and culture for Moorhead students, especially the children of the city’s large Kurdish population, that led to his being named the 2024 Human Rights Educator of the Year by Education Minnesota.
The candidate says, “My vision is one of a healthy, inclusive community to that all people have the ability to be successful and contribute.” His priorities, he says, include raising a strong work force by connecting education to employment and making sure everyone has access to quality housing.
He also is committed to building stronger community involvement. “I’ll work for increased opportunities for residents to get involved in their local government and have a say in decision-making,” he asserts Among his ideas are expanding public forums, using digital platforms for transparency, and nurturing partnerships with community organizations, all to “ensure all voices are heard” to build policies and programs that “reflect the many diverse needs and aspirations of our residents.”
Amin adds that he will work for policies that encourage a broad spectrum of housing development, from affordable rentals to the option of home ownership. “I was to ensure that all residents can live in quality and safety,” he notes.

Sebastian McDougall
Sebastian McDougall was already familiar with city government by the time of his appointment to represent Ward 4 a year ago. He has served on both the Moorhead Public Service Commission and Parks Advisory boards. “My service has equipped me with a deep understanding of the challenges cities like ours face,” he says, “particularly in balancing growth with the preservation of local culture and resources.”
A lifelong resident of Moorhead, Sebastian is a husband and the father of two adult sons, both of whom – like their father – are graduates of Moorhead High School. He was awarded a degree in exercise physiology by North Dakota State University in 1998, he spent 15 years with Sunmart, much of it managing the supermarket on Eighth Street South. He has spent the past eight year working as a consultant to school districts in their budget development process. He has been active in community initiatives, from coaching youth sports to serving on the Spud Boosters Board.
“In the past few years, I have seen firsthand the pressing issues that Moorhead faces,” the candidate says, “including the need for more affordable housing, the importance of supporting small businesses, and the ongoing challenge of making sure the city’s infrastructure keeps pace with its growth.”
He says the city’s current landscape presents both challenges and opportunities. “The key to a prosperous future lies in fostering collaboration between city government, residents and local businesses,” he asserts. He says his campaign is focusing on transparency, community engagement and practical solutions to the issues that matter most to the people of Moorhead.
McDougall’s council portfolio includes the Human Rights Commission, where his Native American heritage comes into play; the Airport Commission; and the city and county planning commissions. “I love people who fight for what they believe in,” he emphasizes. “But we also have to look at the bigger picture.”