Fargo Mayoral Candidate Sekou Sirleaf Wants to Bridge 'Disconnect' Between City Hall and Residents

Sirleaf says he's running to give a voice to Fargo residents and address issues like public safety, poverty, and transportation.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 3:03am

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A quiet, cinematic painting of a solitary city council podium in a shadowy government building hallway, with warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conceptually representing the disconnect between Fargo's City Hall and its residents.Fargo's mayoral race highlights the need to bridge the divide between local government and the community it serves.Fargo Today

Sekou Sirleaf, a candidate for mayor of Fargo, North Dakota, says he's running to end the disconnect between City Hall and the people living in the city. Sirleaf, who chairs the Fargo Human Rights Commission, wants to focus on public safety, poverty, and improving public transportation. He believes the city needs to do more to address its 12.8% poverty rate and provide mental health services so police don't have to respond to people in crisis.

Why it matters

Fargo has faced tensions between City Hall and community groups, with the Human Rights Commission recently being threatened with dissolution. Sirleaf's campaign promises to give residents a stronger voice in city government and address key issues like public safety and poverty that impact the local community.

The details

Sirleaf said the Human Rights Commission, which he chairs, has been limited in its ability to effect change, with the city shooting down the commission's calls for an independent investigation into a police shooting and a resolution on the war in Gaza. He believes the commission was 'set up to fail' since it can only suggest actions for the City Commission to take.

  • In December 2025, the Fargo City Commission voted to give the Human Rights Commission time to come up with a plan to continue its work under different umbrellas after Mayor Dr. Tim Mahoney recommended dissolving the group.
  • In August 2022, North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley said Fargo Police Officer Adam O'Brien's use of deadly force was justified in the shooting of Shane Netterville.

The players

Sekou Sirleaf

A candidate for mayor of Fargo, North Dakota, and the current chair of the Fargo Human Rights Commission.

Dr. Tim Mahoney

The mayor of Fargo who recommended dissolving the Fargo Human Rights Commission.

Drew Wrigley

The North Dakota Attorney General who said the Fargo Police's use of deadly force against Shane Netterville was justified.

Adam O'Brien

A Fargo police officer involved in the shooting of Shane Netterville.

Shane Netterville

A Fargo resident who was killed by Fargo police in an incident the Human Rights Commission called for an independent investigation into.

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What they’re saying

“I want to make sure the residents of Fargo have a voice, they have a say, they get to know what City Hall is about. We have to transition the city.”

— Sekou Sirleaf, Candidate for Mayor of Fargo

“Poverty creates crime, so we've got to put our dollar where they should be.”

— Sekou Sirleaf, Candidate for Mayor of Fargo

“When Shane Netterville was killed by Fargo Police, we called for an independent investigation. City Hall shot that down. Let us collaborate with the Police Advisory and Oversight Board. We got shut down. During the war in Gaza, young people came to meet the Human Rights Commission. We voted on a resolution to the City Commission. They shot that down. We're there, but we can't do anything.”

— Sekou Sirleaf, Chair of Fargo Human Rights Commission

What’s next

Sirleaf's campaign will continue leading up to the Fargo mayoral election, where he will face off against the incumbent mayor and other challengers.

The takeaway

Sirleaf's campaign promises to give Fargo residents a stronger voice in city government and address key issues like public safety, poverty, and transportation that impact the local community. His criticisms of the limitations faced by the Human Rights Commission highlight the need for better collaboration and responsiveness between City Hall and community groups.