Minot, North Dakota Mayor Tom Ross has resigned after mistakenly sending an explicit video to the city attorney, prompting a sexual harassment investigation and ending his political career.
AT A GLANCE
- Mayor Tom Ross accidentally sent a sexual video to City Attorney Stefanie Stalheim.
- Ross claimed the video was meant for his girlfriend but was misdirected due to similar contact names.
- A harassment probe found Ross created an “offensive work environment.”
- He resigned after the investigation concluded, citing responsibility for the incident.
- Minot will appoint a new Mayor or hold a special election within 15 days.
Explicit Text Leads to Political Fallout in Minot
Tom Ross, the Mayor of Minot, North Dakota, stepped down this week after a sexual harassment investigation concluded he had created a hostile work environment for City Attorney Stefanie Stalheim. The incident began in January when Ross inadvertently sent a video of himself masturbating to Stalheim—an act he claims was a private message intended for his girlfriend.
According to the New York Post, the explicit video was sent shortly after Ross and Stalheim had concluded a professional call concerning a police officer’s suicide. In the immediate aftermath, Ross contacted Stalheim to apologize and asked her to delete the message. Despite this, Stalheim filed a formal harassment complaint two weeks later, triggering a city investigation.
Watch local news coverage of the mayor’s resignation.
Investigation Finds Harassment, Sparks Resignation
The formal review concluded that Ross’s actions constituted sexual harassment under city policy. The report stated his conduct “directly caused Stalheim’s inability to work in an environment free from unreasonable sexual harassment and created an offensive work environment,” as reported by the Associated Press.
Ross, who was elected Mayor in 2022 after previously serving on the City Council, announced his resignation following the investigation’s findings. In a statement, he accepted full responsibility: “I do take responsibility for this mistake. I tried to immediately correct it and was unable. The decision I made falls in line with all my work on behalf of the City of Minot. I put my heart and soul into this community,” he said via the New York Post.
Ross also expressed respect for Stalheim, noting that he delayed stepping down to allow the investigation to proceed without interference. Neither party has given further public comment on the incident since his resignation was finalized.
Minot Navigates Post-Scandal Transition
Minot, a city of around 47,000 residents near the Canadian border, must now determine how to fill its leadership void. According to city policy, residents may petition for a special mayoral election within 15 days. If no petition meets the required threshold, the city council will appoint a new mayor to serve until the next scheduled election.
The situation has sparked conversation about professionalism in public office and the dangers of blurred personal and professional boundaries in the digital era. The accidental nature of Ross’s message did not exempt him from accountability, particularly given the power dynamics between a mayor and a city attorney.
As Minot recovers from the scandal, the case stands as a cautionary tale for public officials nationwide on the risks of digital missteps—and the importance of maintaining strict boundaries in professional communications.
