Nicole Mattson | Ward 1

Nicole Mattson, a community activist who works in marketing, communication and web development,
is challenging incumbent Ward 1 council member Matt Gilbertson for his seat on the Moorhead City Council. Gilbertson announced he was running for a second term last month.
Mattson is employed by the North Dakota EPSCoR program as a communications specialist. The program focuses on expanding STEM education and workforce capacity. She, her husband and two children have lived in Moorhead for 17 years. She has served on the city planning commission for seven years and on the MoorHeart Award selection committee since its inception. Mattson’s volunteer work has included planning the FM Women’s March, tutoring ESL students through Moorhead Adult Basic Education, and serving on the boards of WIN-Liberia, CHIRA Global Development Organization, and the NEW Leadership Northern Lights program.
“My key issues are smart growth, public safety and communication,” she says. “I think we need to look for ways to encourage developers to build more affordable housing, which will also grow our property tax base. I also believe that instead of using special assessments to fund a major infrastructure project that benefits the whole city, those costs should be paid by everyone, not just the nearby neighbors.”
She adds, “I think we need to look for some new solutions to our shortage of peace officers, like bringing a law enforcement skills training center to Moorhead. And I also think the city could more effectively communicate what’s going on by streaming all of its public meetings on more social media platforms.”
Ward 1 encompasses the north side of Moorhead.