Council Members

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Mayor Shelly CarlsonShellyCarlson0002UCr

Term

Ending 12/31/2026

Contact
Phone: 218.299.5307

Email Mayor Carlson

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 in November 2018 as a City Council Member and appointed Mayor in February 2021, simultaneously assuming the Chair position on the Metro Flood Diversion Authority Board. In 2022, she was elected to serve as Mayor. Born and raised in Minot, ND, Mayor Carlson came to Moorhead in 1990 to attend Moorhead State University where she earned both her Master’s in Public Administration and a Bachelors of Science in Paralegal Studies.

During her 30-year professional career, Mayor Carlson has worked at 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 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 (both of whom live in Moorhead), and 2 four-legged “children” who live at home and bark obnoxiously at every UPS, Amazon, or postal worker who dare enter the neighborhood.

Download Mayor Carlson's photo


 

Council Member Ryan NelsonRyanNelson4608
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)
Ryan Nelson earned an A.A.S. Degree in Law Enforcement from Alexandria Technical College.  Ryan previously served approximately 20 years in law enforcement, including many of those years with the Moorhead Police Department.  Ryan is the current Director of Public Safety with MSUM.  He is married to Suzy and has two children, Regan and Ryan.


 


 

Council Member Matthew GilbertsonMattGilbertson0020UCrb
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 CaroonLaura 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.



HeatherNesemeier4605
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 WhiteWhite, Deb (Ward 3) -- Headshot 2019
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 SeljevoldLarry 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 HendricksonCouncil 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 McDougallSebastian 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.