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If Burgum Wins North Dakota Governor's Race, Watford City Will Need New Mayor

On the heels of Doug Burgum and Brent Sanford’s primary win, officials in Watford City are preparing for the possibility of having to replace their mayor.

On the heels of Doug Burgum and Brent Sanford’s primary win, officials in Watford City are preparing for the possibility of having to replace their mayor.

 

Sanford’s term as mayor expires in June 2018, but he’s on Burgum’s ticket as a lieutenant governor candidate. Burgum is considered the favorite heading to November’s election against Democrat Marvin Nelson.

 

The idea of leaving Watford City is the only downside to the primary win, Sanford said Thursday.

 

“The tug is the fact that we love living here,and I really enjoy the mayor position, too,” Sanford said. “I don’t know if a lot of people say that about the mayor job, but I truly do.”

 

Sanford has been a leader in his hometown for 10 years, elected to the City Council in 2006 and mayor in 2010, overseeing the city’s rapid growth prompted by the Bakken oil boom.

Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.
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