Duluth “Acting Mayor” Plan Made Official

Mayor Reinert tabs At-Large Councilor Arik Forsman--just in case.

If there’s ever a time when Duluth’s new mayor is not available, he now has an official back up.

In a formal proclamation Wednesday, Mayor Roger Reinert named At-Large City Councilor Arik Forsman as acting mayor whenever necessary.
Reinert is still an active Navy Reservist and says at times he will be called away.

For example, next week he will be gone four days on a long drill weekend.

“[From a] guard or reserve standpoint, he’s our ready reserve. And the staff and the public will know those times when I’m going to be away based on orders,” said Reinert.

“You know, it would apply to other situations that we might not be able to anticipate either. Of course, we’re watching nationally the news about the Secretary of Defense. My health is good, I don’t anticipate any of those sorts of things,” said Reinert.

The City Charter requires that the position be filled by an At-Large city councilor. Reinert himself held the acting mayor designation for former Mayors Bergson and Ness.

Forsman also had the role at times under Mayor Larson. He says it is not a position that depends on the philosophy of any one mayor.

“I don’t think that this role is political at all. I’m still a city councilor and we just elected our city council leadership. But it’s a back-up, in case of, you know, an emergency, or those military obligations, or something needs to get signed urgently,” said Forsman.

“So, I certainly don’t view it as something that I’ve ever touted before, publicly, even though I served intermittently, and Mayor Larson appointed various at-large councilors at different times, including me. And today is just the first public instance that folks know about it. And I do think that’s a good idea just so that citizens are aware that that is the plan if it ever needs to be implemented,” Forsman said.

Mayor Reinert said the official proclamation was to let everyone in City Hall and in the community know what the plan is, and that procedures are in place when he is away.
He said his reserve duty will happen about every three or four months but he would not need to be leaving the country during those times.