MINOT, ND (KXNET) -- This week, Minot City Council members Mike Hayes and Lisa Olson announced that they won't be running for another term. Now, three seats are open on the ballot for this summer's city elections.
Two years ago, three new members were elected to serve on the Minot City Council. Now, the council is preparing to welcome another batch of fresh faces.
"There's a good chance that with the election this summer, we will have six of the seven members that weren't on the council three years ago," City Council President Mike Blessum said. "There are some big changes that have already been made on the council roster, and there's a good chance there will be additional changes made this summer. People need to do their homework so they understand who they're voting for."
Olson says that this level of overhaul in the city is nothing new.
"When I was first elected in 2010, we had 14 members, and there were a lot of changes in a short amount of time," she said. "I'm used to seeing different people representing the city of Minot, so I didn't see it as a big change in the last year. I think it was just a new perspective with a new person on the dais."
So far, only two candidates have announced their bids for Minot City Council. Blessum hopes more people choose to run to represent the city.
"I would expect there to be many more candidates that come in," he said. "I hope that that's the case, because we need a good set of candidates and a good set of options available for voters, because they know these are important things. We have important elected officials at state and in legislature, and we do in our local entities as well."
Olson went on to say that Minot needs new people to step up and have their voices heard in the next election.
"I think we need diversity on our council," she said. "Not everyone looks the same, acts the same, has the same values. I would like to see different members of our community see a representative that has the same values that they do. I think that the change that could occur is that you have more people who think alike. And when that happens, I think you lose some of the discussion that's important. And I think that some people ultimately are not represented."
As the only woman currently serving on council, Olson hopes to see more women involved in the city's leadership going forward.
"When I was first elected, I was only the sixth woman in Minot's history to be elected to the City Council," Olson said. "Back then, the council was even larger, so it was unique that not many women had sought that elected seat. I don't think it's that women don't get elected; I think it's that they don't seek out the seat. Not that gender is the only determining factor for someone to be a good leader, but I think a perspective from a woman is important."
Any interested candidates must submit 300 valid signatures to City Hall by April 6, two months before the election.