# Former mayor warns against ward system

> Former Fargo mayor Tim Mahoney warns ward system would fragment city governance and raise costs.
- Title: Former mayor warns against ward system · Valleynewslive
- Summary: Former Fargo mayor Tim Mahoney warns ward system would fragment city governance and raise costs. Former Fargo mayor Tim Mahoney warns transitioning to a ward…
- Keywords: tim mahoney, fargo, ward system, city council, taxpayer costs, redistricting, news, local, Former, mayor, warns, against
- Source: Valleynewslive — https://valleynewslive.com/2026/09/22/former-mayor-warns-against-ward-system
- Published: 2026-09-22T19:49:17.498+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: tim mahoney, fargo, ward system, city council, taxpayer costs, redistricting, news, local
## Ward system proposal
Former Fargo mayor Tim Mahoney warns Fargo's proposed shift from at-large commission to ward system would enlarge local government and increase taxpayer costs.
## Voter influence reduced
Under the proposed reform, voters would only elect one representative per ward instead of all five commissioners.
## Citywide representation
Mahoney says current at-large model ensures leaders address municipal priorities holistically rather than neighborhood competition.
## Financial costs
Mahoney estimates upfront costs of up to $500,000 and annual costs of $200,000 to $300,000 for redistricting and administrative expenses.
## Political risks
Mahoney warns ward system could lead to political gerrymandering due to undefined boundary lines.
## Constituent access
Under ward system, residents would have limited access to local officials if they disagree with their elected representative.
## Key takeaway

Former Fargo mayor Tim Mahoney warns transitioning to a ward system would fragment city representation and increase taxpayer costs.