This week, Graham, 22, submitted to run for the open Bemidji City Council seat to represent Ward 5. An employee in the heating and a/c market, Graham stated he chose to run for workplace not long after he and his spouse moved into their home in Bemidji at the start of 2021.
“We bought this house and my wife and I had been praying on why we are here, and one day, I was talking to my dad and I said ‘maybe I’m here to run for city council and make a difference,'” Graham stated. “Then, I checked the next day, and it was the day the special election had been announced.”
While he’s a more recent local to the ward, however, Graham is no complete stranger to the location. Graham lived the majority of his life in neighboring Solway and did postsecondary education at Bemidji State and Northwest Technical College. He continued his education at the latter, taking classes connected to heating and a/c.
If chosen, Graham stated he wishes to assist Bemidji come together.
“I’d like to see the community be built more,” Graham stated. “I grew up skateboarding and that was before there was anywhere really to skateboard. Then the skate park was built, and I saw the community grow so fast. Friendships formed there and kids went out to try new things. I’d like to see more of that in the city.”
Graham likewise stated he wants to influence guys in the location to do much better.
“When I look at the world, the big thing I see is that men of the past sold out their responsibilities and the burden of being leaders to the state,” Graham stated. “I would like to see us encourage men to rise up and be good fathers, husbands and good leaders in society.”
Policy-smart, Graham stated a focus if chosen would be making the city-owned occasion center, the Sanford Center, lucrative.
“If it was at all possible, I’d like to see the Sanford Center have a profit,” Graham stated. “I feel like if they found the right use for it, and the right events to have there, it could be great. If it’s not, I feel a decision has to be made, because losing money is never a good thing, and I don’t know if that is it being sold, torn down or repurposed, but if it’s not making money, it isn’t working.”
Graham is among 4 prospects running for the position, the others consisting of Lynn Eaton, Bill Batchelder and Don Heinonen. The filing duration for the Ward 5 race closes on Dec. 14.
