I was saddened to learn of the death of former Cass County Commissioner Jeannette "Mike" Stanton of Fargo. The city of Fargo, Cass County and the state of North Dakota have lost a true champion of the little people.
I met Stanton several times over the years. She definitely was a colorful lady. Stanton was always so full of energy, rallying around one cause or another.
Mike, as she liked to be called, had no problems or qualms with defying the system. She always spoke her mind, and she would always tell people she spoke to exactly what she thought. Stanton was definitely a maverick, and that's what I think a lot of her constituents over the years had appreciated about her.
Her maverick nature, I believe, was eventually her downfall in some people's minds. Times change. I remember when she lost her last election in the 1980s sometime, it was by a mere 11 votes. I guess the voters of her commission district had finally concluded it was time for a change, so they voted her out of office.
One story that stands out in my mind about Stanton was the time when she refused to give back her set of keys to the Cass County Courthouse immediately after she was defeated for re-election. Stanton was asked to return her set of keys to the courthouse since she wouldn't be returning to the county commission.
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This had became something of a nasty tug-of-war between Stanton and I believe it was the county auditor. The reason Stanton gave for not handing over her keys was that she still had some time left on her appointment to the county Human Services Board. As an appointee, Stanton felt that she had the right to keep her keys to the courthouse.
There were stories almost every day about the disagreement over her set of keys between Stanton and the county in The Forum and on the local radio and television newscasts. After waging one of her classic fights with the powers that be of the county government, she finally did give her set of keys back.
Even after she left office, it definitely was not the last time that county commissioners would hear from Stanton. She became a fixture at the County Commission meetings, attending nearly every commission meeting she was able to. She had most definitely become a self-appointed government watchdog, for the lack of a better term. She was proud of it.
I also remember when Stanton was given an opportunity by WDAY Radio to host the old "Viewpoint" show. She carried her maverick, tell-it-like-it-is style with her into the broadcast studio. She hosted the show for quite some time and did quite well at it, if I might add.
I believe most everyone would agree that one of Stanton's biggest accomplishments in her years of public service has got to be the new passenger terminal at Hector International Airport.
Stanton served on the Fargo Municipal Airport Authority during the time that the old terminal at Hector Airport was replaced by what is now the current passenger terminal on the west side of the airfield. The old brick terminal on the east side of the airfield was remodeled and became a general aviation facility.
The community has lost a fine lady in Jeannette "Mike" Stanton. May God rest her soul.
Olson lives in Fargo. E-mail Rick4404@cableone.net
