Casselton teen to balance first-year college life with new role on city council – InForum

CASSELTON, N.D. — A Casselton teen balanced academics, music, theater and sports throughout high school. So taking on another challenge shouldn't be too difficult.

Mason Vance, 18, went from 2024 Central Cass High School graduate to Casselton City Council member in the span of two weeks.

As one of five people elected to the six-member council on June 11, Vance received more votes than any other candidate.

Most of the other council members are at least twice his age.

“There may be a big age gap, but we all share one core value, and that’s Casselton,” Vance said.

The opportunity came about six months ago through a student advisor position with the council.

Council member Char Gust suggested the idea as a way to ensure young people are represented in the community.

Central Cass social studies teacher Mark Roe was asked if he had any students who might succeed in this role, and Vance came to mind.

Roe said Vance took virtually every social studies elective offered at Central Cass, including advanced placement courses.

“He always had a lot of questions about how some of these things are civic in nature and how they work,” Roe said.

Vance began attending city council meetings as a student representative in January. Mayor Mike Faught said the teen caught on quickly.

“He just came in and learned everything. He couldn’t vote on council, but he learned,” Faught said.

Vance gave the impression that when he learned he would turn 18 on March 23, about a week before the municipal election filing deadline, the mayor encouraged him to run for council.

“I remember telling him… if you want to do something, go for it. What's the worst that could happen? You're not going to come in? Faught called back.

Vance was elected with 319 votes, two more than the second-highest vote-getter.

In a twist of fate, Gust lost his seat on the council, bested by Vance, Sam Wagner and Blaine Nichols on Election Day, all of whom won full terms. Sarah Michels and Jacob Ansberry also won unexpired two-year terms on the board.

Gust said that while she is disappointed not to be re-elected after serving the city for eight years, it would be great to have Vance on board.

“That perspective is what can ensure we have the right philosophies to continue to attract young people to Casselton,” she said.

The council position is for a four-year term, which should work well with the plan he is undertaking this fall.

Vance will live at home in Casselton while beginning his junior year at North Dakota State University, where he will major in music education and vocal performance.

“Music is like other things I do,” he said.

While he pursues that “something else,” his first in-person meeting on the City Council will have to wait.

Earlier this week, Vance left for Europe for a two-week trip with Northern Musicians Abroad, where he will sing with the choir and take in the scenery during stops in the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, Austria and in Germany.

He will attend the July 1 council meeting via Zoom from somewhere during these travels.

Upon his return, Vance will participate in the international music camp at the International Peace Garden, straddling the border between North Dakota and Canada.

Roe said Vance is a gifted singer.

“He sings the national anthem at a lot of our games. He was in the all-state choir, he was in the honor choir…so, yeah, super, super talented,” Roe said.

Being a full-time student and serving on the city council will require some juggling, but Vance is used to it.

His high school years were filled with class work, choir, soccer, theater and other activities.

Shortly after taking his senior pictures, Vance shaved his head of curly red hair to play the role of Daddy Warbucks in the school musical “Annie.”

“Two pounds of hair,” he said.

Roe said he is confident Vance will do a great job serving on council and representing the town of Casselton.

“It’s someone who will speak, ask questions. And I think as a young person in town, he really has the best interest of the community at heart,” Roe said.