Parrell Grossman is entering the race for Bismarck City Commission.

Two city commission seats are up for grabs in the June primary election as the terms of Connie Sprynczynatyk and Bryce Hill end. Winners take office during the second meeting in June.

Grossman, 50, is in his second term on the Bismarck School Board, first elected in 2002 and re-elected to a four-year term in 2004. Should he win a city seat, Grossman says he will resign from the the school board of which he was president in 2004-05.

"What's prompting me to run, is now that I've participated in grassroots local government I've been able to build a good background on what the community needs. I've prepared myself to move to the next level," Grossman said. "The city commission is something I've always been interested in and I feel it's time to make that move."

Growth management and economic development top Grossman's priority list. He said the city must address "growing pains" with the necessary additional infrastructure, police and fire protection, and acquisition of land for public use.

Grossman wants to participate in discussions with leaders in economic development, the police department and fire department in coming up with a determination on the orderly growth of Bismarck and familiarizing himself with the issues.

"I'm not coming in with any preconceived notions, Bismarck is doing an excellent job," Grossman said. "I think of myself as a consensus builder and hard worker who is not afraid to tackle difficult issues."

Grossman, who has lived in Bismarck for 22 years, is director of the attorney general's Consumer Protection Division. He and his wife, Sherri, have three children.

His time on the Bismarck School Board "has been a wonderful learning experience in government," according to Grossman.

Candidates for city commission or mayor have until April 17 to turn in their signed petitions to city administration. The municipal election is part of the June 13 primary election. Grossman needs to collect 300 signatures for his petition and said he has about half of those.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@;bismarcktribune.com.)