What happens behind closed doors? Small-town mayor steps down after unexpected scandal
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In an unexpected turn of events, a leadership shake-up in a small Midwestern city has drawn national attention.
The mayor of Minot, North Dakota, has stepped down following a private matter that escalated behind closed doors, raising questions about professionalism, privacy, and accountability in public office.
What happened? Should you be alarmed?
A North Dakota mayor stepped down on Tuesday following the release of a report detailing an explicit video he sent to the city’s chief legal officer earlier this year.
The story unfolded on a seemingly ordinary day in January, when Mayor Tom Ross, during his lunch break, sent a video intended for his girlfriend to Stefanie Stalheim, the city attorney.
According to the Minot City Council's findings, Mayor Tom Ross sent City Attorney Stefanie Stalheim a video of him engaging in self-pleasure via text shortly after the two had spoken on the phone about the suicide of a local police officer.
The report states Ross called Stalheim within minutes of sending the video, urging her to delete it without watching and explaining it had been meant for a girlfriend.
Ross submitted his resignation the same day city lawmakers publicly released the findings of the investigation.
"As much as I love the City of Minot and where it is heading, for the last, just about 5 years, I have had my priorities misaligned," Ross wrote in his resignation letter. "While I’ve done my very best to be a good leader, it’s clear that time has come to an end."
Ross explained to investigators that he had sent what he described as a “sexy video” on January 14 while home during his lunch break, intending it for his girlfriend.
He claimed the mix-up occurred because he wasn’t used to operating an iPhone, as he typically used a Samsung S22, the report said.
Also read: Exposed: The landlord accused of putting renters at risk—see what the city is doing
He also noted that his girlfriend’s name begins with the letter "C," while Stalheim’s contact was listed as "City Attorney" in his phone, which may have led to the accidental message.
According to the report, when Stalheim was informed of the video’s content, she “fell out of her chair,” attributing her reaction not only to the nature of the video but also to the emotional toll of just having received word about a police officer’s death.
After receiving the video, Stalheim asked a colleague to delete it.
However, while doing so, that colleague, a representative from Human Resources, inadvertently triggered the video, which caused them to view “some or all” of its content, the report added.
“The investigator found somewhat credible Ross’s statements that the video was sent to Stalheim unintentionally and that the video was intended for Ross’s intimate partner,” the report said.
Still, it emphasized that “due to Ross’s position as one of increased visibility, responsibility, and trust, and due to his decision to use a personal cell phone to conduct city business, that the fact he would use that device to record and send videos of this nature is in and of itself reckless enough that he knew the risk he was taking by engaging in such behavior.”
Source: The Dakotan / Youtube.
Ross was elected mayor in 2022, having previously served on the Minot City Council beginning in 2020.
The city, which has a population of over 47,000, is situated roughly 50 miles south of the Canadian border and is known for its nearby Air Force base.
In earlier news: Is your city next? How Trump’s shocking legal move could affect you
Have you experienced or witnessed the repercussions of a digital misstep? How do you think communities should respond to such incidents involving their leaders? Share your thoughts and insights in the comments below!
The mayor of Minot, North Dakota, has stepped down following a private matter that escalated behind closed doors, raising questions about professionalism, privacy, and accountability in public office.
What happened? Should you be alarmed?
A North Dakota mayor stepped down on Tuesday following the release of a report detailing an explicit video he sent to the city’s chief legal officer earlier this year.
The story unfolded on a seemingly ordinary day in January, when Mayor Tom Ross, during his lunch break, sent a video intended for his girlfriend to Stefanie Stalheim, the city attorney.
According to the Minot City Council's findings, Mayor Tom Ross sent City Attorney Stefanie Stalheim a video of him engaging in self-pleasure via text shortly after the two had spoken on the phone about the suicide of a local police officer.
The report states Ross called Stalheim within minutes of sending the video, urging her to delete it without watching and explaining it had been meant for a girlfriend.
Minot Mayor Tom Ross resigned after sending a lewd video of himself to the city attorney, Stefanie Stalheim. Image source: Panorama - Breaking News 3 / Youtube.
Ross submitted his resignation the same day city lawmakers publicly released the findings of the investigation.
"As much as I love the City of Minot and where it is heading, for the last, just about 5 years, I have had my priorities misaligned," Ross wrote in his resignation letter. "While I’ve done my very best to be a good leader, it’s clear that time has come to an end."
Ross explained to investigators that he had sent what he described as a “sexy video” on January 14 while home during his lunch break, intending it for his girlfriend.
He claimed the mix-up occurred because he wasn’t used to operating an iPhone, as he typically used a Samsung S22, the report said.
Also read: Exposed: The landlord accused of putting renters at risk—see what the city is doing
He also noted that his girlfriend’s name begins with the letter "C," while Stalheim’s contact was listed as "City Attorney" in his phone, which may have led to the accidental message.
According to the report, when Stalheim was informed of the video’s content, she “fell out of her chair,” attributing her reaction not only to the nature of the video but also to the emotional toll of just having received word about a police officer’s death.
After receiving the video, Stalheim asked a colleague to delete it.
However, while doing so, that colleague, a representative from Human Resources, inadvertently triggered the video, which caused them to view “some or all” of its content, the report added.
“The investigator found somewhat credible Ross’s statements that the video was sent to Stalheim unintentionally and that the video was intended for Ross’s intimate partner,” the report said.
Still, it emphasized that “due to Ross’s position as one of increased visibility, responsibility, and trust, and due to his decision to use a personal cell phone to conduct city business, that the fact he would use that device to record and send videos of this nature is in and of itself reckless enough that he knew the risk he was taking by engaging in such behavior.”
Source: The Dakotan / Youtube.
Ross was elected mayor in 2022, having previously served on the Minot City Council beginning in 2020.
The city, which has a population of over 47,000, is situated roughly 50 miles south of the Canadian border and is known for its nearby Air Force base.
In earlier news: Is your city next? How Trump’s shocking legal move could affect you
Have you experienced or witnessed the repercussions of a digital misstep? How do you think communities should respond to such incidents involving their leaders? Share your thoughts and insights in the comments below!
