Arik Forsman was appointed as an At Large member of the Duluth City Council in 2018 and was elected to the same post in 2019. He's the former council President and former chair of the Committee of the Whole. Forsman also represents the council as a board member for the 1200 Fund, Spirit Mountain, and Visit Duluth. He previously chaired the council's Public Works, Personnel, 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 child care crisis and was highlighted for his work in the Washington Post in 2019. Forsman worked with his colleagues to significantly increase public safety training funds, police officer pay, and a community crisis response program in 2021. He's also co-sponsored a variety of legislation, including the 2020 COVID-19 face mask ordinance, creation of the NQT2SLGBIA commission, an award to recognize local businesses and entrepreneurs, support for expanding broadband access across the city, declaring a climate emergency, and advocacy for federal and state funding to provide relief for local taxpayers.
Forsman has worked at Minnesota Power since 2012 and leads their regional development & community engagement team. He has a passion for service and is also the past chair of the board for the Northspan Group and Laurentian Chamber of Commerce, serves as a member of the board for the Greater Downtown Council and Entrepreneur Fund, and has previously served on various 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!