Council Members
Mayor Shelly Carlson
Ending 12/31/2026
Contact
Phone: 218.299.5307
Committees (Subject to Change)
- Advisory Budget Work Group
- Board of Appeals and Equalization
- FM Flood Diversion Authority Board
- FM Diversion Authority Finance Committee
- Legislative Workgroup (ad hoc)
- Minnesota Mayors Together
- Moorhead Clay County Joint Powers Authority (MCCJPA)
- Red River Basin Commission
Mayor Shelly Carlson was elected to City Council in November 2018, appointed Mayor in February 2021 (simultaneously assuming the role of Metro Flood Diversion Chair for 2021) and was officially elected Mayor in 2022. Born and raised in Minot, ND, Shelly migrated to Moorhead in 1990 to attend Moorhead State University, eventually earning both her Master’s Degree in Public Administration and her Bachelors of Science degree in Paralegal Studies from there.
During her 30-year career, Shelly has worked at both non-profit and government agencies advocating on behalf of crime victims, specifically victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. For the last 8 years, she has been employed as the Special Projects Manager at the Minnesota Elder Justice Center delivering training and advocating for systems change on behalf of elder abuse victims.
Shelly and her husband Ron (a Moorhead native!) own Signature Home Technologies, have 2 adult children, and 2 four-legged children at home who bark obnoxiously at any UPS, Amazon, or postal worker who dare enter the neighborhood.
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Council Member Ryan Nelson
Ward 1
Term
Ending 12/31/2026
Contact
Phone: 218.299.5549
Email Council Member Nelson
Committees
- Advisory Budget Work Group
- Clay County Joint Powers Committee
- Community Facilities Task Force
- Metro Area Transit Coordinating Board
- Moorhead Community Access Media (MCAM)
- Oakport Joint Powers
- Red River Regional Dispatch Center Authority Board (RRRDC)
Council Member Matthew Gilbertson
Ward 1
Term
Ending 12/31/2024
Contact
Phone: 218.299.5541
Email Council Member Gilbertson
Committees
- Board of Appeals & Equalization
- Public Service Commission
- Clay County Joint Powers Committee
- Community Facilities Task Force
- Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corp.
- Historical & Cultural Society of Clay County (HCSCC)
- Oakport Joint Powers
Matthew Gilbertson earned his BA in Biology from NDSU and MSUM and Doctor of Chiropractic from Palmer College of Chiropractic. He practices at Downtown Chiropractic in Moorhead and is also the Director of the Scott Tobolt Foundation. He enjoys spending time with family at the lake, golfing and reading. He is married to Kim and has three children, Ashlyn, Tate and Ave and has two pets, Goldie and Winnie.
Council Member Laura Caroon
Ward 2
Term
Ending 12/31/2024
Contact
Phone: 218.299.5543
Email Council Member Caroon
Committees
- Board of Appeals & Equalization
- Economic Development Authority
- Library Board
- LARL Board
- Legislative Workgroup
Laura Caroon earned her BA in Religion and Studio Art from Concordia College. She is the president and co-founder of Ladyboss Midwest and is a Girl Scout Troop Leader. She enjoys reading, creating, spending time on the water, camping and laughing with her family and friends. She is married to Josh and they have one daughter, Olivia.
Council Member Heather Nesemeier
Ward 2
Term
Ending 12/31/2026
Contact
Phone: 218.299.5547
Email Council Member Nesemeier
Committees
- Public Housing Agency Board
- Cass Clay Food Commission
- Clay County Collaborative
- Clay County Extension
- Clay County Solid Waste Advisory Committee
Heather Nesemeier has spent decades building community & advocating for social justice in our local communities. She has had central roles in co-planning & facilitating three PB&J School Lunch Fundraisers, expanding the local community gardens at the Ellen Hopkins Nature Play Park, working with local teachers to bring nature, farm, garden, & prairie education into classrooms, & more. She currently serves on local boards in her free time and enjoys reading, gardening, and traveling.
Council Member Deb White
Ward 3
Term
Ending 12/31/2026
Contact
Phone: 218.299.5548
Email Council Member White
Committees
- Economic Development Authority
- Human Rights Commission
- Planning Commission (alternate)
- Clay County Planning Commission (alternate)
- Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Council of Governments (MetroCOG)
- West Central Initiative Economic Development
Deb White earned her AAS in Business Administration at Broome Community College, Binghamton, NY, her BA in Economics and PhD in Sociology from the University at Albany. She has been a professor of Sociology at Minnesota State University Moorhead since 2000 and coordinator for NEW Leadership Northern Lights, MSUM since 2001. She is also a member of the Moorhead Planning Commission (2011 - 2015). She is married to Rob Kupec and has one son, Quinn.
Council Member Larry Seljevold
Ward 3
Term
Ending 12/31/2024
Contact
Phone: 218.329.9214
Email Council Member Seljevold
Committees
- Metro Flood Diversion Authority Board
- Metro Flood Diversion Public Outreach Committee
- Moorhead Clay County Joint Powers Authority (MCCJPA)
- Community Fund Advisory
- Northwest Regional Emergency Communications Board
- Park Advisory Board
Larry Seljevold earned his BA from Concordia College and his MS from NDSU. He enjoys bicycle touring and traveling. He is married to Karen and has two adult children, Lars and Maren.
Council Member Chuck Hendrickson
Ward 4
Term
Ending 12/31/2026
Contact
Phone: 218.299.5545
Email Council Member Hendrickson
Committees
- Art & Culture Commission
- Clay County Solid Waste Advisory Committee
- Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Council of Governments (MetroCOG)
- Metro Flood Diversion Authority Board
- Metro Flood Diversion Authority Land Management
- Moorhead Clay County Joint Powers Authority (MCCJPA)
- Legislative Workgroup
Chuck Hendrickson earned his BA in Political Science and English Writing from Concordia College and his MBA from the University of Mary. He is employed at Koerber. He attends Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead and enjoys music, playing guitar, family activities, sports, current events, and the outdoors. He is married to Renae and has four children, Hannah, Martin, Maxwell and Gavin.
Council Member Sebastian McDougall
Ward 4
Term
Ending 12/31/2024
Contact
Phone: 218.299.5542
Email Council Member McDougall
Committees
- Airport Committee
- Clay County Planning Commission
- Park Advisory Board (alternate)
- Metro Area Transit Coordinating Board
- Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Council of Governments (MetroCOG)
- Planning Commission
Sebastian McDougall earned his BS in Exercise Science from NDSU. He is a small business owner who works as a consultant. McDougall has served on the City of Moorhead Park Advisory Board and the Public Service Commission. He also volunteered for the Moorhead Basketball Association and has been part of Spud Boosters for many years. He is married to Tracy and has two grown sons.