City Council

Arik Forsman was appointed as an At Large member of the Duluth City Council in 2018, was elected to the same post in 2019, and was re-elected in 2023. He's the former council President and 2025 chair of the Finance Committee. Forsman also serves on the Duluth Economic Development Authority and was appointed as the Mayor Pro Tem by Mayor Reinert from 2024 - 2026. He previously chaired the council's Intergovernmental, Public Works, Personnel, Committee of the Whole, and Recreation, Libraries & Authorities committees.

Forsman has provided leadership for various initiatives in his time on the council. He's collaborated with community and business leaders on policy changes to address the local childcare crisis and was highlighted for his work in the Washington Post in 2019. Forsman has worked with his colleagues to invest significantly in housing at all income levels, significantly increase public safety funding, and secure new good-paying jobs and private investment in Duluth. He also co-chaired the Spirit Mountain Task Force that stabilized and charted the path to financial sustainability for the organization, fought to keep the Memorial Day Parade funded and in Duluth, has provided leadership to help incubate the growing TV & film industry, and has been a constant advocate for the city at the state legislature.

Forsman has worked at Minnesota Power since 2012 and currently leads their strategic accounts & economic development team. He has a passion for service and has previously served on many other boards, commissions, and task forces. The Duluth News Tribune named Forsman as a member of 2020's "20 Under 40" class.

Arik and his wife, Jessica, moved to Duluth to attend UMD after both graduating from Mesabi East High School in Aurora, MN. The Forsmans live in Kenwood with their two young children and are proud UMD hockey fans. Go Bulldogs!