Even winners in the Tuesday, June 14, Fargo City Commission election concede they do not have a mandate. Having won by only 16 percent and 15 percent of the vote, respectively, former state Sen. Tony Grindberg and outgoing Fargo School Board member John Strand cannot claim-and do not claim-to have garnered wide and deep representative support among Fargo voters. The results of the 11-way race, and the example of the previous city election in which candidates won with thin slices of the vote, make the case for a runoff or some other change in the city's election structure.

That being said, Fargo is fortunate that two highly competent and properly motivated candidates won Tuesday. Grindberg and Strand will serve the city with distinction. But because of the size of the field and the small number of votes it takes to win, the outcome might not have been as bright as it was Tuesday. That's what happened in previous city elections when candidates with less-than-inspired vision won with very small percentages of the vote.

Grindberg and Strand were candid about their wins. Both said they were somewhat uncomfortable with how few votes they won in the crowded field. Grindberg said he wants the city to create a task force to look at possible changes in the election system, which would require a vote to change the City Charter. It's a good idea, and the discussion should be started right away with the goal of having a change in place before the next city ballot.

A runoff, as was done as recently as 2000, is one option. How a runoff would be structured-that is, how candidates in a crowded field would qualify for a runoff ballot-could be a complex and contentious debate. However, there is one option that's been talked about-expanding the commission and dividing the city into wards-that should be rejected without serious debate. The ward system enables parochialism. It almost guarantees that, in order to get re-elected, commissioners or council members will put the narrow interests of their wards ahead of the greater good of the city as a whole. Want an example of ward system dysfunction? Look across the Red River at Moorhead.

So let that discussion commence. Meanwhile, congratulations to Grindberg and Strand. Both bring policy agendas to the city that, while different, will contribute positively to the city's growth and progress.

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Editorials represent the opinion of Forum management and the newspaper's Editorial Board.